December 4, 2020
The 2020 regular season of the Uzbekistan Super League has now just concluded, with Pakhtakor Tashkent winning the league by 12 points ahead of Nasaf Qarshi, with AGMK a further 4 points behind in third place.
History
The Uzbekistan Professional League was created in 1992 following Uzbekistan’s independence after the break-up of the Soviet Union. Previously, the league in Uzbekistan operated as part of the regional structure of the Soviet Union, with Pakhtakor Tashkent participating in the Soviet Top league in 22 of its seasons. For sponsorship reasons the competition is currently known as the Coca Cola Uzbekistan Super League.
Pakhtakor have won the most titles ( 12 including this year ), then come Bunyodkor and Neftchi Farg’ona with 5 titles, followed by Lokomotiv Tashkent with 3 championship wins.
The National Side
The Uzbekistan national side are currently ranked 85th in the world, just below Oman, Benin and Haiti but above Israel, Belarus and Georgia, making them 12th best in Asia. They did get as high as 45th in 2006 but dropped to 109th in 2010 and 95th in 2018. Their average position since the FIFA world rankings were created is 74th. The local nickname for the national side is the White Wolves.
Despite being historically the best country in Central Asia, Uzbekistan have never qualified for the World Cup Finals, their best performances being in 2006 and 2014, both times losing the play-off to be Asia’s representative in the Intercontinental play-offs. In 2006 they were eliminated by Bahrain on away goals after two draws. Three matches were actually played but the first match was ordered to be replayed after a refereeing mistake when a free-kick was awarded for encroachment at a penalty for Uzbekistan when the correct decision should have been for the penalty to be re-taken. In 2014 the Uzbeks lost a penalty shoot-out 9-8 to Jordan after two 1-1 draws.
In contrast, Uzbekistan have qualified for every Asian Cup Finals they have participated in. For the 2019 competition, Uzbekistan topped a qualifying group ahead of North Korea, Philippines, Bahrain and Yemen, winning 7 and losing one of their 8 matches. In the finals held in the UAE, Uzbekistan qualified in second place from their group, beating Oman ( 2-1 ) and Turkmenistan ( 4-0 ) and losing to Japan ( 1-2 ), but were eliminated in the last 16 on penalties by Australia after a 0-0 draw.
In November Uzbekistan played friendlies in the UAE against Syria ( 0-1 ) and Iraq ( 1-2 ) but for logistical reasons selected only players with clubs in Uzbekistan ( 5 from Pakhtakor Tashkent, 5 from Nasaf, 4 from Bunyodkor, 2 from Kokand 1912, 2 from Lokomotiv Tashkent and one each from Navbahor Namangan and Metallurg Bekabad ), plus two players with clubs in South Korea ( defenders Rustam Ashurmatov at Gwangju and Jamshid Iskanderov at Seongnam ) and one in the UAE ( midfielder Azizjon Ganiev at Shabab Al Ahli ).
A stronger squad was selected for their friendlies in October, a 1-2 home loss to Iran and a 2-1 win in UAE, including Eldor Shomurdov ( Genoa ), Jasurbek Yakshiboev ( Shakhtyor Soligorsk ), Oston Uronov ( Spartak Moscow ), Ikromjon Alibaev ( FC Seoul ) and Islom Tukhtakhodjaev ( Shenyang, China ).
Although no Uzbek player has played professionally in the UK ( as far as I know ! ), followers of the Belarus Premier League will be familiar with the Uzbeks at Energetik BGU, Shahboz Umarov and Khumoyunmirzo Iminov, plus of course, Yakshiboev.
Perhaps the most distinguished footballer post-independence from Uzbekistan is Maxim Shatskish, who played between 1999 to 2009 at Dynamo Kiev scoring 142 times, including 23 in European competitions. He is also the record goal scorer for the Uzbekistan national team with 34 goals. Two of those goals came in 1999 in a 6-0 win over Bangladesh in an Asian Cup qualifier in Al Ain, UAE that I attended !
League Structure
Due to the harsh winter climate the Uzbek football season is typically played between late February and October, but due to the Covid pandemic the season was suspended on March 16th after three rounds of fixtures. The league recommenced on June 13th but suffered another hiatus between July 15th and August 14th due to a worsening of the pandemic in the country, resulting in the regular league season being extended to December 3rd.
