Neftchi lose key trio
Wednesday, May 8, 2002
Article summary
FC Neftchi have lost three players in the fall-out from the Azeri first division split.
Article body
Azerbaijan's FC Neftchi have lost three leading players in the fall-out from the club boycotting the Azeri first division and establishing a new league with ten other teams.
Refusing to play
Dzhahangir Gasan-zade, the club's first-choice goalkeeper, and forwards Samir Aliev and Farruh Ismailov are all refusing to play in the alternative championship.
Russian link
"It is a pity that these three left, showing an attitude like this towards their club," Samir Alekperov, the Neftchi coach, said. "Anyway they are professional players and have contracts with the club." Aliev and Ismailov have been linked with FC Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia.
