Former Uzbekistan national football team striker Jafar Irismetov in an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net commented on the team's qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games.
On April 29, the Uzbekistan youth national team defeated Indonesia and advanced to the final of the AFC U-23 Championship. This result secured a direct qualification for the Olympic Games.
I congratulate all Uzbek people on our first qualification for the Olympics. I am very happy. Many generations of footballers could not achieve this. God has granted it to us. I am very happy for the boys, they are really one of the strongest generations. We believed that they could make it until the end.
Jafar Irismetov exclusively for Telecom Asia Sport
“Our team is the leader, their coach is a leader. You could say everyone deserves it. I cannot single out anyone. Everyone fought valiantly, even those who came off the bench. Doctors, masseurs, the head coach, assistants, I believe they all deserve praise. I can single out everyone. What the Football Federation has done has paid off. This Olympic team has been playing together for almost 3 years. I believe everything will be fine.
There is still time until the Olympics. I think, first we need to take first place, and then we can think about the Olympics. I believe our boys can handle this group. I think they should advance from the group, and then we’ll see about their next opponent. We will continue to believe in them until the end.
This is the future of the national team. The boys are great. I congratulate all Uzbek people on the great victory of our boys. I believe no one was indifferent. That was a very decent game," Irismetov said.