Idman.biz
Mikhail Timofeev, the head coach of the Azerbaijan men's national table tennis team, is not yet 48 years old, but he has dedicated more than half of his life to coaching. Today, as an experienced specialist, M. Timofeev also fondly remembers the times when he worked with the women's team.
In an interview with Idman.Biz, Timofeev spoke about his entry into sports, his main successes, and the moments that still cause him anxiety.
- How did table tennis appear in your life?
- It all started in our yard near the Samad Vurgun park and at school number 23, where I studied. There were tennis tables in both places, and I unconsciously became attached to this sport by playing at every opportunity. In the seventh grade, I became the best among my peers at school, and the physical education teacher enrolled me in the section. Professionally, I started practicing in 1992, that is, at the age of 14, which is considered late by today's standards.
- When did you realize that coaching was closer to you than a playing career?
- In the mid-90s, I played for the youth national team, but I quickly realized that I was more interested in teaching, especially working with children. In 2000, I fully switched to coaching.
- A quarter of a century is a long enough period. In 26 years of activity, what moments make you proud, and what makes you regret?
- I am proud that I have trained four masters of sports. In addition, the Chinese athlete Ming Qing, who played under my leadership, became a two-time European champion among juniors representing our country, and our girls won gold medals in team competitions. I am currently the personal coach of Onur Guluzade, one of the most talented tennis players in Azerbaijan.
But there is also a moment I am ashamed of. In the final of the Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku in 2017, I got confused in the game against Iran and chose the wrong squad composition. As a result, we lost the "gold", and it was my fault. I still blame myself for this.
- Your trainee Onur Guluzade shows superiority among adults at the age of 15, but he could not become an absolute winner at the last championship. What is the reason?
- In the mixed competition, he and Yagmur Mammadli won only a bronze medal. The reason is simple: Yagmur was preparing for state exams and was not fully focused on sports. They are a strong couple, and I am sure that in other circumstances they would definitely be champions. Onur has been winning among adults for the second year, and his main goal is to win a medal at the European Junior Championships. This means both prestige and the opportunity to be admitted to the Academy of Physical Education without exams. By the way, our athletes Adil Ahmadzade and Rustam Hajili are currently studying at the academy.
- If it is not possible to win a medal, how is the issue of military service resolved for such talented athletes?
- Such athletes should be sent to sports units, and this process is currently underway. Of course, we are talking about those who show results at the international level. Talents should not be lost, especially when it comes to our own trainees.
- You have led both women's and men's teams. Which was more difficult to work with?
- It is undoubtedly easier to work with men. My character is not easy either, but the character of girls is more complex. The coach working with them must be both a mother and a father at the same time. But I cannot be a "mother" - I am a father (laughs). Fortunately, the federation kept me in the men's national team.