The Uzbekistan league is currently ranked 10th by AFC which enables the winners to qualify for the group phases of the 2021 AFC Champions League and the winner of the Uzbek Cup going into the qualifying play-offs. If the cup winners are also the champions then the runner-up in the league will be the side into the qualifying play-off. ( For the 2020 AFC CL, Uzbekistan were ranked 9th which gave an extra place into the qualifying play-offs )
The league consists of 14 sides who play each other twice times. The side finishing bottom of the league is automatically relegated to the Uzbekistan Pro League, whilst the 13th placed team has a two legged play-off against the second placed club in the Pro League.
The Second level Pro League consists of 8 sides in 2020, who play a 20 match season. After each has played each other twice the top 4 form a promotion group for 6 more matches, whilst the bottom 4 do likewise. The side finishing last is relegated to the third level of football in Uzbekistan
Attendances
When the league resumed after the Covid suspension matches were played behind closed doors. From October 17th onwards, increasing numbers of restricted attendances were allowed, with 5,978 attending the Lokomotiv vs Pakhtakor Tashkent derby. In the three rounds prior to the break, the highest attendance was 25,328 to watch Navbahor Namangen vs Lokomotiv.
In 2019 the average attendance in the league was 5,486, with Navbahor being the best supported side with an average of 9,721. Next came Nasaf Qarshi with 8,316, followed by Pakhtakor ( 7,428 ) and Buxoro ( 7,149 )
How To Watch
Uzbekistan Super League matches are streamed live on MyCujoo, and can also be watched in full after the event. There is also a helpful highlights option to select the main incidents from the game.
Highlights are available on the Championatasia YouTube channel, and also on the league website site ( www.pfl.uz ). The English language www.sport.uz also has reports, news and highlights. The YouTube PFL Uzbekistan channel also has highlights of most matches.
YouTube channel FutbalTV Uzbekistan has one complete match from each round of the Pro League.
The national teams’ International friendlies in October and November were streamed live on YouTube on the Uzbekistan FA channel.
Summary Of The Season
The season began on February 27th with 15,320 watching last season’s double winners Pakhtakor beating Navbahor Namangen, including a huge number of visiting fans. With Pakhtakor coached by Georgia’s ex Ajax and Rangers forward Shota Arveladze and Navbahor by ex Manchester United and Everton Russian speedster Andrei Kanchelskis, an open and skilful match might have been anticipated, but this was a brutal, bad tempered and controversial encounter with a red card a piece and countless yellow cards, something not unusual in the Uzbekistan Super League ! In some other countries there could easily have been 4 or 5 straight red cards, and I dread to think what VAR would have made of it. The referee’s job wasn’t made any easier with the players also going to ground too easily and exaggerating injuries. Pakhtakor trailed 0-1 at half-time but won the match 2-1 with the winning goal in the 88th minute.
After the match Navbahor made an official complaint about the referee’s performance, which looked like sour grapes as far as I could see, but after they won their next fixture at home 2-0 to Lokomotiv Tashkent, Lokomotiv made a complaint about the referee favouring Navbahor to balance out the previous week’s game !! This also appeared to be groundless……
By the time the season was suspended after three rounds of fixtures Pakhtakor and Nasaf Qarshi held 100% records, and AGMK were the only other unbeaten side but had drawn twice. Kokand 1912, Bunyodkor and Lokomotiv Tashkent had won 2 out of three, whilst at the bottom end of the table Buxoro were the only side without a point ( and were also without a goal ).
The league resumed on June 13th and round 4 saw a huge surprise as Pakhtakor slumped to a 0-1 defeat at previously winless Sogdiana Jizzakh, who could even afford to miss a penalty. Although Nasaf could only draw 2-2 at home to Navbahor it was enough to elevate them to the top of the table, whilst Bunyodkor moved level with Pakhtakor.
Round 5 saw the eagerly anticipated Pakhtakor vs Bunyodkor derby but any hopes of Bunyodkor beating their arch rivals quickly disappeared as Pakhtakor raced to a 4-0 lead by half-time and cruised to a 5-0 victory. With Nasaf being held 0-0 at Mash Al Mubarek, Pakhtakor moved back to the top of the table and AGMK joined Nasaf as unbeaten with 11 points.
