Bako Pochoev, translator of striker Serdar Azmoun, who moved from “Zenit” to “Bayer”, spoke about the relationship between the football player and the ex-head coach of “Rubin” and “Rostov” Kurban Berdyev.

An employee of FC “Zenit” shared from what moment Azmoun began to consider the specialist as a second father.

— “From the first days of Serdar in “Rubin”. Berdyev did not know at first that Azmoun was an Iranian of Turkmen origin. At one of the first meetings, Berdyev spoke with Azmoun's father. He spoke Farsi, and I translated. And at the end of the conversation, Azmoun's father said something in Turkmen. Berdyev was in shock. I do not think that the origin of Serdar played a key role in his relationship with Berdyev. But the coach took Serdar under his wing from the very first training camp. Constantly talked to him, explained. Their relationship got better and better”, informs Sport24 the words of Bako Pochoev.

Let us remind you, that it was Kurban Berdyev who brought the football player to Russia, noticing him in Iran. Azmoun, like Berdyev, is an ethnic Turkmen. Since childhood, Serdar knew the Turkmen language, so there were no problems in communicating with the head coach. From the native province of Golestan, where the striker grew up, to the border with Turkmenistan is four hours away by car. Azmoun considers Berdyev as his football father.

Azmoun spent his entire professional career in Russia. In addition to “Zenit”, he played in the RPL for “Rubin” and “Rostov”.

As a reminder, “Bayer” announced the signing of a contract with Serdar Azmoun on January 22.

Serdar Azmoun is an honorary member of the Humanitarian Association of World Turkmens and the “Mekan” Society of Turkmen Culture in St. Petersburg.

The last time Serdar Azmoun visited Turkmenistan in 2015 as part of the Iranian national team, which played a 1-1 draw with the Turkmen team in Dashoguz as part of the 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament.