There is a brand new energy in Central Asian soccer and, a 12 months in the past, it didn’t even exist.
Turkmenistan’s Arkadag FC kicked their first-ever ball in a aggressive sport simply in April with a 2-1 win over Merw within the nation’s prime division. They then strolled to the league title by profitable each match within the 24-game league season.
By the tip, the champions of the nine-team league scored 83 objectives and conceded solely 17.
It is probably not that stunning that this utterly new membership has instantly change into dominant at residence.
They are one of many initiatives began by former president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who was identified to the nation of six million as “Arkadag” – a nickname which interprets to “Hero Protector”. The ruler, who took energy in 2006, handed the reins of state to his son Serdar Berdymukhamedov in 2022 however continues to be very a lot on the political scene.
One of his greatest legacies is the development of a wise metropolis, which price about $5bn, additionally referred to as Arkadag, based mostly within the south of the nation close to the capital, Ashgabat. It was rapidly determined that the 70,000 or so residents of this contemporary metropolis wanted a brand new membership.
Berdymukhamedov senior was not simply concerned within the naming of the group but additionally designed the brand, which is that of a horse, a recurring picture within the president’s tenure throughout which he was usually portrayed on horseback.
‘It’s mainly the nationwide group’
Ahead of the 2023 season, this new membership moved into the switch market and signed a lot of the nation’s prime gamers reminiscent of nationwide group captain Arslanmyrat Amanov and star striker Altymyrat Annadurdyyew. In a current squad named for World Cup qualification, 14 of the 26 chosen had been Arkadag gamers.
“At a certain point the president decided to have his own club and they now have the best players,” Alisher Nikimbaev, former supervisor of the Uzbekistan nationwide group and an Asian Football Confederation official, informed Al Jazeera.
“This is now basically the national team of Turkmenistan playing in a local competition. They are winning everything. It is no surprise as they have the administration behind them but this is a normal situation in Turkmenistan.”
Turkmenistan has been in contrast with North Korea by way of the persona cults that encompass its leaders and in addition because it is likely one of the most secretive, remoted and authoritarian nations on the earth.
According to Al Jazeera sources, there have been rumblings of discontent from followers of different golf equipment at the truth that the switch window was prolonged so Arkadag might full all of the participant signings it needed. There has additionally been grumbling over perceived beneficial choices from referees, reminiscent of a controversial resolution given within the closing seconds towards Sagadam in November that ensured a 3-2 victory.
“Publicly there is no objection as people here are used to living under a dictatorship and are used to not saying whatever they think,” mentioned Nikimbaev.
It can be arduous to genuinely say what sort of enthusiasm exists within the new metropolis for the brand new group. The 10,000 capability Arkadag Stadium is full on match days however Nikimbaev identified that the stands look regimented.
“There are not many fans, it is all organised and they are groups who all come in the same uniform.”
Central Asia
Arkadag’s story isn’t distinctive within the area. In 2013, Astana FC was included into the Astana Presidential Sports Club, a venture of then-President Nursultan Nazarbayev which acquired monetary backing from Samruk-Kazyna, a sovereign wealth fund created by Nazarbayev in 2008.
The membership then gained the subsequent six league titles within the nation and has performed within the UEFA Champions League, essentially the most prestigious membership competitors on the earth.
In 2008, Uzbekistan made headlines around the globe as Bunyodkor FC signed Brazilian famous person Rivaldo after which performed a pleasant sport towards Barcelona. The Tashkent-based membership, which then went on to win 5 of the subsequent six league titles and reached the final 4 of the Asian Champions League in 2009, was intently linked to Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of President Islam Karimov.
“It’s part of a campaign by the president to win popularity for his daughter,” former British ambassador to the nation Craig Murray mentioned in 2009. “I hear that she will eventually replace him as president. The regime is trying to win popularity by the old-fashioned bread and circuses method.”
It didn’t work as she was jailed after her father died in 2016.
Over in Dushanbe, Istiklol have dominated the Tajikistan league since 2007. It was co-founded by the son of President Emomali Rahmon. Rustam Emomali additionally went on to play for the group, solely stopping in 2012 when he turned president of the nation’s soccer affiliation.
Istiklol even made the Asian Champions League, the continent’s premier membership competitors, famously defeating Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in 2021.
Mubin Ergashev was the coach on the time.
“Arkadag have a project and a plan and like Istiklol, what they need is time and to develop understanding between their players,” Ergashev, who additionally coached the Tajikistan nationwide group, informed Al Jazeera, including that they might want to enhance their squad with overseas gamers to problem for trophies in Asia.
With home domination full, that’s the subsequent step. Arkadag will take part within the AFC Cup, the continent’s second-tier competitors.
“They have the best players so in the short term, maybe the club can achieve something in Asia,” mentioned Nikimbaev. “In the long term, it won’t be successful as the dominance of Arkadag will bring down the level of competition in Turkmenistan.”
Istiklol reached the ultimate of the AFC Cup in 2015 and 2017 however Ergashev is uncertain as as to whether there will probably be any worldwide glory for Arkadag – each membership and former president – to take pleasure in.
“We will have to wait and see what happens when they play next year,” mentioned Ergashev.
The coach can be involved about the usual of the league in Turkmenistan if it stays too straightforward for Arkadag FC.
“It isn’t good if the best team in a country does not have a rival.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2023/12/29/arkadag-fc-turkmenistan-football-project-asia-afc?traffic_source=rss
