We are pioneering unprecedented infrastructures, driving towards the excellence of Armenian football. Vardges Vardanyan, President of "Noah"

The Armenian Premier Football League has reached the halfway mark of the Championship. With 12 rounds remaining, however the competition promises to intensify until the end of the season. This year, Yerevan's "Noah" has emerged as a contender in the championship race, debuting with a brand-new team. Currently, after 24 rounds, "Pyunik" leads the table with 52 points, closely followed by "Noah" in second place with an equal number of points. Tert.am recently interviewed the club's president, Vardges Vardanyan, discussing the club's goals, challenges facing Armenian football, and other pertinent topics.

- Mr. Vardanyan, how did you decide to venture into Armenian football?

As a businessman, I've always sought avenues to channel generated resources towards creating significant value through corporate social responsibility initiatives, philanthropy, church building, and supporting educational programs. In this context, I have always had a desire to contribute to the development of Armenian sports. Football, with its adrenaline, speed, and unpredictability, has captivated me since my youth. I've always viewed the advancement of Armenian football as a mission of universal importance. In recent years, my team and I have meticulously studied various methods to contribute to the development of youth football, club football, and the sport as a whole in Armenia. Discussions with our brand ambassador, Luis Figo, about our views, further fueled our passion for football development. He provided invaluable advice and connections, motivating me to make a meaningful contribution to the sport. Thus, the "Noah" club marks the starting point of our journey towards the excellence of Armenian football.

- What is your ultimate goal in football?

Our goal is to establish football in Armenia on a solid institutional footing, elevating it to a level where it becomes an integral part of our national identity, a source of pride, and a pathway to excellence. Our football ambitions extend beyond "Noah" alone. My dream is the long-term development of Armenian football, which entails a large amount of strategic work and dedication to achieve. While the club sets high objectives, our primary focus lies on the sport of football, at its core, youth football. Therefore, the "Noah" Academy holds significant importance for us. It is important to nurture young footballers, hone their skills, and ensure they reach their full potential.

The development of youth football is important to everyone, but what effective steps are being taken to achieve this?

We have ambitious plans for the development of our academy, aiming for it to become the foundation for elite Armenian football players, cultivating future stars for the national team. Our vision extends beyond the scope of the club, aiming to enhance the role and quality of our national team. Our academy should evolve into an international hub, attracting not only Armenian youth but also talented individuals from around the world.

At our academy, young talents will find a favorable environment allowing them to focus solely on honing their skills. I'm delighted to announce that "Noah" club has entered into an exclusive collaboration with an international team of professional coaches, who are already in Armenia. Together with Luis Figo, we've selected top specialists in youth football development, scouting, recruitment, and the integration of information technology in football, and invited them to Armenia. These experts have worked with renowned names such as Luis Figo, Ricardo Quaresma, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Cancelo, Rafael Leau, Nunu Mendes, among others. Together, we will devise a comprehensive development strategy and take proactive steps forward. I'm confident that Armenian football will soon reap the benefits of this collaboration.

- There's widespread word of the significant issue of football infrastructure in Armenia. How do you plan to address this gap?

Indeed, infrastructure remains a major obstacle for Armenian football. Even the most promising talents require the right environment, infrastructure, and opportunities to unleash their potential. In this regard, I have ambitious plans and dreams.

To open the parentheses about our plans, I should mention we are currently engaged in intensive efforts to establish a sports complex adhering to high international standards and outfitted with cutting-edge technologies. We're collaborating with top-tier international consultants who specialize in designing and implementing world-class infrastructures.

This complex will feature FIFA-certified training fields, a campus for our NOA 1 team, designed and constructed by leading international professionals at all stages, and informed by the experiences of the world's premier clubs. Additionally, we envision an academy of similar standards catering to the younger generation, and eventually, a UEFA-category stadium. This stadium will enable us to host UEFA Champions League qualifying round matches in Armenia.

Recently, the team and I visited Qatar to study the best practices and state-of-the-art infrastructure for the World Cup. We returned with valuable knowledge and connections that we will use for the establishment of our complex.

- Currently, the team trains at Etchmiadzin Academy. What are the conditions like there?

We are currently undertaking extensive development at our complex in Etchmiadzin. At this time, construction of two fields meeting international standards is progressing actively. Unfortunately, these fundamental needs in Armenian football are still in their infancy, and it's necessary to start from this point. By the end of the year, "Noah" will have a complex featuring FIFA-certified playing fields, including four artificial and natural grass fields.

We strive to offer our athletes the best conditions, enabling them to focus solely on their game and physical fitness. We've recently completed the renovation of our team's dressing room, which feature an interior and facilities unprecedented in our country. These details are not trivial; this is where athletes lay their predisposition. As I've mentioned earlier, the environment is of utmost importance.

At our academy, we aim to bring together the world's leading expertise, knowledge, and technology to identify and nurture the best talents, develop and excel sports professionalism, and instill a well-rounded education and winning mindset.

- There is still a long time before the end of the current championship, your main contenders for the title are "Pyunik" and "Ararat-Armenia." How do you assess your chances in the championship?

- Firstly, I want to thank the owners and managers of all Armenian clubs. While I may not know most of them personally, it's evident that they are all dedicated individuals. Armenian football isn't merely a business endeavor or done for profit; it requires unwavering commitment and faith and I am happy that there are such dedicated people in the field. Moving forward, it's important that we consolidate all our efforts and resources.

Regarding the Premier League, our primary objective is exclusively the championship. Without undermining the capabilities of other teams, I firmly believe that this year, we have a genuine opportunity to reach our goals. Following that, we aspire to represent our club honorably in European Cup tournaments. Our club's long-term aspirations are connected with the success of Armenian football. Personally, I believe in the future of Armenian football, and both my team and I are dedicated to putting our countries name on the world football map.

Let's envision the day when Armenia hosts a UEFA group tournament match in a modern stadium, boasting international standards, with thousands of Armenian and European fans, numerous accredited media outlets, and, of course, the celebration of victory for the Armenian club. I not only dream of that day but also envision it clearly as our ultimate objective, walking in that direction.