The 48-year-old tactician scotched reports that he would be stepping down in the aftermath of the team’s fourth place finish in the recently concluded AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™.

Uzbekistan finished on top of their group and went on to defeat Jordan 2-1 in the quarter-finals before losing to Australia 6-0 in humiliating fashion in the last four. In the third-fourth place play-off they lost to Korea Republic 3-2 and failed to book a direct spot in the 2015 edition of the tournament.

“I have received a lot of offers from different foreign clubs but I have rejected them in all,” said Abramov, 48. “My dream is to take this team to the World Cup.”

The tactician said he would ride out the storm, which was raging now.

“Being a coach is not easy. You can have a few victories in a row but failure in just one game can erase all previous successes.

“As a result, you can go out of work. As the saying goes, it is just one step from love to hate,” said Abramov, who took over the reins in 2009.

Meanwhile, as part of the stock-taking, the Uzbeks have cancelled their scheduled February 9 international friendly with Kuwait. The match was to take place at the Jaber Stadium in Kuwait City.

In a letter sent to the Kuwait FA, the Uzbekistan Football Federation claimed that a “restructuring of the technical staff for the national team” had led to the scratching of the friendly, a crucial part of the Kuwaitis’ preparation for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers slated to start on June 29.

The cancellation also means the Kuwaitis will have to wait to avenge their 2-1 defeat to Uzbekistan in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ group phase.