President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited a National football center built in Yukorichirchik district.
Two years ago the Head of State paid a visit here and emphasized the need of developing a modern complex on the territory adjacent to its own stadium. Soon, on November 3, 2023 a decree of the President “On measures on expanding the network of football education institutions and developing football infrastructure in line with international standards”, was signed.
The center, commissioned on the eve of Independence Day celebrations, has become an important link in the development of national football. It can simultaneously host training camps for six national teams. For this purpose, stadiums, educational buildings, sports halls and a hotel have been built. Additional conditionals are created due to the beach football field, an indoor futsal arena, a swimming pool and a rehabilitation department.
The complex houses four specialized structures for training professional football players and experts: the Center for football specialist training and research, the National football teams training center, the Republican football academy, and the Center for sports medicine and rehabilitation.
The President got acquainted with the conditions created in these organizations. At the Center for sports medicine and rehabilitation modern foreign equipment was installed, advanced approaches were implemented allowing football players to quickly recover after exercise.
The Football academy conducts the selection and training of young talents. To organize the process at an international level, specialists from Argentina, Hungary and Croatia have been invited to the center. They are involved in preparing qualified coaches, referees, analysts, scouts and football managers. A VAR center has also been established within the complex.
The Head of State spoke with sports veterans and young football players, emphasizing that football is the most popular sport in Uzbekistan and that its development will continue consistently.
In recent years, Uzbekistan’s football system has undergone major qualitative changes: from children’s football and amateur clubs to academies, clubs and national championships. These efforts have already generated results. The most significant milestone was the historic achievement of the Uzbekistan national team qualifying for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time.
Another bright victory was in April at the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, where the U-17 national team took first place and earned a spot in the World Cup.
The President met with these young football heroes and expressed his deep appreciation:
– We strive to take a worthy place in the world in all spheres. Our athletes are capable of achieving this faster than others. With your determined victory, you have once again proven that if our people work hard and move forward, they can achieve anything. Through you, the whole world has seen the new generation of Uzbekistan – determined, proud and never giving up. From now on, we will support football even more than before. You are the trust of our people and the joy of the President, – said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The athletes thanked the Head of State for the conditions created and promised to live up to the trust of the nation.