DUSHANBE, 17.12.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – Yesterday, Dushanbe hosted the 6th Congress of the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA), reports the Football Federation of Tajikistan.

CAFA President Rustam Emomali, CAFA Vice President Dastanbek Konokbaev from Kyrgyzstan, members of CAFA’s Executive Committee Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan and Mehdi Taj from Iran, heads and delegates of the Football Federations of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran and Afghanistan attended the congress. Representatives of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan participated online.

Rustam Emomali addressed the participants and stressed that the national associations that are part of CAFA play a key role in the development of football in the region.

“The exchange of views on the development of football in our region and the opportunity to meet each other are very valuable for each of us,” Emomali said.

The past two years have been difficult for the global community and for the development of Central Asian football due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The creation of a financial support program for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for regional associations has allowed CAFA to expand its capabilities and operate on an ongoing basis since the beginning of 2021. We are pleased that the CAFA has made great effort to host tournaments for various ages in the context of the pandemic. In 2021, three CAFA tournaments were held in Dushanbe,” he noted.

Emomali added that in 2022, there is a plan to organize eight competitions for different ages. Participation in these tournaments gives the national teams of the participating countries a good stage of preparation for the qualifying tournaments under the auspices of the AFC, and of course, the players can improve their skills.

“I want to emphasize that the national associations of Central Asia play a key role in the development of football in the region. A number of AFC competitions were successfully held in the countries of our region, which increased the prestige of the organization and once again proves that the AFC can always count on us. Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank the AFC for their trust and fruitful cooperation,” he said.

Despite some challenges, the national federations that make up the CAFA have been able to work together in an atmosphere of solidarity and contribute to the development and revival of football in the region.

“I hope that in the future we will continue to contribute to the development and progress of football in the region,” Emomali noted.

The CAFA General Secretary Ulugbek Karimov reported on the activities of CAFA for 2021, where he spoke in detail about the tournaments and events that were held this year under the auspices of the association.

CAFA’s budget for 2022 was also approved at the congress.

Irmatov proposed to hold the Navruz Cup tournament among the national teams that are part of the CAFA in the near future.