Baku's Toughest Challenge Ahead

Courtesy: Baku Website

FC Baku will meet Northern League winners Sheffield in the semi-finals of the League Grand Finals on the 1st June. If they are able to win this game then fellow Southern League clubs London United or Helvecia will await in the final with the winners being crowned national champions.

This would be an incredible achievement by a club that was created last summer from the dissolved Spartans FC. The team has shown continuous improvement as the season has progressed to reach the point where they are now just two games away from being crowned the best team in England in their inaugural season.

It has been a year with many changes in both playing and coaching staff but despite this instability they finished second in the Southern Division and comfortably finished first in the Super League ahead of rivals Loughborough and Leeds. Recent months has seen the team come into form at the time that matters most and will hope to continue this into the Grand Finals.

The club is not underestimating the task ahead of them and know this will be their toughest challenge yet. Preparations have included a trip to Spain to train and play friendly games and a recent tournament in Azerbaijan where their performances were very encouraging.

Further they have acquired the services of one of the world's top coaches to lead them in this final stage. Chema Jimenez, formerly of Inter Movistar in Spain and Dina Moscow in Russia, will rejoin the club immediately. He was previously in charge for a few weeks in December and took control during the trip to Spain. He has the experience and knowledge to get the most from this talented squad. He will be assisted by Brazilian Silva Renato who has been present on the coaching staff throughout the season. He previously worked at 5 times national champions Helvecia so is well aware of what is required to be successful in this competition.

Club Director Alex Saliy commented "I am very proud of what the team has achieved so far. Our objective is to win the competition but we know that we will have to beat some fantastic opponents starting with Northern champions Sheffield. We will be very well prepared and do our best to achieve what we have worked all season for".











Posted by Mico Martic --> mico.martic@futsalplanet.com