Oriented on making people closer

The coaching staff headed by Mergen Orazov announced the composition of the players for the training camp, which will be held from March 25 to March 30 in the UAE. However, before that, the national team will have a debut meeting with the Malaysian players for the newly minted coach, which will take place on March 23 in Johor.

In January 2023, it became known about the appointment of Mergen Orazov as the head coach of the national team of Turkmenistan. He replaced Yazguly Hojageldiyev, who failed to lead the Turkmen football players to the final part of the Asian Cup-2023.

As for Orazov, under the guidance of a 34-year-old specialist, Ahal won the first national championship in the club's history, and the mentor himself was recognized as the best coach of Turkmenistan in the 2022 season.

Before flying to Malaysia, the team held a week-long training camp in Ashgabat, according to the results of which the head coach announced the final list of 24 players.

An amazing fact is that the goalkeeper position was taken by new players who were absent from the application for the qualifying tournament of the Asian Cup-2023.

If everything is clear with the non-appearance of Mamed Orazmuhammedov, who announced his retirement, then the absence of ex-goalkeeper of "Abdysh-Ata" Rahat Japarov, who was recognized as the best goalkeeper of the Kyrgyz Premier League (KPL) season 2022, raises questions.

This time, the coaching staff also gave preference to the best goalkeeper of the 2022 season, but of the highest league of Turkmenistan, 22-year-old goalkeeper of Altyn Asyr, Resul Charyyev, who already has experience playing for the national team, and Gurbanmyrat Garayev from Shagadam.

The defensive line was also replenished with new surnames that were absent last year - Ibrahim Mamedov and Shohrat Soyunov (both "Akhal") joined the list. The latter, by the way, has a rich experience of playing for the national team.

The midfield line also looks updated. The newly–minted coach called Yakup Maksatov (Kopetdag), Mirza Beknazarov, who recently became a player of the Estonian Narva Trance, Ilya Tamurkin, Arzuvguly Sapargulyyev (both "Ahal") and Ruslan Mingazov ("Kitchee", Hong Kong).

Another interesting fact is that 12 Ahal football players were included in the final list at once, that is, half of the declared ones. There are seven people from "Altyn Asyr" in the application, two from "Kopetdag" and one representative of "Shagadam". Two more are representatives of foreign clubs.

The attacking line is radically different from last year. It includes the best scorer of Turkmenistan - 2022 Didar Durdyyev ("Altyn asyr"), Meylis Diniyev, Shanazar Tirkishov (both "Akhal").

It is worth noting that in addition to adult and experienced players like Mekan Saparov, Altymyrat Annadurdiyev, Ruslan Mingazov and Arslanmyrat Amanov, young and promising players like Resul Charyyev, Meylis Diniyev and Mirza Beknazarov are attracted to the national team.

The upcoming training camps and a friendly match will be the preliminary stages of the preparation of the Turkmenistan national team for the 2023 CAFA Championship and the qualifying matches of the 2026 World Cup.

By the way, the national team of Turkmenistan has already played a match with Malaysia. Then, in June 2022, as part of the selection for the Asian Cup-2023, luck smiled on the Malaysian football players, who won with a score of 3:1.

The current meeting is an opportunity to take revenge, and for the newly minted coach it is an attempt to remind that the appointment to a responsible position will soon bring proper fruits for domestic football.

Below we offer you to learn more about the composition of the national team of Turkmenistan:

Goalkeepers: Resul Charyyev - "Altyn Asyr", Gurbanmyrat Garayev - "Shagadam".

Defenders: Hoshgeldi Hodjov, Mekan Saparov – both "Altyn Asyr", Yakup Maksatov – "Kopetdag", Shohrat Soyunov, Abdy Byashimov, Ata Geldiyev, Ibraim Mamedov - all "Ahal".

Midfielders: Ilya Tamurkin, Resul Hodjayev, Arslanmyrat Amanov, Elman Tagayev, Arzuvguly Sapargulyyev - all "Ahal", Ahmed Ataev, Myrat Annaev, Yhlas Saparmammedov - all "Altyn Asyr", Begench Akmammedov - "Kopetdag", Ruslan Mingazov – "Kitchee", Hong Kong, Mirza Beknazarov - "Narva Trance".

Forwards: Didar Durdyyev – "Altyn Asyr", Meylis Diniyev, Altymyrat Annadurdyev, Shanazar Tirkishov - all "Ahal".

ORIENT news

Photo: Football Federation of Turkmenistan