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An interview with Vusal Maharramov, the head coach of the Uzbekistan national minifootball team participating in the World Championship in Baku, to Futbolxeber.az
- It is an interesting coincidence that the head coach of the Uzbekistan national team at the minifootball World Championship in Baku is Azerbaijani. First, could you tell us about yourself?
- I am Vusal Maharramov, I was born and raised in Uzbekistan, originally from Imishli. My parents currently live in Imishli. I played big football in Uzbekistan. "Soqdiana", "Metallurg", "Almalyk". We also took 2nd place with the "Khujand" club in Tajikistan. After finishing my career in 2021, I started coaching. I work with children. My friend and I created minifootball in Uzbekistan ourselves. We currently have 6 leagues, we also hold futsal, 6x6 football. We wanted to participate in the World Championship. After we were given a ticket, we joined the World Championship and gathered the team, and I became the head coach myself.
- Articles about Azerbaijani football players living and playing abroad are often published in the Azerbaijani press. It is interesting that we have not come across your name before. Did you receive an offer from AFFA when you were a football player?
- In 2011, I was invited to the U-21 national team. When I arrived, the head coach was German (Bernhard Lippert-red.). Football players such as Badavi Huseynov, Emin Mustafayev were in the U-21. Also, in 2012, I could have moved to "Sumgayit". But it was not possible to get an Azerbaijani passport, so I returned.
- You mentioned that my parents currently live in Imishli. Does this mean that although they returned to their homeland, you stayed in Uzbekistan because of football?
- My parents returned due to family matters. As you said, I stayed there because of football.
- In recent years, Uzbekistan football has developed a lot. The national team is one step away from the World Championship. What can this development be attributed to?
- The Uzbekistan Football Federation mainly focuses on academies and children's football. New academies are opened, stadiums are being restored. They do not lose people who have finished their football career. They send them to coaching courses.
- How does Azerbaijani football look from outside Uzbekistan?
- It's largely the same. There is not much difference. If Azerbaijan played in Asia instead of Europe, they would go to the World Championship.
- What do you see as the reason for the Uzbekistan national team's breakthrough?
- First of all, the number of football players living the life of a legionnaire has increased. Uzbek football players started going abroad. Because we didn't have international experience, something was missing somewhere. But in our current national team, there are 10-12 people living the life of a legionnaire. Turkey, Italy, England, 3 people play in Azerbaijan. All this affects the development of the national team. The more people living the life of a legionnaire, the more the national team will develop.
- Let's talk a little about minifootball. How do you assess the organizational level of the World Championship in Baku?
- The organization is super, excellent. Before that, my friend participated in the international tournament dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the national leader Heydar Aliyev. He expressed very positive opinions about the competition. I am here myself at this tournament, the organization is really at a very high level. I also came here for the draw in March, then I saw that Azerbaijan has gone very far in terms of organization.
- What information do you have about the Azerbaijan national minifootball team?
- The Azerbaijan national team has a good rating in minifootball. You can see its strength. Azerbaijan is one of the strongest in this World Cup. It seems to me that Azerbaijan will go to the final.
- What about the Uzbekistan national team?
- We are participating in the World Championship for the first time. Our team does not have such international tournament experience. But our players have played football before. They also play futsal. We took many children from futsal to the team. There is a little lack of experience, and a lack of game practice.
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