DUSHANBE, 07.03.2018. /NIAT “Khovar”/. The head coach of the Turkmen “Ahal” Rovshan Meredov at the pre-match press conference before the match of the first round of the 2018 AFC Cup group stage in quartet D against Dushanbe’s FC “Istiqlol” said that the champion of Tajikistan is one of the favorites of the group. NIAT “Khovar” has been reported by the press service of the Football Federation of Tajikistan.

Rovshan Meredov, head coach of “Ahal”:

— I want to thank FC “Istiqlol” for the warm welcome. It is always pleasant to come to Tajikistan. As for our performance in the 2018 AFC Cup, we have already held 4 matches following the preliminary stage and the playoffs round. Our task is to achieve the maximum result. Our players do not have the same experience as the players of “Istiqlol”, but at will and dedication they are in no way inferior to anyone. We want to show our maximum at the group stage.

“Istiqlol” has achieved very good results in recent years, both on the domestic and international scene. Two finals in three years — this speaks not only about the level of Tajik football, but also in the whole Central Asian region. “Istiqlol” is an experienced club, one of the group’s favorites along with “Altyn Asyr”. Our club is a dark horse.

The fact that we are starting the AFC Cup group stage match against “Istiqlol”, in this there is nothing terrible. I think that the lot is favorable for us. The very hit in the group is a big event for us.

Unfortunately, in the last match against FC “Khujand”, the main goalkeeper Batyr Babayev was injured. In the match against FC “Istiqlol”, he will not be able to help us. But we have such club this year, that any player can replace another. Before the start of the group stage we managed to add three players. Our team was joined by Merdan Kurbanov, who last year played in the Belarusian championship for “Dnepr” (Mogilev). We also signed Murad Hamraev and Davron Rizaev, but they did not come here because of bad physical form, but we are counting on them in the next matches of the group stage.

Orazberdy Muradov, player of “Ahal”:

— We are preparing for the match with “Istiqlol” in the usual mode. All of us are happy to participate in the AFC Cup group stage. For us, this is also an achievement. We will perform the installation of the coach in today’s match. What can I say about “Istiqlol”? The multiple champion of Tajikistan, as our coach noted, is one of the group’s favorites. Today we will try to show our game.