Round 7 saw the two unbeaten sides meet and AGMK emerged as the main challengers to Pakhtakor with a 2-1 win, which saw Nasaf drop to 7th in the table. Kokand moved to third with their 5th win in 7 matches, but Pakhtakor remained top with 6 wins out of 7.
The season was suspended again in mid-July, with all but one match from Round 9 completed. Round 9 saw Pakhtakor and AGMK face-off in Tashkent but honours were even after a 2-2 draw, keeping Pakhtakor one point ahead of AGMK and 5 points ahead of improving Navbahor.
Matches recommenced on August 14th but the next major change in the title race occurred in Round 12. As Pakhtakor were demolishing city rivals Lokomotiv 7-0, AGMK were held 1-1 at home by Navbahor, extending the gap at the top to 4 points. As the matches were arriving thick and fast AGMK were then surprising held at bottom side 2-2 Buxoro, and with Pakhtakor winning again the gap increased to 5 points.
With Pakhtakor due to head off to the UAE in mid-September to play in the AFC Champions League, the scheduled international break was used to pull forward their next 3 league matches, and although they were held 1-1 at Navabahor, two more wins extended their lead to 12 points, albeit with 3 games more played.
With Pakhtakor away in sunnier climes, AGMK’s mini-slump contained with their first loss of the season, 0-1 at mid table Metallug Bekabad, and another draw, this time 1-1 at home to Sogdiana. So after round 15, Pakhtakor were 11 points clear, albeit from playing a game more, but AGMK were only 1 point ahead of Bunyodkor and Nasaf.
AGMK rediscovered some of their form in a 3-2 win at Bunyodkor, the winner coming 2 minutes from time, to cut the gap to 8 points and with Nasaf winning for a fourth consecutive time they remained one point behind but with a three point cushion from Bunyodkor in fourth.
Pakhtakor returned to league action with the round 19 fixtures but with two matches to catch-up, and their lead was down to just 2 points, and with rock bottom Buxoro again holding one of the top sides, Nasaf were now a further 5 points away.
The title race then took another twist with Nasaf beating AGMK 2-0 at home, and with Pakhtakor winning again it looked almost over. When AGMK then lost 0-1 at Kokand, they lost second place to Nasaf, who were 10 points behind with 5 games to play. With a home game against Pakhtakor the last chance to keep their title race alive, AGMK were crushed 0-6 to put Pakhtakor 10 points clear of Nasaf who had only 4 matches left.
Pakhtakor had the opportunity to win the league in their last catch-up game at deadly rivals Bunyodkor but fell to only their second defeat of the year and had two players sent-off as they went down 2-3 which brought to an end a run of 17 league games unbeaten.
However, they made amend in their next match with a 2-1 win over Kokand to claim the title and with Nasaf losing at Sogdiana, the led by 13 points with just 3 games to play. With the title in the bag, Pakhtakor could avoid to lose 0-3 at Nasaf, a result with also virtually assured second place for Nasaf.
The main interest on the final day, with all fixtures kicking-off at the same time was the battle to avoid relegation. Buxoro stood two points behind Andijon and three behind Surkhon Termez. However, they had to visit AGMK, and although taking the lead through a dubious penalty, they succumbed to a 1-3 defeat to go down to the Pro League. Andijon’s defeat at Pakhtakor sent them to the relegation play-off and Surkhon were safe despite a home defeat to Sogdiana.
There was drama at the last game of the Pro League. Fallen giants Neftchi Farg’ona needed just one point from their home match against Turan to secure automatic promotion. Turon on the other hand needed to win. In anticipation of close, tough encounter in front of a hostile crowd, the Uzbek FA appointed Shavkat Nasibullaev, one of their most experienced officials, to take charge of the match together with a working party of 8 other FA officials to attend the game.
They were not disappointed as in front of over 5,000 fans, a typically uncompromising match was played, full of tough tackling, frequent appeals for free-kicks and much rolling around on the ground. Turan were awarded a hotly disputed early penalty, which was well saved by the Neftchi keeper. With 10 minutes to play Turan took the lead when a long throw was flicked home inside the 6 yard box and with time running out Neftchi’s appeals for a handball inside the Turan area were waved away.
Upon the final whistle, the Turan players celebrated with their officials and fans whilst Neftchi players and coaching staff surrounded the match officials. Things got out of hand as some spectators invaded the pitch, and one Neftchi player gave referee Nasibullaev an Eric Cantona kung-fu style kick. Fortunately the ref was able to get up and run to the safety of the dressing rooms and the Police were able to ensure his assistants came to no harm. A subsequent review by the Uzbek FA has confirmed that all three controversial decisions were correctly handled by the referee and awarded him a rating of 8.3 for the match, and also confirmed none of the officials suffered any injuries. However, the investigation into the events are continuing and appropriate measures will be taken against the perpetrators, and the Police are reported to have opened criminal cases against 11 people. Neftchi are due to face a promotion play-off against Andijon, but it remains to be seen how many of their players will be available to participate………
Another big story in the final week of the season was the news that referee Jasur Mukhtarov has been banned for 5 years for “influencing the course or results of some matches of the Super League and Pro League”, although there was no mention of the games in question. Another referee has been banned from officiating in the 2021 season, whilst a number of fines were administered to a number of assistants, inspectors and club officials.
Apart from the promotion/relegation play-off, the remaining matches in the Uzbek season are the final rounds of the Uzbekistan Cup, which is scheduled to finish before Christmas. The last 16 matches are being played on December 7 & 8, the quarter finals December 12, the semis on December 16, and the final on December 20. At the point the second and last representative in the 2021 AFC Champions League will be known !
Performances In Asian Club Competitions This Season
Pakhtakor’s group stage campaign in the AFC Champions League began in February with two home wins, 2-1 over Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE and 3-0 over Shahr Khodro of Iran, the latter watched by over 19,000 fans in Tashkent. The Covid pandemic then saw the competition suspended, with a decision eventually made to play all of the West Asia region group and knock-out matches in the UAE in September behind closed doors.
Pakhtakor began in the UAE with two matches against local side Al Hilal and lost 1-2 and then drew 0-0. Another 0-0 draw, this time with Shabab Al Ahli took them the break of qualification in second place behind Al Hilal, but the table toppers then succumbed to Covid and did not have enough fit players to fulfil their last fixture. They were deemed by the AFC to have withdrawn from the competition and all their results expunged. This meant Pakhtakor were already through and their final match against Shahr Khodro was to determine whether they finished as group winners or runners-up, and a 1-0 secured top spot and a place in the knock-out stages for the first time since 2010.
Iranian giants and two times AFC CL winners Esteghlal were the opponents in the West Region quarter final and after going behind, goals from Dragan Ceran and Eren Derdiyok gave Pakhtakor a 2-1 win and a place in the Regional semi-final and the last 8 of the overall competition. However, Tehran’s other big club, Persepolis were too strong and Pakhtakor bowed out 0-2 after a fantastic run only bettered by appearances in the overall last 4 in 2003 and 2004, when the competition was much smaller.
Uzbekistan’s two other representatives entered the competition in the Second Preliminary round in January, with Bunyodkor easily overcoming Al Zawraa of Iraq 4-1 but Lokomotiv Tashkent slipped to a disappointing 0-1 home defeat to Istiqol from fierce rivals Tajikistan. Bunyodkor’s participation ended in their next game, with a 0-1 defeat to Al Ain in the UAE.
Club By Club Guide
1. Pakhtakor Tashkent :
Location : Tashkent ( Capital )
Stadium : Pakhtakor Stadium ( capacity 35,000 )
Title Wins : 12
Colours : Blue and Yellow Stripes, Blue shorts
Current members of National Squad : Alijonov ( defender – 8 caps ), Masharipov ( midfield – 31 caps ), Khamadamov ( midfield – 22 caps ), Ismoilev ( midfield – 5 caps ), Erkinov ( midfield – 4 caps )
Recent members of National Squad : Suyanov ( keeper – 25 caps ), Kuvvatov ( keeper – 5 caps ), Sayfiev ( defender – 27 caps ), Krimets ( defender 38 caps ), Komilov ( defender - 8 caps ), Hamrobekov ( midfield – 17 caps ), Sabirkhodjaev ( midfield – 8 caps ), Sidikov ( midfield – 13 caps ), Sergeev ( striker – 53 caps )
Foreign Players : Ceran ( Serbian striker ), Derdiyok ( ex Basel, Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray Swiss striker – 60 caps )
Odd Fact : Pakhtakor translates as cotton grower.
