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KARABAKH NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM TO COMPETE IN INTERNATIONAL ARENA
http://1in.am/eng/press_pdiaspora_2328.html
08:57 | 2012-09-18 | Press Review | Diaspora |
Asbarez writes that the recently formed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
soccer team will be eligible to compete on the international arena,
reported Radio Liberty, Armenia.
The team's coach Sarkis Aghajanyan said the Karabakh team will
be second Armenian national team after Armenia's national soccer
team.The Karabakh team will compete within the Non-Recognized States'
Soccer Association, which was established in 2003 in Liege, Belgium
and works to organize friendly matches between non-recognized states.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic joined Abkhazia, South Ossetia,
Trans-Dnester, Kosovo and Tibet in this year's competitions.
"The first match will take place on in Sukhumi, Abkhazia on September
25 and on October 22 we will host the same team in Stepanakert. This is
the beginning. This will continue until we become recognized and become
members of the European Soccer Federation (UEFA)," added Aghajanyan.
"This is one of the major steps in our post-war reality. This is
our only chance to enter the international arena and stand under our
national flag with our national anthem. This is already a different
feeling," said Aghajanyan.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic soccer team is financed through the
state budget, which this year has an earmark of 70 million drams. This
amount, according to Aghajanyan, allows the team to not fall behind
on training. The team players are mainly 19- to 20-year old athletes,
who, according to the coach, lack experience.
Aghajanyan reassured, however, the people of Karabakh do not like
to lose.
"Although unrecognized, we now have a status that allows us to
compete in matches. The entire world and the UEFA will see this,"
said Aghajanyan.
Azerbaijan has impeded the participation of the Karabakh team in any
competition thus far, including one against Armenia's national team.
Until now, the Karabakh soccer team was held hostage to Soviet
politics. In 1987, when the Karabakh movement had just started the
Kirovabad team lost to Stepanakert 3 to 1, following which clashes
took place between Armenian and Azeri team during subsequent matches.
As a result, the Soviet government mandated the Stepanakert team play
its home games in other Azeri regions.
From: Baghdasarian
http://1in.am/eng/press_pdiaspora_2328.html
08:57 | 2012-09-18 | Press Review | Diaspora |
Asbarez writes that the recently formed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
soccer team will be eligible to compete on the international arena,
reported Radio Liberty, Armenia.
The team's coach Sarkis Aghajanyan said the Karabakh team will
be second Armenian national team after Armenia's national soccer
team.The Karabakh team will compete within the Non-Recognized States'
Soccer Association, which was established in 2003 in Liege, Belgium
and works to organize friendly matches between non-recognized states.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic joined Abkhazia, South Ossetia,
Trans-Dnester, Kosovo and Tibet in this year's competitions.
"The first match will take place on in Sukhumi, Abkhazia on September
25 and on October 22 we will host the same team in Stepanakert. This is
the beginning. This will continue until we become recognized and become
members of the European Soccer Federation (UEFA)," added Aghajanyan.
"This is one of the major steps in our post-war reality. This is
our only chance to enter the international arena and stand under our
national flag with our national anthem. This is already a different
feeling," said Aghajanyan.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic soccer team is financed through the
state budget, which this year has an earmark of 70 million drams. This
amount, according to Aghajanyan, allows the team to not fall behind
on training. The team players are mainly 19- to 20-year old athletes,
who, according to the coach, lack experience.
Aghajanyan reassured, however, the people of Karabakh do not like
to lose.
"Although unrecognized, we now have a status that allows us to
compete in matches. The entire world and the UEFA will see this,"
said Aghajanyan.
Azerbaijan has impeded the participation of the Karabakh team in any
competition thus far, including one against Armenia's national team.
Until now, the Karabakh soccer team was held hostage to Soviet
politics. In 1987, when the Karabakh movement had just started the
Kirovabad team lost to Stepanakert 3 to 1, following which clashes
took place between Armenian and Azeri team during subsequent matches.
As a result, the Soviet government mandated the Stepanakert team play
its home games in other Azeri regions.
From: Baghdasarian