In an interview with Teleqraf, Hojjat Haghverdi, the defender of the Azerbaijan national team and Neftchi, who played for Tabriz’s Tractor in 2022, shared his thoughts.
- Your former team, Tractor, became Iranian champions for the first time in its history. How did you feel when you heard the news?
- I was very happy because I played for Tractor. I can sense how important this championship is for the fans. They secured the gold medals for the first time in their 55-year history, which makes this achievement even more valuable.
- Did you get a chance to congratulate any of your former teammates? Did you think, I wish I were there to experience this moment myself?
- No, I haven’t yet had the chance to congratulate my friends on the team, but I definitely will. I would have loved to be part of the winning Tractor team. It’s a great honor.
- Do you plan to attend one of Tractor’s matches or travel to Tabriz anytime soon?
- If I have time, I would love to travel to Tabriz.
- Based on your experience, how would you compare the Iranian league to the Azerbaijan Premier League in terms of refereeing and competition?
- Overall, I think the competition in the Iranian Pro League is much tougher, and winning the championship is very difficult. All the games are hard-fought, and all the teams have many fans. In Azerbaijan, the gap between the top two teams and the rest is wider, so it’s easier to become champions. As for refereeing, it’s almost the same.
- You worked with Turkmen coach Kurban Berdyev, who is now the head coach of Turan Tovuz. How do you remember those times?
- Yes, I know Kurban Berdyev from there. Berdyev is an excellent head coach and a wonderful person. I enjoyed working with him. Overall, the team was happy to have him at Tractor. He’s a good person and a true professional. He’s doing great work in Azerbaijan too. His experience and what he’s done are truly commendable.
- When you left the club, you said: I hope that in the future, under better conditions and as a sign of gratitude for the fans’ support, I can wear the ‘Tractor’ jersey again. What did you mean by that, and why did you leave at that time?
- Yes, I would like to play for Tractor again. I had good days there. I left because I was playing on loan, and after half a season, I had to return to Neftchi.
- Tractor fans are known for their passion, loyalty, and strong support. How did that atmosphere affect you as a player?
- The fans are amazing. In most games, there are 40,000–50,000 fans in the stadium. Even for away games, thousands of fans come, and that’s a big motivation for the players. It also negatively affects the opposing team.
- During your time there, did you experience any discrimination from Persians? What were the advantages and challenges of being in a club with Azerbaijani roots?
- I can say that there’s no problem between Azerbaijanis and Persians in Iran. Azerbaijanis live alongside Persians in many cities across Iran. Having lived in Tabriz and other Iranian cities, I’ve fully felt that. Although there’s intense rivalry between Tractor fans and the fans of clubs like Persepolis, Esteghlal, Sepahan, and others, it’s purely football-related and has nothing to do with other issues.
- Qarabag head coach Gurban Gurbanov has said they’re ready to play a friendly match with Tractor. How realistic do you think this is?
- I think it would be a great idea for Neftchi or Qarabag to play a friendly with Tractor. Unfortunately, it hasn’t happened yet, but it could be very exciting.
- A few years ago, Neftchi also planned a friendly with Tractor, but it didn’t happen. Would you like to face them in such a match?
- Of course, I would prefer to play against Tractor not with another team, but as part of Neftchi.
- If you get the chance, would you consider returning to Tabriz and wearing the Tractor jersey again?
- Absolutely, if I get another offer, I would like to return to Tractor.
- As a national team player, what is your connection to Azerbaijan?
- I grew up in Iran, but my grandfather is Azerbaijani. They’re true Baku citizens (laughs).
Idman.biz