Won every home match bar one ( AGMK 2-2 ), and had an unbeaten run of 17 league games midway through the season. Lost only three matches ( Sogidana 0-1, Bunyodkor 2-3 & Nasaf 0-3 ), the last two when the title was virtually assured.
Had the outstanding domestic player of the season, with Jaloliddin Masharipov ( 6 goals and 12 assists ) expected to move abroad next season. He also figured in the Stats Perform AFC CL team of the tournament. Dragan Ceran finished with the golden boot with 21 goals, with Igor Sergeev also scoring 16 league goals. The veteran Eren Derdiyok also scored some crucial goals.
Pakhtakor are the wealthiest club in the country, and are expected to sign some more of the best local talent for an even stronger AFC CL performance in 2021.
2. Nasaf Qarshi
Location : Qarshi ( 450km south-west of Tashkent, a 6 hour 30 minute drive )
Stadium : Qarshi Markazi Stadium ( capacity 16,000 )
Title Wins : Nil ( 4 times runners-up )
Colours : All Blue
Current members of National Squad : Nematov ( keeper – 3 caps ), Aliquov ( defender – 1 cap ), Bozorov ( midfield – 3 caps ), Mozgovoy ( midfield – 2 caps ), Abdikholikov ( striker – 3 caps )
Recent members of National Squad : Esmurodov ( defender – 1 cap ), Kenjabaev ( midfield ), Mukhiddinov ( midfield – 2 caps )
Foreign Players : Marko Stanojevic ( Serbian midfielder, ex Rad & Sheriff Tiraspol ), Traore ( Burkina Faso midfielder )
Odd Fact : Have a reputation for producing young talent
Unbeaten at home all season, and second best away record with just three defeats ( AGMK 1-2, Pakhtakor 1-4 & Sogidiana 1-3 ). Suffered only one defeat in last 15 matches to take second place. Abdikholikov was second highest scorer in the league with 17 goals.
3. AGMK ( Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Plant )
Location : Almalyk ( 70km south of Tashkent )
Stadium : AGMK Stadium ( capacity 12,000 )
Title Wins : Nil ( 3rd in 2020 is the best ever finish )
Colours : All White
Current members of National Squad : None
Recent members of National Squad : None
Foreign Players : Vatsadze ( Georgian striker – 15 caps ), Grigalashvili ( Georgian midfielder – 4 caps ), Dokic ( Serbian midfielder – 1 cap ), Zonjic ( Macedonian centre-back ), Armanow ( Turkmenistan midfielder – 44 caps )
Began the season with a 13 game unbeaten run to look like the most likely challenges to Pakhtakor, but four consecutive losses led to a third place finish after being in second place until round 22. Lost only once at home ( Pakhtakor 0-6 ).
4. Bunyodkor
Location : Tashkent ( capital )
Stadium : Milliy Stadium ( capacity 34,000 )
Title Wins : 5 ( 2008-2011 & 2013 )
Colours : All Blue
Current members of National Squad : Kobilov ( defender – 5 caps ), Turaev ( midfield – 23 caps ), Kodirkulov ( midfield – 9 caps ), Yuldashev ( midfield – 3 caps )
Recent members of National Squad : Abdujailov ( keeper ), Ikromov ( midfield – 1 cap ), Tukhtasinov ( midfield – 1 cap ), Abdulaev ( midfield )
Foreign Players : Ergashev ( Tajik centre-back – 60 caps ), Nurmyradow ( Turkmenistan midfielder )
Odd Facts : The name literally means creator. Bunyodkor were a club that spent big money 10-15 years ago to attract Rivaldo to play and Zico and Scolari to coach are now focusing on producing their own players.
Lost only twice at home ( AGMK 2-3 and Nasaf 0-1 ) and beat Pakhtakor ( 3-2 ) but won only three times away from home. Tukhtasinov was the top scorer with 11 goals.
18 year old prodigy Jasurbek Jaloloddinov was sold to Lokomotiv Moscow in July ( and subsequently loaned to Tambov ) having previously set the record as the youngest player to appear in the history of the Uzbekistan Super League.
