Sporting JAX welcomed a group of delegates from Azerbaijan on Tuesday, discussing sports and the positive impact that they can make on communities worldwide.
The delegates visited the United States as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. Their first stop on the trip was Jacksonville, where they met with multiple local sports organizations.
Those in attendance possess backgrounds primarily in health and athletics, but the benefits of sports don’t end there. They can reach all corners of the community to improve the lives of many. Sporting JAX is seeking to do this through a variety of initiatives, with the Sporting JAX Foundation being the most recent example.
For many, soccer isn’t accessible due to a multitude of factors. The Sporting JAX Foundation wants to enable everyone to have a sporting chance, something that the delegation took strong interest in. To begin, this will include local soccer clinics in underserved areas, but will continue to grow with time.
Azerbaijan’s most popular sport is wrestling, but there was plenty of soccer expertise in the room. Ali Muradov has worked in soccer internationally at all levels, and now serves as a senior football and fitness coach. He expressed his excitement for soccer in the United States and what Sporting JAX will bring to the table.
“You have all the conditions for soccer, that’s why you have very good national teams,” Muradov said. “I hope in the future that your club will be top-level in the USL.”
These beliefs were bolstered by Sporting JAX’s presentation to the delegates. Sporting JAX President and CEO Steve Livingstone played a key role in the meeting, explaining the club’s background and bright future to the group.
“We were honored to host the sports delegation from Azerbaijan for part of their visit to Jacksonville. We shared a lot in common in our appreciation for sport and it was very interesting to hear about their ambitions for the development of sports in their country,” Livingstone said. “Azerbaijan is a comparatively small country compared to the United States, but their aspirations to compete and be the best in facilities and sporting competition on an international level is commendable.”
Sports, especially soccer, can transform communities. Azerbaijan’s largest city and capital Baku accounts for roughly 40% of the nation’s population. With one city being such a focal point, it can be easy for lesser-populated and rural areas to fall in the cracks. However, soccer has provided a link for these communities to shine, specifically for women, as they serve as pipelines for many of the nation’s most-talented footballers.
“There are many [successful female athletes] who come from the outer regions of Azerbaijan, Muradov added. “Azerbaijan is not a big country, but we have the regions that play football very well because of [things like] good weather [and other factors].”
Without this vital link, many of these communities would be entirely overshadowed by the capital city. This is one of many examples of how soccer uplifts and elevates those in the nation who otherwise wouldn’t get these opportunities. Sporting JAX hopes to replicate this phenomenon, particularly with its USL Super League team. So much women’s soccer talent comes out of Northeast Florida, and the club wants to change the narrative and keep that talent local at the professional level.
The meeting was very beneficial for both sides, with each learning from one another. Studying Azerbaijan’s national team and successful clubs can help provide Sporting JAX with insight on achieving success, and vice-versa.
To learn more about the trip’s organizers, visit the International Visitor Leadership Program and GlobalJax.
