"Khirdalan" basketball player Ismayil Mammadov who was not allowed by his parents to join Fenerbahce gave an interview to the club's press service.
Idman.biz reports that he talked about the first years of his career, the stagnation period and his return to the court.
- Ismail, let's start from the beginning. How did you start to basketball?
- I started playing basketball as a child under the guidance of coach Tofig Hasanov (at the then "Spartak Baku" club). By the way, teacher Tofig is still at the top of his work and is a very good coach for children. The reason I started playing basketball was of course the love for this sport and the fact that I was genetically taller than my mates since childhood.
- Considering that you were born in 1986, your adolescence and youth was in the first period of the 2000s. These times coincide with the very good times of the "Gala" team, when basketball is popular in our country and everyone knows it by heart. How do you remember that time?
- Yes, that period is remembered as interesting years in the championship. In particular, teams such as "Gala", "NTD", "Western University", "Aztop" had quite strong basketball players. However, because "Gala" also played in European Cups, its team was stronger. Later, as NTD became stronger, the championship became more interesting. Among the most memorable foreigners who came to our country, I can mention Darius Lukminas, who played for the Lithuanian national team. Playing in a championship with internationals like him was both a pleasure and a great experience. In those years, I played in the team of "Western University" in the high league. If I mentioned Lukminas, I should also emphasize that I was selected for the national team at that time at the invitation of another Lithuanian star, Rimas Kurtinaites. Later, I defended the honor of Nakhchivan representative "Araz" and in 2006 I won the title of national champion. During the years we have been talking, I have managed to get among the prize winners several times. Of course, together with my team (laughs).
- You have very good memories of the championship and those years. At that time, you even had the chance to play for one of the representatives of Turkiye...
- Yes, in 2005, I had to visit Turkiye's "Ülker" club first. It so happened that I went late and they had already formed the team. However, the coach of the youth team of "Ülker" advised that selections are still ongoing at "Fenerbahce" and that I should join there. I participated in the youth group selections of the "Fenerbahce" club and was selected for the team among several young people. They gave me a month to collect the documents and return to Turkiye. I was over the moon and back. But unfortunately, I could not return to Turkiye for a month because my parents did not have permission, and then it was too late and I lost this chance. This, of course, had a very negative effect on me. I didn't want to play anymore. However, my love for this game did not allow me to stay far away from basketball.
- Later, as in national basketball, career stagnated.
- Yes, there was a recession from time to time, and almost everyone found a job and worked in order not to suffer financially. At that time, there were those who stayed away from basketball. Although I worked in a different field for a while, I was always involved in basketball. There were times when I played for nothing. This was purely due to love for this game.
- The next championship after 17 years... the 2006 championship and the cup after 17 years.
- Actually, as a return, I would like to highlight the period after the pandemic. Until then, I had participated as much as I could in every national championship. During the pandemic, regardless of us, not basketball, but the halls were closed. Then the federation was renewed, basketball returned to us with a better organization, and it was important to get in shape to play in the Super League. First of all, it was necessary to get rid of excess weight. I was able to reduce my weight from 138 kilograms to 105 kilograms. The training paid off and I signed a contract with Sabah club. Despite being 36 years old, I managed to do it. I would say that there is still a demand for basketball players of our time here.
- If there is a demand, why was the experience used less?
- Yes, I hardly had a chance to play in "Sabah". This is also natural. I have reached a certain age, young players should play more. But I don't think it's appropriate not to play at all. At least with my experience, I am able to help the team a little bit. Last season, I performed almost flawlessly in the games I was on the field. But it is already in the past. The main team became the champion. The rest of the issues were decided by the coach, and I did not discuss his decision.
- How are things going this season?
- I joined "Khirdalan" this year. The season started badly for me. I injured my knee in the very first training. I'm still not fully recovered. But I've been participating in training and I've played a little bit in some games. We have very good players and coaching staff. We are working collectively to achieve our goal and be maximally successful this year.
- After the second return of age, this time it signals the end of a one-time career. What do you think?
- Yes, these are the last periods of my career. If the injuries are not serious, I will play for a few years and then finish. I don't think I'll ever be out of touch. For several years now, I have been training children in parallel with playing. I work in the gymnasium of school No. 164, in the children's basketball club "F-Basket" named after Farhad Babayev, a martyr of the Patriotic War.
- You work with children and we know that this is a very broad topic. Therefore, in short, how do you see the future of basketball?
- If this trend continues in basketball, I see the future well. I hope that our national basketball will be at a better level than this. There are many points to be corrected. But I want to emphasize one in particular. There is a need for another league below the Superliga where the youth can prove themselves. I heard that there is work going on in this area as well. I hope, whatever happens, it will be good for our basketball.
Idman.biz
