DUSHANBE, 29.01.2024 (NIAT Khovar) – Former coach of the Russian national team, Dushanbe Pamir and Moscow Lokomotiv Yuri Semin shared his impression of the performance of the Tajik team at the debut Asian Cup 2023. A journalist from the Fergana publication spoke with the Honored Coach of the Tajik SSR, former coach of the capital’s Pamir Yuri Semin.

“The debut of the Tajik team is a great success. Getting ahead of China in the group is worth a lot. To date, the Tajiks have already completed the task of performing well. We felt the atmosphere of a big tournament and gained invaluable experience,” Semin noted.

He added that no matter how the Tajik team performed in the end, he would like it not to become a local success.

“We need to invest in the development of children’s and youth football,” he emphasized.

When asked how he assessed the work of Petar Segrt, Semin noted: «The task of a national team coach is to gather the best in one team. He must be a motivator, a psychologist. So far Segrt has worked well. The dedication of the players is visible. However, the merit of the club coaches is also great, including Cherevchenko, who trained the Istiklol players.»

He emphasized that the team’s players were influenced by the support of the authorities and personally of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, who admonished the team at an important moment — before the match with Lebanon.

“This is also a huge motivation,” Semin said.

It should be noted that the Tajikistan beat the UAE in the 1/8 finals (1:1, 5:3 on penalties) and will now play against the winner of the Iraq-Jordan pair in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup.