Coming back from long break after the last match on 11 May, it is three days Gabala are training at home prior to the next season start. Being on is job now, coach Fatih Kavlak talks to the newspaper FC Gabala about the preparation proceedings and future plans.

- How did you have your rest after long heavy season?

- It was nice to spend vacation in native Turkey with my family and close people.

- Now you got your all mind back on preparing the team to the next season. How is it going on?

- We came together on 26 June to work out our new plans, firstly having the team checked by the medical staff.

- Did you reveal overweighting problem on any player during the medical checkup?

- No, I did not, and I was not expecting to see any such problem as my men are professional.

- The preparations will be last by 13 July. Maybe you are fixed on physical works, right?

- Sure, physical readiness are very important point when you are just close to the next season. Of course the team will be developed also by exercises with the ball, but the proceedings will be fixed mainly on getting physical readiness reached up to proper level.

We are going to attend testing matches at training camp in Slovenia during 13-27 July. And there the team also will have physical and practical trainings.

- Who are your opponents in testing matches?

- It will be clear in the closing days. After Slovenia training camps, we are planning to fix the last training match against Elazigspor of Turkey.

I heard about three Turkish clubs are aiming to visit Gabala – Elazigspor, Antalyaspor and Akhisar Baladiyyaspor.

- You formerly said to take another more coach assistant. Has it come to truth?

- It will be known in the close future. I have talked with the administrative board. Now I need to talk with also that coach before revealing his name.

- How did you bring new transfer Dejan Kelhar in Gabala?

- I saw performance of the Slovenian in the closing period of the last season when some people suggested him to us. Then I watched him in the Turkish Super League. He was willing to join our team, too.

When you bring a foreign player to Azerbaijan, you need to thing that here the football are developing and we should use high-level players so the progress not to slow down. I think he is a good transfer into the football in Azerbaijan. Gabala actually did need such a midfielder.




- What about the keeper transfer following Dejan?

- Diego Costa is a highly experienced keeper. I am convinced that he will play a great role in our future successes on the goal line.

- Are you still thinking of involving more foreign transfers for defence and forward line?

- The defence is already done with Muammer Erdogdu. But offensive line still depends. We found some one, but are looking for better one.

And we have some Azerbaijani transfers. Anar Nazirov formerly played for Gabala and we know him well. Shahriyar Khalilov also proved himself playing for Khazar-Lenkoran and the national team. And there is no need to talk much about Rashad Abdullayev as he is well known. Just what I want to say he is a diligent footballer.

- You got bigger targets for the next season – championship, cup. Are the staff in a full form for these?

- They will be. Gabala are the best team of the second half of the last season by 26 points in 14 matches. It is also our team to be the one scoring most goals slotting opponent nets 25 times. All these results we ground out prompted us to fix bigger targets. We will be all to reach to them. But more hard works than the last season are waiting us.

- And a little about new players involved from the reserve team, please…

- Yeah, you are talking about those six footballers. I provided them some conditions in trainings so they show them as footballers fitting to the main team. I see they need some period to do this. And I believe they will be very useful part of the first team.