The Uzbekistan national team achieved a historic result and qualified for the World Cup for the first time. After a crucial match against Qatar, our experienced defender Farrukh Sayfiyev answered questions from Zamin.uz reporters and openly expressed his feelings.
— I sincerely congratulate the entire Uzbek people, football enthusiasts, and all our compatriots who appreciate the hard work of our national team, — said Sayfiyev. — Qualifying for the World Cup has been a dream for Uzbekistan. This journey was not easy. Over the past four years, we worked with maximum dedication every day, in every training session, and in every match. The conditions created by our leadership, coaching staff, and, of course, our president gave us additional motivation and confidence. We have once again proven that the key to any success is unity and selflessness.
As Sayfiyev emphasized, one should not think that all work is done just because we qualified for the World Cup.
— Our goal is to make our voice heard at the World Cup and to defend the honor of our country. There is still great responsibility and new challenges ahead. We are not just going to participate in the World Cup; we will fight for maximum performance and victories, — said the defender.
According to Farrukh Sayfiyev, the success of the national team was significantly influenced by the change of coaches, with each mentor contributing their share and experience.
— Since 2021, there have been significant changes in our team. Srechko Katanes set his demands as the head coach. Before him, we learned unique qualities from Timur aka as well. There were good and tough times with every coach, every game, and every stage, but we were united in spirit. Matches against teams that many considered easy opponents, especially games against North Korea, were complex and intense. In modern football, winning requires strong motivation, unity, and an unquenchable desire, — says the player.
In conclusion, Sayfiyev called on all fans and the country's football community to strive for new achievements at the World Cup:
— We are still at the beginning of the main road. Today's success is a door to great opportunities. We will always move forward and defend the honor of our country!
