The capital derby between «Ashgabat» and «Kopetdag» kicked off the 32nd Turkmenistan Football Championship among major league clubs.
The game took place on the territory of the Sports Complex, located in the Babarap gengeshlik of the Gokdepe etrap, Ahal velayat.
Last year, «Ashgabat» took 5th place in the championship with 30 points, and «Kopetdag» finished in sixth position with 28 points.
In anticipation of this season, the compositions of both teams have undergone significant changes.
«Ashgabat» parted ways with five football players: Hydyrgeldi Atajanov, Begmyrat Arbatov and Rovshen Baylyyev moved to «Shagadam», Bashim Gurbanberdiyev - in «Nebitchi», and Sohbet Allanurov - in «Merv». In their place came: Azat Annayev, Oraz Orazov, Didar Didarov, Nurmyrat Rozyyev, Begli Nurmyradov from «Altyn Asyr», Atageldi Geldiyev, Azatmuhammet Hojamuhammedov, Movlamberdi Goshshanov from Ahal, Dovletniyaz Berdiyev from «Kopetdag» and Yenish Seydiyev from the youth team.
Four players left «Kopetdag» in the winter transfer window: Shamammet Hydyrov went to «Arkadag», Azizbek Bekchanov and Ilyas Charyyev to «Ahal», and Dovletniyaz Berdiyev to «Ashgabat». Among the newcomers, the team of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan was replenished: Myrat Yagshyyev from «Merv» and Ezizmammet Orazmammedov from «Shagadam».
Both clubs prepared for the championship in different conditions. Ashgabat players held a pre-season training camp in Abu Dhabi (UAE), where they played test matches with Moscow «Lokomotiv» (0:3) and Dubai «Gulf United» (1:3). And «Kopetdag» trained in Ashgabat, where, as part of a friendly match, they beat the reserve team of «Ahal» - 3:1.
The opening match of the championship was a bitter struggle and ended in a draw - 0:0.
«Ashgabat» will play its next match on the 7th of March away against Mary «Energetik», and «Kopetdag» will play at home on the 10th of March also against «Energetik».
The first round of the national championship will continue on the 4th of March with the matches: «Altyn Asyr» - «Shagadam», «Nebitchi» - «Merv» and «Ahal» - «Energetik».
Let us remind you that the medals of the Turkmenistan Championship 2024 are being contested by 9 teams, which, unlike last year, will play each other not in three, but in four rounds. Three clubs – «Altyn Asyr», «Ashgabat» and «Kopetdag» represent the capital. «Nebitchi» from Balkanabat and «Shagadam» from Turkmenbashy are in Balkan velayat, «Merv» and «Energetik» are in Mary velayat, «Ahal» are in Ahal velayat, and the current champion «Arkadag» is the city of national importance of the same name.
Arkadag will play its first match on the 7th of March at home against the vice-champion «Altyn Asyr».
