Kara alters FC Karabakh concept

With the dismissal of previous coach Beyukaga Agaev in December 2006 and the appointment of Kara, Karabakh's entire philosophy has changed. Like most leading Yuksek Liga clubs, the 2005/06 Azeri Cup winners had aimed to win titles by signing established foreign and local players. Now Kara wants to develop his own stars. "We have no objectives for this season's championship," said Kara, who was coach at Beshiktash JK in 1996/97. "Our main goal is to form a competitive side. I want to create a team which will keep winning even after I am gone. I need to create a system which will assist the development of hot prospects."

Eliminated in the first qualifying round of this season's UEFA Cup and uninspired in the first half of the domestic season, the club's board have been willing to embrace the Turkish coach's new vision for the Baku-based team, even though it represents a new direction for the former Beshiktash goalkeeper. In his previous job, Kara led FC Khazar Lenkaran to second place in the 2004/05 season, with foreign imports - not least Turkish striker Oktay Derelioglu - providing much of his side's threat. However, aside from his assistants Tayfun Gursel and Aykut Chetin, Kara has signed no foreigners at Karabakh.

He has been eager to bring in young players. Goalkeeper Osman Uvarov, defenders Timur Israfilov and Nodar Mammadov and midfielder Isabala Israfilov have come in from FK Shahdag, Taqim Novruzov has joined from Simurq PFC while 17-year-old striker Vagif Javadov recently arrived from PFC CSKA Moscow. Kara has not ditched all of Karabakh's leading names - Slobodan Sladojevi? is the only foreigner to have left the club - but he wants to see the old heads help the youngsters. "They are team leaders and role models for the young players," said the coach. "I am really glad about that."

Noting that 14 squad members are now involved in various national teams, club director Emrakh Chelikel felt proud. "Recently we decided to raise the salaries of players who make the national team," he said. "This is an extra motivation." In the long run, it could be one worth its weight in silverware. UEFA