Baku’s Bright Lights Shine On Hayle Ibrahimov

Ethiopian born Azerbaijani long distance runner Hayle Ibrahimov is looking forward to a 2015 of individual success and achievement. With the Beijing 2015 IAAF World Championships in his crosshairs, the Mekelle born 5000 meter specialist is looking to build on a strong 2014 season which saw him finish second in the 5000 meter race at the 2014 European Athletics Championships and and second at the 2014 IAAF Continental Cup 3000 meter race. Within a couple of years time, the former Ethiopian has now become a world class athlete.

Last November, eHaHu.com published an in depth interview with the track star , after our genuine desire to seek out the runner and discuss his growing reputation. Hayle used the opportunity to reveal to us his going through a life of extortion and exploitation at the hands of a ruthless Azerbaijani athletics club Umid Athletics and the club’s president, Mehdi Naghiyev.

According to Hayle, the club withheld his salary for months at a time, unsatisfied with what they called average results, even refusing to thank him or welcome him back when he returned to Baku, the Azerbaijani capital from competing abroad. In our phone conversation, Hayle specifically detailed that he was living in Baku on his own savings and had to cover his rent and vehicle expenses from his own pocket, due to his club’s refusal to pay him his salary.

Read more at: eHahu.com