Joaquin Boghossian: I never rejected invitation from Armenian national squad

By Vera Martirosyan

NEWS.am Sport presents an interview with Uruguayan-Armenian player of Defensor Sporting Joaquin Boghossian.

Your story of joining the Armenian national team was much discussed here in Armenia. Most people think that you didn't come, because you wanted to play for Uruguay. Is it true?

I received the proposal to play for the Armenian national team‎ almost at the end of the 2009/10 season when I was playing in Argentina. At that moment ‎I asked some time to enjoy the holidays with my family, and take a decision all together. I told them to call me in June of that year.

They never called me back. After that in August 2010, I received a call from different people representing the national team when I was on Salzburg. They asked me if I wanted to go ‎to see a friendly game of Armenia. I was really excited at that moment, and I told them to make the arrangements with the club.But I didn't get another phone call. So my decision wasn't that I choose Uruguay, the problem was that I never arranged anything with the Armenian national team. That's my story whit the Armenian national team.

What can you say about the video? The Armenians from all over the world made a video begging you to join Armenian squad? What did you feel after watching it?

When I saw that video, I couldn't believe it, maybe because at that moment of my career everything happened really fast. But I was so proud about it, it was amazing to see how people of my ancestor's land (where they have to escape because of Turkish people) were asking me to go back to play there, it was something unbelievable to me and my family, in particular for me and my brother, as we used to follow Armenian soccer.

When asked a question about you, the president of Armenian football federation said when they invited you, you told that it was a birthday of your mother-in-law and you can't come. Is it true?

Come on!! Really??

Didn't you regret about rejecting invitation of the Armenia national team?

I have never rejected it.

You were very strong player in Argentina. Was moving to Europe a mistake?

In football, you never know what can happen. Every decision that I take, for me it's the best ‎one, because it's already taken, and I'm not regretting any of them.

Now you are again in Uruguay. What can you say about this period of your life?

I have become a daddy in June of this year, so my decision to stay here was based on my baby, so she can stay with our family during the first month of her life.

Mauro Guevgeozian from Uruguay is playing for the Armenian football national team. Do you know him?

I think that to ask Mauro to join the national team was a perfect choice. He is a really good player, strong, top scorer, good technic, intelligent, and he is ready to run till he's dead. I have learnt much from him.

Do you keep in touch with Armenians and Armenian diaspora in Argentina and Uruguay?

Yes, I am still in contact with a lot o people from the diaspora, especially in Uruguay, because I went to an Armenian school and high school, UGAB.

If there is one more chance to join Armenia national team, will you accept it?

‎It depends on the moment of my career. It does not depend on an invitation from Uruguay, it's not a competition for me.

Do you watch Armenian squad's matches?

When they show it on TV (it's doesn't happen normally over here) I watch them, sometimes also on the Internet.

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