Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The leadership of the Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA) held a meeting with the players of the U-17 national team, who recently won the AFC U-17 Asian Cup, and their parents. The event was attended by Ravshan Irmatov, First Vice President of the UFA.

He congratulated the team on their historic victory, noting that it was a source of pride for the entire football community of the country. However, Irmatov emphasized the importance of preparing for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will be held in Qatar this November.

According to him, the team must not relax or lose their competitive spirit following this success:

“The whole world saw how patient, courageous, and determined the children of Uzbekistan are. We should be proud of that. But football is such that if you bask in one success for too long, it becomes difficult to achieve more. We've celebrated the victory — now it's time to start preparing for the World Cup,” he said.

Irmatov stressed that continued celebration could hinder the team’s preparation for the tournament:

“Let the parents continue to celebrate, but we don’t have time. We have to make sacrifices to achieve greater things. Don’t waste time. Value every minute. Preparation, preparation, and more preparation — that’s the path to new achievements,” he stated.

The UFA First Vice President also underscored the importance of fairness in team selection, stating that only the best players should be part of the squad. He made it clear that the UFA would no longer tolerate situations where players are included in the team due to personal connections, as was the case in the past.

The team’s head coach, Islambek Ismailov, also spoke at the meeting. He acknowledged that there were difficulties in assembling the squad, but thanks to the support of the leadership, they were able to withstand “external pressure”:

“This is not one man’s team — this is the team of an entire nation, 37 million people. This is not anyone’s personal affair. No one — not the coach, not a federation official, not an assistant — has the right to put personal interests above the team and the nation,” Ismailov said.

He added that there were instances where certain individuals who placed their own interests above the team's were removed:

“You’ve seen and heard it yourselves. Only the strongest and most deserving should play. There can be no other option. We cannot afford to let up. Every day, you must prove you deserve to be on the team. You may deserve it today, but not tomorrow if you lower your standards,” the coach emphasized.

Irmatov also warned the players against developing a “star complex”:

“Become great footballers — let your own planes fly you around — but don’t lose touch with reality. Don’t fall into arrogance. Always stay humble and grounded — then God will open the path for you. If you listen to your coaches and stay calm, you won’t make mistakes,” he said.

“You are strong in spirit. You’ve proven that on the field. If you approach the next tournament with the same mindset, no opponent and no referee will be able to stop you. If you avoid repeating the mistakes of the older generation, you will go all the way,” added the former referee.

To recap, Uzbekistan’s U-17 national team has become the Asian champion for the second time in its history. In the final, the team defeated Saudi Arabia 2–0, despite having two players sent off.

Now, Islambek Ismailov’s team will represent Uzbekistan at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will be held in Qatar from 3 to 27 November.