Football

Football

Ä°qor Ponomaryov: I do not want to sink in the same mud

09 July 2007 14:13 (UTC +04:00)

Recently kicked from Russian â€œMashuk-KMVâ€, Azerbaijan national teamâ€™s former main coach Igor Ponamaryovâ€™s exclusive interview to â€œAPA-Sportâ€

- How do you explain your departure from â€œMashuk-KMVâ€?
- There are many reasons. I do not want to blame anyone now.
- In any case was it unexpected for you to resign from the club in the middle of the season?
- To tell the truth is was not unexpected as I expected it.
- Do you appreciate it with fruitless performance of â€œMashuk-KMVâ€?
- There are reasons for that. It is not true to explain it so. We could not complete the team for new season. It is related to bad financial position of the club. Club leadership promised to provide finance but did not keep its word.
- What is your mistake?
- I think I made mistake not insisting on it.
- What kind of relations do you have with Salman Aliyev, co-founder of â€œMashuk KMVâ€?
- I had no problems with Salman Aliyev. There are normal relations between us.
- What did your gain during a year and half activity in Russia?
- I gained great skill working in Russia. To tell the truth I had no real imagination of Russia football until I worked there. I was sure that Russia football is improving. Children football is paid much attention min Russia. I wish Azerbaijan to have all these.
- Did you have any options to stay in Russia involving in coach ship?
- Yea I had. But I did not receive them as all those were linked to the clubs suffering from financial problems?
- Could you tell us the names of the teams making you proposal?
- I do not want to name the concrete clubs. I can only say that hose teams were from first and second dividend of Russia championship.
- What are to going to do in the future?
- I am in Sweden now. I am with my family in Sweden. I do not want to stay jobless. My agent is looking for new club now.
- Would you return to Baku again?
- Certainly, Azerbaijan is my motherland. If there is good offer I will receive it. Training Azerbaijan club is not real perspective for me as all clubs have their coaches.
- Do you watch the matches of Azerbaijan national team? What can you tell about its performance?
- It is hard for me to tell anything about Azerbaijan national team. I did not watch its matches. I received only short commentaries on its matches.
- What do you think about your sonâ€™s legionary life?
- The main coach is responsible for completing national team. I would not like to interfere with his affairs. My son played for the national once.
- National teamâ€™s main coach Shahin Diniyev scored 5 points making draw in Kazakhstan on July 6 and repeated your record till the end of the qualifying roundâ€¦
- It is not important. Azerbaijan teamâ€™s perspective is more significant. If we attended World and European championships final round I could call is progress. 5 or 6 points is not progress. Azerbaijan national team has more opponents now so it has more chances to score points.
- Do you think Shahin Diniyev will beat record till the end of the round? We should take into consideration that it will hold 3 matches at home.
- I am not against Diniyev. I wish him to score much point. But I cannot say is now. I am not introduced with his job.
- But you worked together with Diniyev for a short time...
- I worked two days together with Diniyev. I can not say anything about his activity.
- What do you think about UEFA decision on cancelling Azerbaijan-Armenia match?
- It is normal. In any case this decision is advisable now.
- What do you think who gained from this decision? Azerbaijan or Armenia. What results did you expect from the match?
It would not be real to say anything. /APA-Sport/