The football league for U19 has been established in Azerbaijan where FC Gabala also are joining amongst the other six clubs- Neftçi, Inter, Garabagh, Baku, Sumgayit and AZAL. With this aim, Gabala set up a new age group of U19 including players born in 1995 or 1996.
Starting on March 13 this year, the tournament will finish in May. In the first stage, 7 teams are expected to compete in a system with one round. The venues are Bina stadium and Dalgha Arena, both in Baku, that have been determined by AFFA. The first round”s results will give the clubs staying at the top 4 places a tally to the semifinal where the matches will run on the back-to-back system.
Even the lots already have been drawn putting Gabala against Ravan in the first stage at the match to be held in the Bina Stadium on Wednesday.
The project of the U19 league has been organized on suggestion of UEFA. Today, it is only a suggestion from the world football body, but the project is going to be compulsory for domestic clubs and national league federations. It aims to support the youth having potential to be transferred to the professional team, as well as to provide progress of those who prepare to playing for national teams.
New formed Gabala U19 have been given to the supervision of the reserve team”s coaching staff. They will be produced to the all games of the league by head coach of Gabala substitutes Luis Aragon.
The Spaniard coach talks to Gabalafc.az about the new project saying Gabala can take a big benefits from the tournament:
“We got the order about the creation of the new league only the last week. I like the initiative much. As a football specialist, I can say such tournaments give a push to the youth development on the group of U19. I can tell from my own practice, 17-year-old boys appear to have some difficulties to get into reserve or A teams after finishing academies. They can not come up with boys in group of 20 or 21 ages. Their level is not proper to professional league matches. But now it sounds they will have no more such problems with this.
Gabala U19 has been made up of players from both U17 and reserve teams. The new team yet are having one training a week.
Following the tournament itself, what I need to see is not the trophy but to have my squad play more. As the matches will run in Baku, it takes long time and distance for our team. But we will dig into this difficulty just for getting more game practice".
| I tour, 13 March |
| Matches | Time | Stadium |
| Ravan - Gabala | 13:00 | Bina stadium |
| AZAL - Neftchi | 14:00 | Dalgha Arena |
| Baku - Sumgayit | 16:00 | Binə stadium |
| II tour, 23 March |
| Matches | Time | Stadium |
| Neftchi - Ravan | 13:00 | Bina stadium |
| Gabala- Baku | 14:00 | Dalgha Arena |
| Garabagh - AZAL | 16:00 | Bina stadium |
| III tour, 27 March |
| Matches | Time | Stadium |
| Baku – Neftchi | 13:00 | Bina stadium |
| Ravan - Garabagh | 14:00 | Dalgha Arena |
| Sumgayit - Gabala | 16:00 | Bina stadium |
| IV tour, 3 April |
| Matches | Time | Stadium |
| Garabagh – Baku | 13:00 | Bina stadium |
| Neftchi - Sumgayit | 14:00 | Dalgha Arena |
| AZAL - Ravan | 16:00 | Bina stadium |
| V tur, 10 April |
| Matches | Saat | Stadium |
| Sumgayit- Garabagh | 13:00 | Bina stadium |
| Baku - AZAL | 14:00 | Dalgha Arena |
| Gabala- Neftchi | 16:00 | Bina stadium |
| VI tur, 12 April |
| Matches | Time | Stadium |
| AZAL – Sumgayit | 13:00 | Bina stadium |
| Garabagh - Gabala | 14:00 | Dalgha Arena |
| Ravan - Baku | 16:00 | Bina stadium |
| VII tur, 17 April |
| Matches | Time | Stadium |
| Gabala– AZAL | 13:00 | Bina stadium |
| Sumgayit- Ravan | 14:00 | Dalgha Arena |
| Neftchi - Garabagh | 16:00 | Bina stadium |
