The head coach of the Uzbekistan U-17 national team, Sergey Chigodayev, recently gave an extensive interview to Kazakhstan's "Futbol Joli" YouTube channel. In it, he discussed not only his own career but also the most pressing issues in today's Uzbek football. In particular, he provided detailed answers to questions about the national team's chances of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in history.
It is known that Sergey Chigodayev is the first coach of Abduqodir Husanov, who has become the most famous Uzbek footballer today and plays for Manchester City. He has trained Abduqodir from the age of seven at the "Bunyodkor" club academy until he was 16, helping to develop his talent.
The Uzbekistan national team will play a decisive match against the United Arab Emirates on June 5 in the World Cup qualifying stage. A victory in this game could take Uzbekistan to the World Cup for the first time in history.
"If Uzbekistan qualifies for the World Cup, it will be a sensation even bigger than Abduqodir Husanov's transfer to Manchester City," emphasized Sergey Chigodayev. According to him, everyone in the country – players, coaches, and millions of fans – is eagerly awaiting this historic event. "This dream has found a place in the hearts of every Uzbek. Such an achievement will take football in the country to a new level and serve as unprecedented motivation for the younger generation," he added.
In the interview, Chigodayev also spoke about the new generation of Uzbek footballers. He answered questions about the success of the Uzbekistan U-17 national team, which recently won the Asian Championship in Saudi Arabia and attracted the attention of the entire continent.
"Soon, players from the youth national team that participated in the Olympic Games and the U-17 national team, which became the Asian champion, will be playing in prestigious European clubs. International 'hunting' for these players has already begun. Even agents and scouts are reaching out to me for information," said Chigodayev.
He noted that previously, football agents mainly traveled to Africa to search for young and promising talents. However, their focus has now shifted to Uzbekistan. "Due to the results achieved in competitions, especially at the youth and junior levels, Uzbekistan has become the center of attention for international agents and coaches. There are many real talents among the youth here, and there is significant interest in them. European clubs have seriously begun to select talents from Uzbekistan," the expert emphasized.
A clear example of this situation is Abduqodir Husanov, who currently plays for one of the strongest clubs in world football – Manchester City. Abduqodir also attracted the attention of foreign clubs by showcasing his skills in international competitions at the youth and junior levels – the Asian Championship for under-20s held in Tashkent and the World Cup in Argentina.
Thus, the Uzbekistan national team's qualification for the World Cup will not only be a great honor for the country but also a significant event that opens the door to Europe for young footballers. This signifies the beginning of a new era in Uzbek football.
Undoubtedly, the match on June 5 will be one of the most important days in the entire history of football in the country. For fans, players, and coaches – for the entire Uzbek nation, this game could be not just a sports competition but a major historical event and the realization of dreams. This historic event on the international stage will undoubtedly open new horizons for the younger generation.