5. Kokand 1912
Location : Kokand ( 235km south-east of Tashkent, a 4 hour drive )
Stadium : Kokand Markaziy Stadium ( capacity 10,500 )
Title Wins : Nil
Colours : All White
Current members of National Squad : Ergashev ( keeper – 1 cap ), Kholmukhamedov ( defender – 9 caps )
Recent members of National Squad : Ruziev ( midfield – 6 caps ), Berdyev ( midfield ), Muzaffrov ( midfield )
Foreign Players : Josevic ( Serbian defender ), Bamba ( ex Slutsk Ivorian midfielder ), Rajevac ( Serbian forward )
Tended toward an inconsistency of win three, lose three. Beat AGMK and Bunyodkor and drew with Nasaf at home, and one of only two sides to win at Navbahor. Flirted with third place several times during the season. Full-back Kholmukhamedov was top scorer with 12 goals.
6. Sogdiana Jizzakh
Location : Jizzakh ( 205km south-west of Tashkent, a 3 hour drive )
Stadium : Sogdiana Stadium ( capacity 11,650 )
Title Wins : Nil
Colours : All White
Current members of National Squad : Nil
Recent members of National Squad : Quimatov ( defender ), Shoykulov ( midfield – 1 cap ), Norkhonov ( striker – 2 caps )
Foreign Players : Kolakovic ( Serbian defender ), Mitrovic ( Serbian keeper )
A run of only 2 defeats in the last 12 minutes saw Sogidana rise up the table to eventually finish in 6 place. Managed home wins over Pakhtakor, Nasaf, Kokand, Navbahor and Lokomotiv in losing only once at home all season, but only won twice away from home. Norkhonov finished as top scorer with 12 goals.
7. Metallurg Bekabad
Location : Bekabad ( 135km south of Tashkent, a 2 hour 15 minute drive )
Stadium : Metallurg Bekabad Stadium ( capacity 15,000 )
Title Wins : Nil
Colours : All White with a Blue and Black vertical stripe
Current members of National Squad : Ubaydullaev ( striker – 2 caps )
Recent members of National Squad : Lobanov ( keeper – 20 caps ), Otakhonev ( defender – 2 caps )
Foreign Players : Shilipov ( Russian defender ), Chumak ( Ukraine midfielder ), Tumasyan ( Russian midfielder )
Managed to beat AGMK and Kokand at home and drew at AGMK and Navbahor. Fourth best away record with 5 wins.
8. Navbahor Namangen
Location : Namangen ( 280km east of Tashkent, a 4 hour 30 minute drive )
Stadium : Markaziy Stadium ( capacity 22,000 )
Title Wins : 1 ( 1996 )
Colours : All Red
Current members of National Squad : Golban ( defender – 5 caps )
Recent members of National Squad : Yusupov ( keeper – 1 cap ), Turgunboev ( midfield – 8 caps )
Foreign Players : Solovyov ( Russian striker ), Bolev ( Russian midfielder ), Golyshev ( Russian midfielder ), Panjshanbe ( Tajik midfielder – 21 caps )
Odd Facts : The name translates as New Spring, and alongside Pakhtakor, Navbahor are the only side to have played in all 28 seasons of the Super League.
As the best supported side in the country probably suffered from the absence of fans in the stadiums. Only conceded 21 goals all season and just 5 at home but only scored 24 times. Home draws with Pakhtakor, Nasaf and AGMK and beat Bunyodkor, but lost to Kokand and Mash Al Mubarek. Managed only two away wins. Eleven draws in total prevented a higher placing.
9. Lokomotiv Tashkent
Location : Tashkent ( Capital )
Stadium : Lokomotiv Stadium ( capacity 8,000 )
Title Wins : 3 ( 2016 to 2018 )
Colours : All Red
Current members of National Squad : Ilyosov ( keeper ), Abdukholikov ( striker - 14 caps )
Recent members of National Squad : Nil
Foreign Players : Makharadze ( Georgian midfielder – 4 caps ), Damjanovic ( Montenegrin centre-back ), Pogrebnyak ( Russian striker – brother of ex-Reading forward Pavel )
Odd Fact : Owned and sponsored by Uzbek Railways
A very disappointing season after finishing in third place in 2019 and hovered between 7th and 10th nearly all season. Beat AGMK and Bunyodkor at home but were hammered 0-7 at Pakhtakor and 0-4 at home to Nasaf.
