Stepanakert-based Aparaj newspaper writes that the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) National Soccer team beat Abkhazia 3 to 0 in a friendly match played at the Stepenakert Stadium (capital city of NKR).
As reported, this was the second match between the two teams. The first took place in September in Sukhumi and the game was tied 1 to 1.
he coach of the Abkhazia team, Djuma Kvartskhelia, said that during the prior match, the teams played very well. “It is difficult to say what the outcome will be today,” said Kvartskhelia. “Let’s hope that the teams will display true sportsmanship and will play a good game.”
The game was attended by Artsakh’s President Bako Sahakian and other high-level officials. Sahakian said that such sporting events are important both as a means to advance the sport and also to bolster relations between two friendly nations.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Athletic Club director Valery Avanessian said the stadium, which was completely renovated in 2008, is equipped to stage such games on a regular basis.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic joined Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Trans-Dnester, Kosovo and Tibet in this year’s competitions.
“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 referring to the Artsakh Team’s entry into the League.
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.
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.
