Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan but it has its own football association and, along with Bukhara, is being treated as provincial projects.

During the trip the Vision Asia team will also meet with Uzbekistan Football Federation officials on the Vision Uzbekistan programme that was initiated earlier this year.

“Tashkent and Bukhara will be the first provincial projects that we hope to set up in Uzbekistan,” said Vision Asia Director Brendan Menton.

“Uzbekistan has one of the better football structures within the AFC and I think we can really accelerate development in this project.”

The first stages of Project Tashkent and Project Bukhara will involve the development of proper administration as well as grassroots & youth, coach education, referees and clubs and competition.

Uzbekistan is one of 12 active Vision Asia programmes, and the first country from Central Asia to get involved in AFC’s continent-wide project.

Neighbours Kyrgyzstan is set to join them in the near future.