Images: Qarabağ
Azeri Premier League football club Qarabağ has played its first match in its home region of Nagorno-Karabakh for more than three decades, returning to a redeveloped Khankendi City Stadium.
The 10-time Premier League champion has been based in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, and left Nagorno-Karabakh in 1993 amid the conflict in the region between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Azerbaijan has been gradually reclaiming control of the region in recent years and President Ilham Aliyev, along with First Lady, Mehriban Aliyeva, were present at an Azerbaijan Cup Round of 16 game yesterday (Thursday) between Qarabağ and MOIK.
Qarabağ won the match 1-0 at a new-look Khankendi City Stadium, with Aliyev making a speech before kick-off. He said: “Holding this football match in Khankendi has a great meaning.
“Khankendi is an ancient land of Azerbaijan. The foundation of this village was laid by Garabagh Khan, and after that, a big city was created by Azerbaijani architects and builders at the expense of the Republic of Azerbaijan.”
Aliyev continued: “We, the owners of these lands, are building and creating, including in the city of Khankendi, Khojaly, and other areas freed from occupation. Extensive construction and improvement works are being carried out.
“This stadium was almost completely rebuilt and renovated in just two months. Like all other cities, Aghdam city is being rebuilt today. In addition, after a few months, the reconstruction of the Imarat Stadium in Aghdam city will begin.”
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