By Hamlet Gasimov
Special correspondent, Xalq qəzeti
Honored Journalist of Azerbaijan
Photographs by Mehdi Mammadov
GANJA, Azerbaijan. When Namiq Alasgarov scored in the 77th minute at Ganja City Stadium on November 1, the home crowd had a victory to celebrate. Kapaz’s 1-0 win over Imishli in the tenth round of Azerbaijan’s Premier League lifted the club to fifth place with 17 points.
In the stands, another story was unfolding. Children of fallen Azerbaijani service members were among the guests, sharing the excitement of the match with adults from their community. For families living with the losses of the 2020 war, the occasion offered something simple and important: a chance for the children to enjoy an ordinary football afternoon.
A regular invitation
The Ganja City Executive Authority organizes the visits through its department responsible for work with war participants and the families of fallen service members. About 10 to 12 children are invited to each match on a rotating basis. They are accompanied and supervised, and special transport takes them home afterward, returning them to their relatives.
Niyazi Bayramov, the head of the city’s executive authority, watches the games in the same section as the children. The initiative makes these shared experiences a recurring part of public life, extending support for bereaved families beyond commemorative ceremonies.
Vusala Javadova, whose husband died in the war, described the enthusiasm with which her family attends.
“My two children, my son and daughter, watch these matches with such enthusiasm,” she said. “They are also offered food and refreshments during the break.”
“Their father gave his life for this land. I am grateful to the organisers for helping the children experience moments of joy despite their loss.”
Remembering and belonging
At the 44th minute, remembrance enters the rhythm of the match. The stands join in the chant, “Martyrs never die; the homeland shall never be divided!” The number recalls the 44-day war of 2020, giving the moment particular meaning for the families present.
Miryunis Seyidzade, a parent whose child died in the war, spoke about the joy these outings can bring.
“Sometimes I take these children to the stadium in my own car. They are so happy! When I see them rejoicing, it feels as though my own child is rejoicing too.”
The local initiative follows a precedent at a major sporting occasion in the city. On September 28, 2025, before the opening ceremony of the Third CIS Games, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met children affected by missile attacks on Ganja during the 2020 war. Some had lost parents or other relatives; others had been injured. The president and first lady then attended the opening ceremony.
At Kapaz matches, that sense of welcome takes a more familiar form. Children sit alongside civic leaders, cheer for their team and experience the anticipation shared by supporters everywhere.
A stadium’s wider role
Ganja’s stadium has also reached a sporting milestone. In August 2026, the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan announced that it had received UEFA Category 4 status following improvement work, meeting the requirements to stage high-level international fixtures.
Its significance is also found in the people gathered inside. For a child growing up without a parent, being remembered and included in the city’s celebrations can matter well beyond the final whistle.
There will be other goals, victories and defeats. League positions will change. What may endure is the memory of an afternoon when children felt welcomed and free to share in the celebration.
That is why this tradition deserves to continue, at football matches and wherever Ganja comes together. Children who have experienced loss deserve opportunities to laugh, support their team and feel part of the city’s everyday life.
A shorter Azerbaijani version of this feature appeared in Xalq qəzeti on November 2, 2026. This English-language version, incorporating additional reporting from the author, is published with his permission and has been edited for clarity and length. Photographs are used with permission.