International FIFA experts Gaioz Darsadze (Georgia) and Raimondas Statkevicius (Lithuania) are currently in Ashgabat on a working visit. The purpose of the visit is to conduct training seminars for specialists of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan (FFT) and to develop a current strategy for the advancement of this mass sport in the country.
During a meeting held at the “Yyldyz” Hotel, dedicated to the development of amateur football, FIFA Regional Technical Consultant Gaioz Darsadze shared his impressions of working in Turkmenistan with a correspondent of “GA” and spoke about FIFA’s global initiatives.
According to the expert, FIFA has conducted a large-scale study of the amateur football environment in 185 countries. Turkmenistan has become one of the platforms for implementing the world’s best practices thanks to strong state support for sports.
“In Turkmenistan, we see that the Federation has already taken serious steps. Our recommendation is simple: in order to improve the professional football landscape in the long term, it is necessary to create a strong platform within the amateur sector,” noted Gaioz Darsadze.
The expert identified the “Football in Schools” program as a key development tool. It is not only a platform for training players for professional clubs and the national team, but also an important social alternative to modern gadgets, promoting a healthy lifestyle among young people.
FIFA pays special attention to the “Talent Development Scheme.” Together with the FFT Technical Department, work is underway on the modern identification of talented players. In this context, the launch of an expanded “Football for Schools” program is planned for 2027.
Darsadze specified the priority areas of cooperation for the coming years. These include education, extensive training of coaching staff and technical leaders, and inclusivity, which provides for the development of women’s football and professional youth football.
Gaioz Darsadze separately highlighted the successes of FC “Arkadag”, calling himself a devoted fan and a friend of the club. He expressed gratitude to the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for their significant contribution to the development of national and international sports, as well as for the high-quality expansion of Turkmenistan’s football infrastructure.
In conclusion, the expert wished FC “Arkadag” success in their upcoming AFC Champions League Two Round of 16 match against Saudi Arabia’s “Al-Nassr”.
