Yesterday, the Azerbaijan futsal national team faced Greece in the European Championship qualifiers and suffered another defeat. Once upon a time, our national team used to dominate the Greeks, but now we find ourselves helpless in front of them.

This is not just a single game; it's the bitter result of long-standing systemic issues. Looking at the statistics, the situation appears even more critical: there has been no victory in the last 8 official matches, and in the last 11 games, we've won only once. At one point, the Azerbaijan futsal team would win consecutive matches and make it difficult for opponents in the international arena. Back in the days when current head coach Vitali Brisov played for the team, we defeated Greece 7-0, 4-0, 3-0, and 5-2.

So, what happened?

The reason lies not just in the players' form or tactical mistakes. The root of the problem is deeper – hidden in the management system. Behind our successes were not local football schools, but foreign players. In the past, foreign futsal players, especially Brazilians, were the main contributors to our team's achievements. Although we had results, there was no fundamental development.

The current situation in our futsal is the failure of not just the players, but the entire system. Years of mismanagement and a policy focused on short-term results have destroyed the potential of futsal in Azerbaijan. This policy served one purpose: sacrificing the development of local futsal for the sake of short-term success. As the saying goes, the legionnaires came, won, and left. After them, there was a void – an inexperienced, unprepared national team.

Had local players been prioritized back then, today we would have a stable team capable of competing at the international level. Of course, there would have been losses in the early years, but such sacrifices would have been worthwhile for long-term development.

However, the Azerbaijan Futsal Federation chose a different path: bringing in ready-made products from abroad and turning a blind eye to local production. Without a doubt, the main architect of the decline is Federation President Zaur Akhundov. Congratulations, Mr. Akhundov! We are now reaping the fruits of the trees you planted. Under your leadership, our futsal has turned into a field dependent on external forces, unable to create its own system. Currently, there are no legionnaires in the national team, and no one knows how to operate the system without them.

The issue is not just about the loss to Greece. There are global problems within Azerbaijan futsal. What steps are being taken to popularize futsal in our country? Why is the level of our championship almost nonexistent? What efforts are being made to introduce futsal to children and develop a worthy generation? Or are we once again planning to turn to Brazil and create a superficial image of victory with legionnaires, like a soap bubble?

Imagine that the national team’s head coach, Vitali Brisov, cannot find a strong attacker in the Azerbaijan futsal tradition. Perhaps Zaur Akhundov knows: where are the attackers? Why have you alienated people from futsal to this extent? Look at the ages of the national team players: Emin Kürdov, 40 years old; Tofiq Mikayılov, 38 years old; Fərid Atakişyev, 34 years old; Rövşən Hüseynli, 34 years old…

Mr. Akhundov, what have you been doing for 20 years in the Futsal Federation? 20 years is a generation of futsal players.

If this continues, Azerbaijan futsal will only remember past successes as part of history. This is the logical conclusion of mismanagement – a failure. The future of futsal in Azerbaijan can only be saved through the right strategy and investing in the development of local talents – if it's not too late...