“The main purpose of our visit to Tashkent was to commemorate the 102nd anniversary of the birth of National Leader Heydar Aliyev. A friendly match between veteran footballers of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan was organized by AFFA and the embassy. The match, played in an exciting and intense atmosphere, ended in a 5-5 draw.”
Arif Asadov said this in an interview with futbolinfo.az, Idman.biz reports.
Asadov also reunited with Mirjalal Gasimov, with whom he had played for many years: “I took the opportunity to meet Mirjalal Gasimov, whom I played alongside in the USSR youth teams from the age of 15 to 21. I was a guest at his home. I’ve known his parents since childhood. We used to visit each other’s homes. It had been about 20-25 years since his parents last saw me. Our reunion was a joyful and heartfelt moment for all of us, and I received their blessings.”
Asadov also met up with former Neftchi player Mustafa Bilalov during the trip: “We met with Mustafa Bilalov, who played for Neftchi during the Soviet era. Back then, I was about 16-17 years old. Meeting him again was also a very pleasant experience for me.”
Idman.biz
