Kazakhstan’s national football team aims for World Cup qualification but has struggled historically, ranking 120th in the world. In contrast, the country excels in futsal, currently ranked seventh globally, thanks to private investments and Brazilian expertise. While Kairat has achieved notable club success, infrastructure challenges persist in football development, emphasizing the disparity in growth between the two formats.
Kazakhstan’s national football team faces World Cup champions France in a qualifying match, where France is expected to win. However, in futsal, Kazakhstan boasts a stronger reputation, ranking seventh in the world, outperforming France by 16 spots. Heavy investment and Brazilian expertise have transformed Kazakhstan into a futsal powerhouse after years of stagnation in traditional football.
Kazakhstan ranks poorly in 11-a-side football, sitting at 120th globally, while its women’s team recently completed a winless Euro 2022 qualifying campaign. Conversely, the country’s futsal clubs, especially Kairat, have achieved significant success, including winning the Champions League in both 2013 and 2015. The national team’s futsal emergence began in the 2000 World Cup, despite a heavy 12-1 defeat to Brazil in their debut.
Yermek Tursunov, a player from that squad, noted that political interference hindered their preparation as the coaching staff was frequently changed. This instability contributed to Kazakhstan’s early exit from several futsal World Cups. Today, Brazilian coaches Kaka and Cacau, alongside naturalized players, have greatly influenced the national team’s success, highlighting the shift from past misfortunes to current competitiveness.
Prominent players like goalkeeper Leo Higuita and forward Douglas Junior exemplify this new talent, attracting international attention after being discovered by businessman Kairat Orazbekov. His club’s scouting efforts have contributed to the development of local talent, bolstering the overall growth of futsal in Kazakhstan, which now poses a challenge even to established teams like Barcelona.
Dinmukhambet Suleimenov, Kazakhstan’s most capped player, has experienced both the struggles and triumphs of Kazakh futsal, noting a critical victory against Portugal in 2015 as a key moment. On the youth side, futsal’s future appears promising, with many schools now equipped with futsal pitches, while traditional football continues to lag due to insufficient infrastructure, as pointed out by Orazbekov, who emphasizes the importance of adequate facilities for sports development.
Original Source: tribune.com.pk
