Ilham Aliyev attended a ceremony to commission a new training camp of Baki Football Club

President Ilham Aliyev has attended a ceremony to commission a new training camp of Baki Football Club.

The president of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA), Rovnag Abdullayev, informed President Ilham Aliyev that attention and care for the development of sports in Azerbaijan is a national priority. Important steps are being taken to create a modern sports infrastructure in Azerbaijan, a country playing host to prestigious international competitions. The efforts to develop sports made in recent years are also commendable. The most significant of the activities marking 100 years of football in Azerbaijan in 2011 has been the foundation laying for the Olympic Stadium in Baku. The construction of yet another important football center, the training camp of Baki Football Club, is one more step taken in the direction of football development.

It was indicated that the objective of the “State Program on the development of football in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2005-2015”, signed by President Ilham Aliyev, has been to achieve rapid development of this sport in Azerbaijan and enable the country’s participation in international competitions.

It was indicated during familiarization with the training camp that the complex, covering an area of five hectares, has five stadiums. Three have natural grass and two have artificial turf. One of the stadiums with artificial turf is open, while the other is indoor.

Reviewing the stadium with the artificial turf, President Ilham Aliyev was informed that this is the biggest indoor football stadium in the region. The pitch is 75 meters long, 45 meters wide and covers an area of 3,375 square meters. The materials used in the partitions and the upper section of the stadium are fire-resistant, while the stadium itself has been built in accordance with the latest technologies. The artificial turf from the authoritative Italian company Plasteco Milano complies with the Euro-2 standard. The infrastructure available at the complex meets international standards and is expected to play an important part in developing football, enhancing the professionalism of footballers and conducting competitions.

Then the head of state reviewed the press center of the training camp. Photos documenting the attention and care about sports on the part of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev are displayed at the center. The 100-people hall has all the conditions for the operation of journalists. The center is fully automated and fitted with equipment.

The cups and medals won by Baki Football Club at different times are also displayed at the center.

It was indicated that the development of children’s football is also in the spotlight in Azerbaijan. The objective of Baki Football Club is to contribute to the raising of homegrown footballers. For this reason, children and juniors aged between eight and 18 have been selected for the club and are currently living and training at the training camp. Along with national coaches, training sessions are conducted by specialists from Turkey and Bulgaria. It was noted that Baki Football Club is successfully represented in domestic championships for different age groups. The development of beach soccer has not been forgotten either, with a sand pitch also available.

President Ilham Aliyev also examined the living conditions of junior footballers at the training camp. It was noted that the club also has a Football Academy. There are living quarters for the children of all age groups, training gyms and all the necessary equipment for them to do sports. Doctors attend to the moral and psychological preparedness of junior footballers every day.

The academy building, which also houses offices, has a conference room, a canteen, changing rooms and VIP boxes. It was mentioned that 400 children and juniors are currently attending the Football Academy. The figure is expected to increase in the future. Baki Football Club, which has set itself the goal of nurturing a new generation of footballers in Azerbaijan, has won the national league twice and the national cup twice in the last seven years. Baki is one of the two Azerbaijani clubs to have qualified for the Europa League.

After reviewing the complex, the head of state met with members and coaches of Baki Football Club.

After saluting them, President Ilham Aliyev said:

Let me congratulate you on the establishment of such a wonderful training camp. The work done deserves commendation. The experience and initiative of Baki Football Club should be continued. I am sure that all Azerbaijani clubs will soon have such excellent infrastructure.

“This facility is one of the best not only in Azerbaijan but also in the whole region,” President Ilham Aliyev said, adding that he was pleased with the recent performance of the national team. “I support all our clubs,” the head of state said and expressed confidence that they will represent Azerbaijan in international competitions at a decent level.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that the conditions available at the camp were the result of the attitude of the club’s managers and the football community to this sport. Emphasizing that younger players are gradually making it to the national team, the President said that thanks to the conditions being created it will be possible to achieve positive results.

Indicating that the FIFA president has visited Azerbaijan three times in recent years and the fact that he supports our country, President Ilham Aliyev wished Baki Football Club further successes and new victories.

The club’s head coach, Aleksandr Starkov, said children representing all categories of the population were also involved in training sessions, that they had all the necessary conditions and described this as the result of attention and care of the state. He thanked President Ilham Aliyev on behalf of the club. 

The head of state was presented with a gift from Baki Football Club. In conclusion, a picture was taken.