Interview with Vusal Maharramov, head coach of the Uzbek national team, who played at the World Minifootball Championship held in Baku, to the Futbolxeber.az website
- It is an interesting coincidence that the head coach of the Uzbek national team at the World Minifootball Championship held in Baku is Azerbaijani. First, could you tell us about yourself?
- I am Vusal Maharramov, I was born and raised in Uzbekistan, originally from Imishli. My parents currently live in Imishli. I played in big football in Uzbekistan. Sogdiana, Metallurgiya, Almalıg. We also took 2nd place in Tajikistan with the Khudjand club. After finishing my career in 2021, I started coaching. I work with children. My friend and I created minifootball with Uzbekistan ourselves. We currently have 6 leagues, we also hold futsal, 6x6 football. We wanted to participate in the World Cup. After we were given a ticket, we participated in the World Cup and assembled the team, and I became the head coach myself.
- Usually, there are often articles in the Azerbaijani press about Azerbaijani footballers living and playing abroad. It is interesting that we have not come across your name before. Did you receive an offer from AFFA when you were a footballer?
- I was invited to the U-21 team in 2011. When I arrived, the head coach was German (Bernhard Lippert-ed.). Footballers such as Badavi Huseynov and Emin Mustafayev were in the U-21. I could also have joined Sumgayit in 2012. But it was not possible to get an Azerbaijani passport, so I returned.
- You mentioned that my parents currently live in Imishli. It turns out that even though they returned to their homeland, you stayed in Uzbekistan for football?
- My parents returned due to family issues. As you said, I stayed there because of football.
- In recent years, Uzbek football has developed a lot. The national team is one step away from the World Cup. What can we attribute this development to?
- The Uzbekistan Football Federation focuses its main efforts on academies and children's football. New academies are being opened, stadiums are being renovated. They do not lose people who have finished their football careers. They send them to coaching courses.
- How does Azerbaijani football look from outside Uzbekistan?
- It is largely the same. There is not much difference. If Azerbaijan had played in Asia, not Europe, it would have gone to the World Cup.
- What do you see as the reason for the Uzbek national team's breakthrough?
- First of all, the number of footballers living a legionnaire life has increased. Uzbek footballers began to go abroad. Because we did not have international experience, something was missing. However, in our current national team there are 10-12 people living a legionnaire life. Turkiye, Italy, England, 3 people play in Azerbaijan. All this affects the development of the national team. The more legionnaires there are, the more the national team will develop.
- Let's talk a little about mini-football. How do you assess the level of organization of the World Cup in Baku?
- The organization is super, excellent. Before that, my friend participated in the international tournament dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev. He expressed very positive opinions about the competition. I am here at this tournament myself, and the organization is really at a very high level. I also came here in March for the draw, and then I saw that Azerbaijan has made great progress in terms of organization.
- What information do you have about the Azerbaijani mini-football national team?
- Azerbaijani national team has a good rating in mini-football. You can also see its strength. Azerbaijan is one of the strongest in this World Cup. It seems to me that Azerbaijan will go all the way to the final.
- And Uzbekistan national team?
- This is the first time we are playing in the World Cup. Our team does not have such international tournament experience. But our players played football before. They also play futsal. We have taken many children from futsal to the team. A little experience is not enough, and there is also a lack of match practice.
Idman.biz
