Guba captain Zaur Pashayev gave an interview to the club's press service.
Idman.biz reports that the experienced basketball player evaluated the current situation of the team and announced its goals.
- Are you ready for the championship?
- We're almost there. All of our players have arrived. We'll have five foreign players, while the rest of the team will consist of Azerbaijani players. Most other clubs have around six to seven internationals. We might bring in one or two more during the second half of the season.
- What is Guba's goal for the new season? You're competing in Group B, do you think you can make the playoffs?
- The goal for every team is to reach the playoffs, play in the final, and compete for the championship. That’s our goal too, we’ll fight for it.
The team will play its home games in Guba. Do you think the city's sports fans will support the team?
- Guba has been named the sports capital, and there’s already a lot of interest in sports here. I’m confident the fans will come out to support us.
- Your first game is against Sheki. What are your thoughts on this match and your opponent?
- Our goal is to start the season on a winning note, so we’re going into the match against Sheki with victory in mind. We’re still in the middle of our training, and we have time to prepare.
- The league limit has changed to 4+1 this season. Do you think this will make the league more competitive? Could this limit impact the development of local players?
- The 4+1 rule is great for raising the level of competition. If we maintain it for 1-2 years, our younger players, who are 16 or 17 now, will mature and start performing well. After that, we can switch back to a 3+2 limit. Basketball in Azerbaijan has seen a 10-15-year break, so there's a big gap between the older players like me and Amil Hamzayev and the younger generation. This rule allows the younger players to train against foreign players, which is crucial for their development. Training is the key. Games are important, but you only play one match a week, most of the work happens in the training hall. Practicing against experienced foreigners helps these young players improve. And when an Azerbaijani player proves they’re ready, we give them a chance on the court. This process is vital not only for the development of basketball in Azerbaijan but also for strengthening the national team.
Idman.biz
