New UFA president Bakhodir Kurbanov sets digitalization as a priority

Bakhodir Kurbanov, who was recently elected as the president of the Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA) at an extraordinary congress, outlined his primary goals and objectives for the future of Uzbek football.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the delegates for considering my candidacy worthy of the presidency of the UFA. Football is the most popular and beloved sport in Uzbekistan. Our esteemed President Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev has signed numerous important documents aimed at developing football in our country and elevating it to new heights. As a result, our football has witnessed significant progress in recent years.

Several projects are currently being implemented in collaboration with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to enhance our football infrastructure and provide better facilities for players. Our junior and youth national teams have achieved remarkable success on the international stage. For the first time in history, our U-23 national team participated in the Summer Olympics, while our U-20 national team was crowned the best in Asia. Additionally, our youth team secured a place among the top eight at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Uzbekistan has also gained recognition as a host of major international football tournaments. FIFA President Gianni Infantino even declared that the 2024 World Cup hosted by Uzbekistan was the best in history. My task as the new president is to continue this development and utilize all available opportunities to achieve even greater results,” said Kurbonov.

He also emphasized the importance of collective efforts in advancing Uzbek football and called for the support of all specialists in the field.

“I hope that everyone involved in football will approach their duties with the responsibility to justify the trust placed in them by our head of state and meet the expectations of our fans. Dear participants of the congress, from today, I need your knowledge, skills, and support. I believe that together we can accomplish this crucial task.

Our national team will soon take part in the decisive matches of the World Cup qualifying round. Qualifying for the World Cup is the long-cherished dream of our people. We also have significant tasks ahead, such as earning the trust of fans, filling stadiums, and ensuring honesty and transparency in football. I strongly believe that by working together with football experts and the media, we can achieve our goals.

We will begin our first steps toward the digitalization of football. Digitalization will enhance transparency, improve the training of young players, and introduce a scientific approach to player development. Once again, I sincerely thank the participants of the congress, and I will do my utmost to justify your trust,” concluded Bakhodir Kurbanov.