"Qarabakh" FK still waits for academy land

On October 1, Azerbaijan champions Qarabag will host Denmark’s Copenhagen in Baku in the second round of the Champions League. After their stunning 3-2 away victory over Benfica in Lisbon, interest in Gurban Gurbanov’s side has surged.

But youth football remains a concern. Qarabag’s U-19 team suffered a 7-1 defeat against Benfica in the UEFA Youth League, exposing the lack of a proper development system in Azerbaijan.

Despite its dominance in domestic football, Qarabag still has no academy. The club has long requested land in Surakhani next to its main base, offering to finance construction itself. So far, no approval has been granted.

General director Emrah Celikel said the planned academy near the base would give the club a major advantage by keeping training and supervision under one roof. However, despite earlier promises from AFFA and SOCAR, no progress has been made.

N.Tebrizli