The Gabala Football Academy”s director Stanley Brard talks to gabalafc.az about benefits of the Lyon trip in France of the coaching staff to build up their both theoretical and practical skill. He says:

"All worked out as we planned and we had a good welcome in Lyon. They provided us opportunity to have see the club facilities, first team and different age groups. As you know, Lyon is established with developing age groups, growing a playing. Lyon”s students play both in the first team and for other European clubs. The club set up a really perfect infrastructure and they have a good vision on developing youth. The target of the trip is to provide us with a close see on all these and drive benefits from them. So I think the trip was useful.

During the trip, we met head coach of Lyon Rene Guard, club prezident”s adviser and legend of the French football Bernard Lacombe and academy director Stephane Roche. We talked about the history and progress path of the club, as well as reforms running by them. We have had really interesting meetings and saw some many innovations there. We discussed also possible collaboration between the clubs. Lyon will not be able to join the Gabala Cup this year as their U15 are loaded on their schedule. But they wish to attend the tournament next year.

Moreover, we are planning friendly matches of different age groups of both clubs.

Our coaching staff watched some training proceedings of the academy teams and saw both same and differing points on trainings. They felt also some differences footballers of both clubs on physical form and technique. Generally, our coaches are much satisfied with the travel".

Just to remember, the Gabala delegation included also Stanly Brard and deputy director Nail  Karimov, as well as coaches of higher age groups Famil Khalilov (U-17), Zaur Hajiyev  (U-16), Huseyngulu Guliyev (U-15) and Khagani Mammadov (U-14).