Aliyev vows to develop football in Azerbaijan

President Ilham Aliyev has vowed to pay great attention to the development of football in Azerbaijan.

“There are special programs and plans for this. Great investments will be made in this area and large companies attracted as sponsors,” he told an event held in the National Olympic Committee on Thursday.

President Aliyev said that one can’t be satisfied with the current state of football in Azerbaijan. “We all watch football matches with great disappointment because football is the most popular sport all over the world. But the current performance of Azerbaijani footballers does not bring fame to our country,” he said.

The head of state said that football should be developed rapidly in the country. Skilled specialists will be invited as well as much attention paid to children’s football and the process of training the young generation.

“It will take some time. We know from the experience of countries where football once did not develop so considerably that it will take a few years to bring the national team to a high level,” President Aliyev said, expressing hope that Azerbaijani football will revive as a result of the measures to be taken.*