“We have deficiencies in the team.”
Evren Alkaya, head coach of Azerbaijan’s women’s basketball team, shared this with Idman.biz following his team’s 51-105 loss to Poland in the EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers. The Turkish coach explained that the team needs time to compete against such experienced opponents: “Traditional women’s basketball has hardly developed in Azerbaijan. Most of our experienced players are over 35. We have many young players coming up, who will be crucial for the development of Azerbaijani basketball. Poland, meanwhile, is a full-fledged basketball nation with impressive facilities, scouting, staffing, and national teams. It’s very beneficial for our players to witness and learn from this. Our loss stems from not yet being prepared for these types of matches.”
According to Alkaya, there were periods in the game when the team played well: “But we need to maintain that level throughout the game. Of course, there’s a difference in skill level. In the coming years, we’ll be fully prepared for such games, especially as new players join the team.”
He emphasized that significant work is underway for development: “All these efforts will yield great results. These initiatives are leading to real improvements in our players. The European Championship is a critical competition, and we’re in a tough group with strong teams. We gave our best on the court and fought until the end. Time is essential.”
Alkaya also shared his thoughts on the upcoming game against Lithuania: “They had a tough match against Belgium, and they’ll be playing to win after this loss. We’ll also do our best and fight hard. Tournaments like this are very important for the future development of women’s basketball in Azerbaijan. We have serious goals and remain optimistic.”
Azerbaijan’s national team has lost all three of their qualifier matches so far.
Banuchichek Huseynli
Idman.biz
