SPORTS
“NEFTCHI” GEARING FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT
16 clubs will be competing in four pools. “Nefchi”, which represent Azerbaijan in the tournament, will first clash with Tajikistan champion “Vaksh”.
Azerbaijani club will play the next two matches on January 15 and 17 with “Metalurg” (Latvia) and “Aktobe” respectively. Two top clubs in each pool will qualify for the quarterfinal, which is due January 19. Semifinal matches will be played January 21 while the final is due on January 23.
“Locomotive” (Moscow) were “Commonwealth” Cup last year’s champion while Neftchi ranked second.
To prepare for the tournament and second round of the Azerbaijan championship Neftchi are training in their place and “Shafa” stadium. Senior coach Agaselim Mirjavadov has attracted two Ukrainian, one Serbian and one Montenegro footballers in the training process in order to test them.