Footballer Benjamin Lambert says experience in Azerbaijan was important stage

Azerbaijan was an important stage and memories of it are the warmest and best, Benjamin Lambert, who played for the Simurg Zagatala club more than 15 years ago, told Report.

"I spent only a year and a half in Azerbaijan, playing for Simurg Zagatala. However, during this time I learned a lot about the country and its history. Now I have 20 years of professional football career behind me. And I am very pleased that I am also participating in this event," he said before the start of the Sugovushan mini-football tournament organized by the Azerbaijani diaspora platform MADANI in Brussels.

According to Lambert, in the years when he played for Simurg Zagatala, Azerbaijan was not yet so well-known in the international arena. "Now everyone knows Baku, everyone knows your country, and I am sure that the country is developing and moving towards even greater international recognition," he believes.

In the Azerbaijani league, only 5-6 teams stood out at that time, now Qarabag FC is a regular participant in the Europa League, he noted.

The former Simurg player also said that his team often traveled to Baku for games, for which they rode 6 hours by bus. "It was a rather tiring journey, but the hospitality of the people, the smiles with which we were greeted everywhere, made this experience very pleasant. I played with many footballers from different countries. At the first meeting, it seemed that everyone would stick to their traditions, but then everyone got along very easily and amicably," he shared his memories.

Lambert believes that the fact that he grew up in Belgium, where many Muslims live, helped him to adapt easily in Azerbaijan as well.

"I believe that in football it is impossible to develop alone. Therefore, today's tournament is not only entertainment, but also an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss joint growth in football," he concluded.