As part of a social initiative dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Tofiq Bahramov, ATL Academy, Baku Juniors Sports Club, and the Azerbaijan Football Referees Public Union have signed a special cooperation memorandum. Within this framework, female football referee Brilyant Ahmadzade has been granted the opportunity to study Java Backend Programming at ATL Academy with a 100% scholarship.
A New Career Opportunity with the Support of ATL Academy
This initiative, aimed at expanding educational and career opportunities in the IT sector, reflects ATL Academy’s commitment to supporting women in technology. In addition to providing Brilyant Ahmadzade with education in programming, the Academy will also offer mentorship and professional guidance to support her career development.
According to ATL Academy Director Khanim Huseynzade:
“This initiative is not just a scholarship for one individual, but also a bridge for women transitioning into technology. Brilyant Ahmadzade’s journey will become a source of inspiration for other young women.”
Brilyant Ahmadzade’s Journey
Born and raised in Shamkir, Azerbaijan, Brilyant Ahmadzade developed a passion for football from a young age. However, in her village, social perceptions discouraged girls from pursuing sports. At the age of 18, she began her professional football career, and after moving to Baku, she became further inspired by meeting other female football players. She has played for Keşlə FK, Khirdalan City, and Baku Juniors, with the greatest support throughout her journey coming from her mother, Nümunə Süleymanova:
“At first, I was afraid. I thought football was not for girls. What would people in the village say? But seeing my daughter’s passion, I couldn’t stop her. She has her own dreams.”
Support from Baku Juniors Sports Club
During her time as a player with Baku Juniors, Brilyant Ahmadzade took the initiative to design and launch the club’s official website, successfully completing the project. It was at that moment that she shared her growing interest in technology with the club management. With the support of Baku Juniors and ATL Academy, Brilyant has now been given the chance to pursue her passion for programming through a full scholarship in Java Backend Programming.
Aghasaf Osmanli, Manager of Baku Juniors Sports Club, stated:
“We support women not only in sports but also in their overall development. We are proud to see Brilyant entering a new stage in her life, and we will continue to support such initiatives.”
Azerbaijan Football Referees Public Union Encourages Development of Female Referees
The Azerbaijan Football Referees Public Union emphasized that this initiative will contribute to the social and professional development of female referees. The Union also plans to strengthen its activities to engage more promising female referees in similar projects in the future.
Chairman Gulaga Jabbarov commented:
“Brilyant’s achievement shows that female referees have opportunities for growth not only on the field but also beyond it. We will continue to support the expansion of such initiatives.”
The Signed Memorandum
The memorandum of cooperation, signed on August 5, 2025, between ATL Academy, Baku Juniors Sports Club, and the Azerbaijan Football Referees Public Union, aims to contribute to the development of women both in sports and technology, helping them realize their social and professional potential.
This collaboration goes beyond impacting a single individual’s life—it serves as a model for creating new opportunities at the intersection of sports and technology.
