Ibrahim Mammedov, a defender for the “Arkadag” football club, said at a press conference that the support of family and friends in the stands gives him an extra boost ahead of the upcoming match against India’s “Goa” in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League Two.

"Yes, of course, my family will be at the stadium; that is very important to me. Seeing loved ones in the stands gives me extra strength and motivation. I want to delight them with a good performance and, of course, a victory. You can always feel the support of your family on the pitch," said the 30-year-old footballer.

Mammedov noted that the team approached the match with a fighting spirit and had prepared thoroughly. "The team is in a fighting mood; all the guys are eager to get into the action. We prepared diligently and worked on everything we had planned. We want to go as far as possible in this tournament and play quality football," Mammedov said.

The match between “Arkadag” and “Goa” will take place on August 12 at “Arkadag” Stadium, kicking off at 20:00 local time; admission is free. The winner will secure a spot in the AFC Champions League Two group stage, while the losing team will continue its international season in the AFC Challenge League group stage.

The online platform Belet will provide a live broadcast of the match in Turkmenistan.