Halim FICHIJI: “Selection matters will cover whole Azerbaijan”
Interview of Halim Fichiji, the head coach of the Gabala junior football academy, for "Futbol Dunyasi" ("Football World") newspaper
The Gabala club is one of the clubs paying attention to junior football amongst the Premier League clubs. The club has started its activity for 3 years. The club has also started serious work on involving of reserve players. The club management has intended to construct a football academy in Gabala. The project of the academy has already been completed and the construction will be started one of these days.
The Academy will be lead by Ali Yavash, who worked together with Fatih Terim for the Galatasaray team before and trained the football players, Arda Turan and Sabri Sarioghlu. Ali Yavash came to Azerbaijan with Halim Fichiji who worked with him for the team Galatasaray. Halim Fichiji has been working for Gabala about for 5 months. The junior team trained by him had its first match in Mingachevir. In the selection stage in Mingachevir, organized by Danone International Cup, the team were able to continue the competition up to the final. The team were defeated only in the decisive match. We had an interview with Halim Fichiji to get the latest information about the junior football at the club:
- You have been working for the Gabala team for several months. What has been done during these months?
- As you mentioned before, it is already 5 months we have been working for the Gabala team. Our main purpose during these 5 months was to involve talented children in the team. The Gabala football academy has already had its own bus. The team has been supplied with other necessary equipments. In the meantime, the construction of the academy will be started. In a word, we have realized some work since we have visited Azerbaijan.
- You said you realized selection affairs. Does selection work realized only in Gabala or in other regions as well?
- At present, we have involved the children living in Gabala in the team. We have not invited any other children from other regions yet. But it does not mean that we will not. We continue the selection affairs. There are some players we liked.
- How many junior teams are there in the Club at present?
- Our goal is to form all age group teams. However, we failed to realize that. It will be implemented beginning with the forthcoming season. So, we will establish teams covering all age groups, incorporating the players with 1993-2000 births.
- What can you say about the training fields? Will the pitches to be installed in the academy area be artificial?
- Installation of 3 natural pitches was intended due to the project. Besides, 2 artificial pitches will be installed. One of these pitches will be covered from the top. It is connected with severe and rainy winter in Gabala. All these were stated in the project. The teams of different ages I mentioned above, will be formed beginning with the new season and act in the academy.
- When will children be selected for the Academy?
- We have started it. We have seen 20 appropriate children yet. I would not like to give information what regions they are from. But we tried to do our best during these 5 months. By the way, none of those children is with us yet. They will be involved in the training matches following the completion of the academy construction.
- The children team consisting of ages between 11-12 has already passed its 1st serious test. The team took the 2nd place in the selection stage, organised by Danone International Cup, in Mingachevir.
- Our main purpose was not to achieve a good result whilst taking part in the tournament. Because it was the first time that our newly formed team has had a serious match. The players just had training matches. The team has not had a match outside of Gabala. Therefore, the team did not play just to win. Several talented children drew our attention during the tournament in Mingachevir. We have already mentioned their names. Generally, the competition was successful for our team. The children could get some experience. They could feel final match excitement playing the decisive match. Our purpose is to train fine teams taking part in such matches. Tale Heydarov, the Club president, has big plans for that. That's to say, our team will participate in tournaments abroad after forming the above mentioned teams and involving talented children in those teams.
- Are you satisfied with the performance of children?
- Certainly. But I would like to once again repeat that our objective was not to win. To my mind, the tournament was successful for the children who newly started to play football. It would be better to hold such kinds of matches regularly.
- Mr. Halim, which coaches assist you in forming of new teams?
- There are several coaches in Gabala. For ex., Eldaniz, Famil, Serdar and Anar. The persons who assist me were the players of the Gabala team. Ali Yavash is a chief of the academy.
- The football players between the ages up to 15 and 17 take part in the country championship as well. However, the teams' matches can not be considered to be successful. Taking into account the attention of the Club management to junior football, what the reason for weak performance is?
- I agree to that opinion. U-17 and U-15 teams of ours are weak amongst the teams of the same ages. When we came to work for the Gabala team, those teams had already been formed and the championship was going on. It was impossible to add new players to the team. Since we will strengthen the team, I can say that the Gabala team will have successful matches during the upcoming seasons. We will not be satisfied only with Gabala region whilst realizing selection affairs. The selection affairs will cover whole Azerbaijan. As you know, a team's quality may change after several talented players' visiting a team. And it surely impacts results.