The head coach of the Uzbekistan national team, Timur Kapadze, and our player, Odiljon Hamrobekov, participated in a press conference ahead of the match against the Kyrgyz Republic.
Timur Kapadze:
– Tomorrow, we have an exciting match ahead. We can already feel how important it is. The preparation is going well, and we will try our best to win at home, with our fans. I have played against the Kyrgyz Republic in the past as a player, but now the situation is completely different. Football is developing there as well.
The guys are ready for the match, and everyone is in good health. Since it’s FIFA days, most of our legionnaires joined the camp later. I believe our players will show their best performance. Injuries are an inseparable part of football because real battles take place on the field. A national team player must always be ready for any situation. Of course, every player has their place, but other players in our squad will also perform at a high level, and the absence of Khusniddin Alikulov will not be felt.
Oston Urunov felt uncomfortable during yesterday’s training and couldn’t perform fully, but now he is under the care of our doctors. We have also called up Hojimat Erkinov because every player is important to us. Football is a team game, so each player should be able to fill in for one another.
We are playing at home, so we will give our all. Every match so far has been under high pressure, but the players have endured it and achieved the necessary results.
I made history by becoming the first coach to secure an Olympic qualification. Now, I have an important task ahead of me. Together with my team, we must fulfill this task. If we gain the necessary points, we won’t have to worry about other games in the group. That’s the most important thing.
Our main focus is on tomorrow’s game. Regardless of how the match goes, we will do everything to prevent the opponent from having any chances and to win. If luck is on our side, we will have our faces bright in front of our fans.
Odiljon Hamrobekov:
– First of all, on behalf of the players, I would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Srechko Katanes for his three and a half years of service. We wish him good health. We all feel how important tomorrow’s match is. As a team, we need to act with unity and fulfill the task ahead. We have prepared thoroughly for this with the entire team.
On the field, it’s not about names, it’s about the players’ actions. If we underestimate the opponent, that will be our biggest mistake. Our desire must be stronger than that of the opponent if we want to show our superiority. This is where the players’ level is demonstrated. We respect the Kyrgyz Republic, but in 90 minutes, any opponent can be defeated. The current situation of the opponent should not distract us.
Playing in a full stadium with the fans’ support helps the home team in every way, while also increasing the responsibility on the players. The condition of the pitch in our domestic league games has been excellent. I don’t think this will be an issue for us.