10 Mash Al Mubarek
Location : Mubarek ( 520km south-west of Tashkent )
Stadium : Bahrom Vafoev Stadium ( capacity 10,000 )
Title Wins : Nil
Colours : Blue Shirts with Black checks, Blue Shorts
Current members of National Squad : None
Recent members of National Squad : Davronov ( keeper ), Murtozoyev ( striker – 1 cap )
Foreign Players : Vasilyev ( Ukrainian defender ), Ken-Ella ( Cameroonian winger ), Ifeanyi ( Nigerian midfielder – 6 caps ), Ibe ( Nigerian midfielder, signed mid-season from Andijon )
Finished the season with three consecutive wins after spending nearly all season floating between 8th and 10th place. Did the double over Navbahor and Sogdiana but lost to Surkhon and Andijon.
11 PFK Qizilqum
Location : Zarafshan ( 665km west of Tashkent, a 9 hour drive )
Stadium : Tacmyrat Agamyradow ( capacity 12,500 )
Title Wins : Nil
Colours : All Blue
Current members of National Squad : None
Recent members of National Squad : None
Foreign Players : Kasmynin ( Belarus centre-back ), Tolmasov ( Russian defender ), Margiev ( Russian midfielder
Odd Facts : the name translates as red sands, after the nearby desert
Namabian striker McCartney Naweseb looked a threat up front but left the club in August. Qizilqum took only 2 points from their first 9 league matches but lost only 4 of the 17 games after the second suspension to move out of the danger zone.
12 Surkhon Termez
Location : Termez ( 680km south of Tashkent, a 10 hour drive, close to the border with Afghanistan )
Stadium : Alparnish Stadium ( capacity 15,000 )
Title Wins : Nil
Colours : All White
Current members of National Squad : None
Recent members of National Squad : None
Foreign Players : Stanojevic ( Serbian centre-back ), Kasyan ( Ukrainian forward )
Odd Fact : Termez is considered to be the hottest part of Uzbekistan !
Had worst home record in the league with only one win ( Andijon 1-0 ), but won 3 times away from home ( Andijon 1-0, Mash Al Mubarek 1-0 & Qizilqum 2-1 ). Had slipped into the bottom 2 with 4 games to play but the home win over Andijon was vital, and in the end a home draw with Buxoro was sufficient to survive. Scored only 17 goals all season of which Kasyan scored 7.
1 3. PFK Andijon
Location : Andijan ( 350km east of Tashkent )
Stadium : Sogholm Avlod Stadium ( capacity 18,360 )
Title Wins : Nil
Colours : All White
Current members of National Squad : None
Recent members of National Squad : None
Foreign Players : Zozulya ( Ukrainian defender ), Ariwachukwu ( Nigerian defender – 1 cap )
Had to wait until round 17 for their first win ( Buxoro 2-1 ) and won only twice all season ( Mash Al Mubarek 2-1 ). Score just 6 times at home all season and scoreless in 9 home games. Losing twice to Surkhon was ultimately crucial, and losing the last three matches ensured they would face the relegation play-off.
14 Buxoro
Location : Bukhara ( 570km south-west of Tashkent, 8 and half hour drive )
Stadium : Buxoro Arena ( capacity 22,700 )
Title Wins : Nil
Colours : All Blue
Current members of National Squad : None
Recent members of National Squad : None
Foreign Players : None
Odd Fact : Bukhara is estimated to have 80% of its population as native Tajik speakers
Buxoro fielded entirely Uzbek line-ups in last two months are their foreign players left the club ( Baranovskyi to Kazakhstan, Junozovic to Croatia, Kapor to Canada and Lipartia was released ).
Relegation is a disaster for one of the best supported clubs in the country, being in the bottom two all season and won just once all year ( Surkhon 1-0 in round 11 ). 7 home draws proved to be too costly. Needing to win at AGMK on the final day to stay up, they led 1-0 early on through a generous penalty decision. However, they were not good enough and a 1-3 loss confirmed relegation.
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