Development activities in full swing across Azerbaijan

The staff working with the men’s junior national team of Azerbaijan ran this past month a couple of sessions in the southern districts of Masalli and Lankaran whereby head coach Abbasi identified the most promising players aged between 12 and 16 who will join further camps and may subsequently complete the ranks of the national team. Similar sessions will be taking place in northern Azerbaijan in July as well. The long-term plan of the Azerbaijan Volleyball Federation (AVF) is to establish a Regional Volleyball Development Centre for the areas of Masalli and Lankaran. 

Moreover, the country’s capital has been playing host to two FIVB Coaches Courses Level 2 running from May 25-29 and June 1-5. This is an opportunity for coaches and PE teachers holding a Level 1 Certificate to improve their education and secure a higher qualification. Former elite Volleyball player Neriman Özsoy from Türkiye is among the attendees and she was invited to see children’s training in one of the local schools in Baku. She was warmly received by coaches Bakhtiyar and Pervin Huseynov and Neriman did not hesitate to seize the opportunity to show some basic skills and exercises to the young students, before wrapping the session up with some selfies and group pictures. 

Such meetings and working with a former elite player inspire the youngsters to achieve their dreams and goals in Volleyball. The two coaches are husband and wife and three years ago they attended the CEV Coaches Convention held in Sofia. They are currently working in three different schools in Baku and another two in Khirdalan with some 500 students altogether. Some of their pupils have already made the selection to join the national team and also to play domestic Beach Volleyball competitions.