Serdar Azmun leads Zenit to the Champion Title, is going to the Iranian army and is studying at Kazan University
In the 23rd round of the RPL, Petersburg Zenit sent five unanswered goals in the gates of an outsider, Anji (5 :0), and pulled away from the nearest pursuers – Dynamo and Krasnodar – for six points.
Already by the tenth minute of St. Petersburg twice hit the opponent’s gate. Serdar Azmun first scored the eighth goal for the blue-white-blue, and then helped to distinguish Branislav Ivanovich.
The 24-year-old Iranian Turkmen scored the fifth goal for Zenit in in six RPL matches and ninth in the championship. In the first half of the season, Azmun scored four goals for Rubin FC before joining Sergei Semak.
The other day, the father of the Zenit’s forward, Khalil Azmun, spoke on Radio Zenit about his Turkmen roots and his first meeting with Kurban Berdiyev.
- We have a very big sports family. If you count all the relatives, there would probably be around 200 members. We live in the region of Iran that not far from the border with Turkmenistan, near the Caspian Sea, where Turkmen mainly live. I am an Iranian Turkmen.
When Rubin became interested in my son, by that time I saw Berdiyev on TV only – we did not know each other personally. However, when he paid attention to Serdar, he first invited me.
It was winter season. I was a little afraid of the cold, so the second time I was called to come in the summer. I met Berdiyev in his office. Before this meeting, there were proposals from other football clubs: Chelsea, Manchester City etc.
When I met Kurban Bekiyevich, and attended several of his trainings, I decided for myself that it would be better for my son to join the Berdiyev’s team.
About military service and study at the university.
- Serdar does not mind to go to military service. There is a law in Iran: the one who plays for the national team or studies at the university, are allowed to serve in the military after reach the age of 30. So, my son plays for the national team, and studies at the Kazan University – he just entered as he wishes to get the profession of a sports manager.
About Serdar’s transfer to Zenit and impressions about the Gazprom Arena Stadium.
- The most important thing is that the head coach Sergei Semak wanted to see my son in his team. It was the determining factor. My personal opinion is follows: when Serdar joins a stronger club, he does his best even more. At the same time, I would like to thanks Berdiyev as he did a lot for my son. I have already asked Semak to he help Serdar to improve his abilities.
As per my son, from the first day, he felt a strong and every support from Zenit team and management. He also claims that it the merit of the head coach who created such comfortable atmosphere. I know that Semak was a very good football player. And, despite his youth, I see – he is a very smart coach.
- I think there is no such a stadium in the world like the Gazprom Arena. When I first went to watch football at the new St. Petersburg stadium, I dressed very warmly. I went and was surprised – it became hot. In addition, I have not yet met such fans as the Zenit has ones in Russia.
