Armenia in mourning for Porterfield
Wednesday 12 September 2007
by Khachik Chakhoyan

Armenian football has been paying its respects to Ian
Porterfield after the death of the Scottish coach who
led the national team in UEFA EURO 2008′ qualifying.

Black armbands
Under the 61-year-old’s guidance, Armenia had achieved
some notable successes during recent months –
including 2-1 and 1-0 wins against Kazakhstan and
Poland in June, and a 1-1 draw with Portugal in
August. Because of the colon cancer that eventually
claimed his life on Tuesday, Porterfield was absent
for Armenia’s 3-1 friendly defeat in Cyprus last
Saturday. His players, wearing black armbands in
tribute, will be in action again tonight in another
friendly, against Malta.

‘A good person’
Armenia striker Armen Shahgeldyan summed up the mood
in the camp after the news came through. "I was
shocked," he said. "Of course we knew he was sick but
we all hoped he would make it. He was a very good
coach but what is more important, he was a very good
person. In all my years with Armenia, I cannot name
another coach who had such ability and also great
personal qualities. All of us players, and the whole
of Armenian football, are on the losing side."
Porterfield’s assistants, Tom Jones and Vardan
Minasyan, are taking charge of the team in Malta.

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