Farkhad Magometov, General Director Uzbekistan Professional League (UPL), said Uzbek clubs are looking to modernise their infrastructure and strengthen their commercial powers in an attempt to meet the requirements of the AFC Professional League, to be launched next year.

The UPL and its clubs are hoping to fulfil the criteria set out by AFC by the end of September this year in order to ensure participation in the Pro League.

Pakhtator have won the past six league titles but lie second behind Kuruvchi in this year’s competition.

Magometov expects other clubs to soon challenge the two runaway leaders.

"Next year there will be more clubs who will be able to compete for the title, maybe five or six. Others are also catching up," Magometov said on Wednesday on the sidelines of a Vision Uzbekistan workshop at AFC House.

"The Pro League concept is a very good one and we were already 90 per cent there is terms of meeting AFC requirements,"

"We had a different system than what the AFC recommended but now we are changing things and we expect to fulfil the criteria laid out 100 per cent.

"The clubs are doing a lot to improve, especially in the field of marketing and commercialisation. All clubs in the top division should be able to meet the requirements."

He said the Uzbek government is a big supporter of football in the country and is helping to fund a 34,000 stadium to be administered by Kuruvchi.

This will also serve as a national training centre.

"There is a lot of activity in terms of facilities with training camps for national players and everyone is keen to modernise the infrastructure to help raise the standards of football," said Magometov.