Sumgait FC has fielded 11 local players during the first 16 rounds of the Misli Premier League.

According to Offsideplus.az, this strategy is set to boost the Chemists' budget. Sumgait ranks as the third club with the highest reliance on local talent, following Gabala and Kapaz.

This approach will generate a total income of 99,700 AZN for the club.

Rustam Akhmedzade is the local player with the most playing time for Sumgait, clocking 1,287 minutes on the pitch.

He is followed by captain Sabuhi Abdullazade, who contributed with 1,251 minutes.

In addition to these two, head coach Sasa Ilic has also given opportunities to Nihad Akhmedzade, Khayal Feyzullayev, Mehdi Jannatov, Kanan Feyziyev, Nadir Orucov, Hojjat Haghverdi, Aykhan Suleymanli, Kamran Guliev, and Rauf Rustamli.

It should be noted that according to a decision made by AFFA last year, a financial incentive mechanism will be applied to clubs based on the minutes played by local footballers. The bonus fund is formed from the registration fees paid for legionnaire (foreign) players. Under the new regulations, a specific portion of these fees (a minimum of 1,000,000 AZN) will be distributed among the Misli Premier League clubs.