By Founded in 2017, Baku Juniors Women’s Football Club has quickly become one of the key players in the development of women’s football in Azerbaijan. The club is committed to nurturing young talents, empowering female athletes, and instilling a love for the game. Competing in the AFFA Women’s League, Baku Juniors not only strives for competitive excellence but also maintains strong ties with the community, playing a crucial role in promoting women’s football in the region.
We are excited to present an exclusive interview with Leyla Abdulqadir, one of the most talented and determined players of Baku Juniors!
How did she start her football career? Who has been her biggest inspiration? What are her thoughts on the future of women’s football? Read on to find out!
1. How did you start your career in football?
I didn’t know that girls played professional football in Azerbaijan. I had a male friend from Sumgait who noticed my passion for football and told me that he could introduce me to female footballers. The girls I met were players from the Sumgait team. After speaking with the team’s head coach, Sabir, I was accepted into the team. So, my first team was Sumgait.
2. What made you choose football as your career, and who has been your biggest inspiration? How has your family supported your football journey?
I have loved football since childhood. I used to play with boys in my neighborhood, but I was always the goalkeeper. My family has always been interested in football too. We always watch important matches either at the stadium or on TV.
My father played football for five years in his home country, Sudan. However, my grandmother was against it—she wanted him to focus on education. She would punish him whenever she found out he had played football. Because of this, my father had to give up football. But when I started playing, he was the happiest. He always asks about my training and matches.
When I had to take a two-year break from football, my father constantly asked, “Why did you quit? When will you play again?” I’m very happy that I returned to football, and my biggest inspiration is my family.
3. What are your hobbies and interests outside of football?
In my free time, I paint. Also, I have a TikTok page with 43,000 followers where I create interesting content. When I started my page, I never imagined I would reach such a large audience. I also try to include football-related videos.
4. Can you share a memorable moment from your football career?
When I first joined Sumgait, the team members warned me to stay away from a certain girl. They said she was rough and aggressive. I forgot her name but remembered her nickname: Talysh.
Due to transportation issues, I couldn’t continue with Sumgait and transferred to Fidan FC. It turned out that the same girl, Talysh, was the captain of my new team!
During my first match with Fidan, the players didn’t pass the ball to me. I even heard one of them say out loud, “She’s new, she can’t play, don’t pass to her.”
Talysh overheard this, took the ball from an opponent, ran back to me—despite being a forward—and passed me the ball. While sprinting back into attack, she shouted at the team, “Pass to the new girl too!”
That girl was actually Sevinc Jafarzade, the captain of the Azerbaijan women’s national team.
Years later, I told Sevinc this story, but she didn’t remember it. However, I will never forget it. It taught me an important lesson: always judge people for yourself and don’t listen to others’ opinions about them.
5. Who are your role models in football, and why do they inspire you?
My favorite footballer—despite retiring—is Ronaldinho. I love the Brazilian style of play, and I also admire Pelé and Neymar.
But my biggest role model in football is myself. I always strive to be a better version of Leyla than I was yesterday.
6. How do you see the future of women’s football in Azerbaijan, and what changes would you like to see?
I believe that less focus should be placed on players’ appearances—their hairstyles, tattoos, clothing, or personal lives. Instead, the focus should be on their performance.
The biggest change should be in salaries. Financial motivation is crucial. Some girls earn only 100-200 AZN per month, and some don’t get paid at all. This barely covers transportation costs. Despite this, their passion for football remains strong.
7. Can you tell us about your education and how it connects to your football career?
In 2016, I enrolled in the Translation (English-Azerbaijani) department at Baku Engineering University (BMU).
In 2019, I continued my education at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in Latvia, specializing in Translation (English-Russian-German).
While studying at BMU, I continued playing football. I used to travel from Khirdalan to Bina every week for training.
However, after moving to Latvia, I had to stop playing because there was no women’s football team in Ventspils. Instead, I trained alone at a large stadium near my dormitory.
8. What’s the secret to your success on TikTok?
I believe creativity is the key to success—not just on TikTok, but in all fields.
In 2022, I started making videos with masks and retro Azerbaijani music. Soon, famous bloggers and TikTokersstarted supporting me, including Zeynal Mammadli, Alikhan, Gunnerahim, FD, and Sabi Orudjeva.
The biggest collaborations I’ve had through TikTok were with Yango and Nar Telekom.
9. Are you waiting for a special moment to reveal your face?
I started wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I realized that I feel comfortable with it.
All of my TikTok videos feature me wearing a mask, which intrigues people. Some even speculate that I might have a facial deformity.
I’ve decided that I’ll only reveal my face when I reach a certain follower count. So, stay tuned!
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