Bakcell, The First Mobile Operator and The Leading Mobile Internet Provider of Azerbaijan, becomes sponsor of the Azerbaijani national football team. A five year partnership contract between Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) and Bakcell was signed on December 17, 2013.Bakcell, who has a close association with the development of football in Azerbaijan has started cooperation with AFFA in 2012 with the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Following this successful cooperation AFFA and Bakcell have come together to rename the 8km stadium and upgrade its facilities to provide a fantastic new sporting venue; The Bakcell Arena.  “Bakcell is proud to support the national football team. We believe that we will have great success together with the national team and AFFA during next five years. Football is the people’s game and Bakcell is the people’s mobile operator, we’re delighted to be so closely involved in football. Football is a global game; it reaches out and touches people at all levels of society. We believe that Azerbaijan has a great football potential and this potential is able to able to carry the country’s football forward. Therefore we support AFFA in its work covering the whole country.  Azerbaijani football fans constantly feel Bakcell is supporting the sport of football at all levels and our attention and care; we are committed to the development of football in the country. We are making efforts to support the development of football in Azerbaijan and are pleased with cooperation with AFFA in this direction”, says Mr. Richard Shearer, Bakcell CEO.  AFFA Secretary General, Elkhan Mammadov: “AFFA is collaborating with several companies to develop the Azerbaijani football. It is a pleasure for us that being one of the influential companies of Azerbaijan Bakcell is not indifferent to the country’s football and collaborates with us for the sake of development of this type of sport. The final stage of FIFA tournament was organized in Baku last year for the first time. Bakcell was one of our partners at this tournament. Today we are successfully implementing several projects together. I believe that the partnership contract between Bakcell and AFFA will create the better ground for our cooperation”. Bringing high-level football to Azerbaijan within its partnership with one of the biggest clubs in the world; Manchester United, Bakcell is always interested in cooperation with AFFA in order to participate more closely of football development in Azerbaijan. Today with its “Football with Bakcell” project Bakcell is supporting football at all levels and age groups including improving of football infrastructure. Along with “Bakcell Arena” stadium, and Women’s World Cup, many pitches have been refurbished with all weather (artificial) surf in cities as far apart as Ganja, Sumgayit and Baku plus many others; Manchester United Summer Soccer School has been organized for kids between 8-12 years old living throughout the country and saw a team of the top young player from the MUSS go to Manchester to meet players and train at the Soccer Academy there. Bakcell will continue to support Azerbaijani football. ANN.Az