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2010 AFC Challenge Cup Special: Know Your Opponents - Team Turkmenistan
Continuing with our AFC Challenge Cup special series, in which we profile each of the other seven teams in the competition, Goal.com's Amoy Ghoshal looks at World No.134 Turkmenistan
14-Feb-2010 8:51:00 PM
By Amoy Ghoshal
FIFA Ranking: 134
Best Result In AFC Challenge Cup: Group Stage In 2008
Result In Last AFC Challenge Cup: Group Stage
History:
Bearing the nicknames “Green Men” and “Dark Horses”, Turkmenistan played their first international in 1992. They made massive strides in very short time as they reached the quarter-finals of both the 1994 and 1998 Asian Games. In 1993, they won the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) Cup, to lift their first international trophy. They have never come close to World Cup qualification but did manage to qualify for the 2004 Asia Cup. Turkmenistan got knocked out in from the group stage but did finish third in the group ahead of mighty Saudi Arabia. That year they entered the top 100 of the FIFA Rankings and were ranked as high as 86 in April 2004, which is till date their best ever ranking. During the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup they were not in category of ‘emerging’ nations of Asia thus didn’t take part. But they did feature in the 2008 edition and got eliminated in the group stage.
Current Team:
Turkmenistan are the third highest ranked nation in the competition and possibly one of the contenders for the trophy. Last year they comfortably qualified for the main rounds but are drawn in a really difficult group. They will be determined not to repeat the mistakes of 2008, when they got knocked out from the group stage. The Centrals Asians are aiming to win the competition and qualify for the Asian Cup for the second time in their history. Earlier this month they also appointed a new coach with Yazguly Hojageldiyev replacing Boris Grigoryants. The squad had their preparations in Bahrain but haven’t played any international friendly since October when they participated in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City International Football Cup but finished last with three defeats in as many games. However the team will be looking to have a new beginning under Hojageldiyev, who also happens to be their youngest ever coach. Turkemenistan have the potential to beat any nation in this tournament but whether they can actually do that remains to be seen.
Key Player:
Berdy Samyradow- The 27 year old striker is one of the most prolific goalscorers of Turkmenistan. He scored three in the qualifiers and bagged five in three matches of the 2009 Ho Chi Minh City Cup. Turkmenistan need him to be in top form throughout the tournament.
Qualification:
Turkmenistan qualified after winning Group B with three wins in as many games and a goal difference of +14.
The Group:
Turkmenistan are clearly in the tougher of the two groups and are likely to battle with India for second place. They open their campaign against World Cuppers DPR Korea and only face less fancied Kyrgyzstan in the last group match so Turkmen have their work cut out.
Verdict:
Turkmenistan have the ability to not only go past the group stage but also make the final. However they must be at their best and convert draws into wins when they are playing, which they failed to do in the last edition.
Best Result In AFC Challenge Cup: Group Stage In 2008
Result In Last AFC Challenge Cup: Group Stage
History:
Bearing the nicknames “Green Men” and “Dark Horses”, Turkmenistan played their first international in 1992. They made massive strides in very short time as they reached the quarter-finals of both the 1994 and 1998 Asian Games. In 1993, they won the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) Cup, to lift their first international trophy. They have never come close to World Cup qualification but did manage to qualify for the 2004 Asia Cup. Turkmenistan got knocked out in from the group stage but did finish third in the group ahead of mighty Saudi Arabia. That year they entered the top 100 of the FIFA Rankings and were ranked as high as 86 in April 2004, which is till date their best ever ranking. During the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup they were not in category of ‘emerging’ nations of Asia thus didn’t take part. But they did feature in the 2008 edition and got eliminated in the group stage.
Current Team:
Turkmenistan are the third highest ranked nation in the competition and possibly one of the contenders for the trophy. Last year they comfortably qualified for the main rounds but are drawn in a really difficult group. They will be determined not to repeat the mistakes of 2008, when they got knocked out from the group stage. The Centrals Asians are aiming to win the competition and qualify for the Asian Cup for the second time in their history. Earlier this month they also appointed a new coach with Yazguly Hojageldiyev replacing Boris Grigoryants. The squad had their preparations in Bahrain but haven’t played any international friendly since October when they participated in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City International Football Cup but finished last with three defeats in as many games. However the team will be looking to have a new beginning under Hojageldiyev, who also happens to be their youngest ever coach. Turkemenistan have the potential to beat any nation in this tournament but whether they can actually do that remains to be seen.
Key Player:
Berdy Samyradow- The 27 year old striker is one of the most prolific goalscorers of Turkmenistan. He scored three in the qualifiers and bagged five in three matches of the 2009 Ho Chi Minh City Cup. Turkmenistan need him to be in top form throughout the tournament.
Qualification:
Turkmenistan qualified after winning Group B with three wins in as many games and a goal difference of +14.
The Group:
Turkmenistan are clearly in the tougher of the two groups and are likely to battle with India for second place. They open their campaign against World Cuppers DPR Korea and only face less fancied Kyrgyzstan in the last group match so Turkmen have their work cut out.
Verdict:
Turkmenistan have the ability to not only go past the group stage but also make the final. However they must be at their best and convert draws into wins when they are playing, which they failed to do in the last edition.
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