Rydell Poepon, a former Ajax academy graduate and ex-Qarabag striker, has shared his thoughts ahead of the Europa League clash between his two former clubs, Ajax and Qarabag.
Speaking to Idman.biz, Poepon reflected on his career and the unique experience of playing for the Azerbaijani club during the 2015/16 season.
"I would have liked my career at Ajax to have gone differently. However, when Henk Ten Cate started changing the system due to injured players, I realized my future wouldn't be with Ajax," Poepon said.
The Dutch forward recalled receiving an unexpected offer from Qarabag. "I had stints with Willem, Sparta, De Graafschap, Den Haag, Breda, and Valenciennes. Then my agent called and asked if I was interested in a move to Qarabag. I didn't even know the club existed. Azerbaijan is known as an oil-rich country, but that was the extent of my knowledge. I looked it up online and saw that Baku was a beautiful city, somewhat reminiscent of Dubai, though it wasn’t warm in winter. Financially, it was also very attractive."
Poepon was particularly drawn to the opportunity to play in European competitions with Qarabag: "From a sporting perspective, it was an exciting offer. The club was competing in the Champions League qualifiers, and I wanted to try something new. I moved there with my wife and one-year-old daughter."
Despite his interest, Poepon encountered challenges, particularly with communication: "The language barrier was an issue. I had a translator at the club, but not outside. People spoke Turkish and Russian. Later, when I played in Turkiye, I always had someone available to help me, but that wasn't the case in Baku."
Reflecting on his time under Qarabag’s head coach, Gurban Gurbanov, Poepon said, "He thought I was overweight. I weighed 83 kg and had to get down to 79 kg, or I would be fined. I managed to do it, but I got the feeling that our relationship wasn’t going to work. I would have liked to speak to the coach before signing the contract. He was very strict and highly respected. His word was law. He wasn't one of the players but stood far above them, and he paid attention to every detail, watching me like a policeman."
Poepon admitted that Gurbanov’s strict regime didn’t suit him, but acknowledged that things might have changed in the years since: "Perhaps he's changed after nine years. People can evolve. But at that time, we weren’t a good fit."
Poepon scored one goal in 15 appearances in the Azerbaijan Premier League before concluding his career.
Idman.biz
