THE RECORD

April 29, 2024. We beat Indonesia in an important soccer match, 2:0. In fact, this in itself was a historic accomplishment, an unprecedented one.

It was after that success that Uzbekistan Olympic football team qualified for the Paris 2024 Games. Crucially, our country had never taken part in team sports at the Olympics

THE RESPONSIBILITY

Going to the Games was our sacred dream. We worked for it to come true for 3.5 years. The Olympic football club was established for that same purpose. We strengthened both the field team and the reserve.

Yet there was no time to celebrate the great goal we had secured, namely, to have a deep sense of a reality that was there for the first time in Uzbekistan’ history. We had very little time left for the Olympics in Paris. Having accomplished the task set before us, we went to the Olympics, but naturally we could not say after that, “It’s enough to go to Paris and just show up”. We realized well that millions of fans were watching us and expected us to win. It was a tremendous responsibility.

THE SUPPORT

In early June, we went to a pavilion where the video for the song “O‘zbekistonlik”, the official anthem of our national team at the Games, was being filmed. The pavilion had gathered prominent folks in the internet and media, including bloggers, sports commentators, celebrities and youths. “This is the beginning of a great project”, I said then to myself.

In fact, the support of our people was what our players needed critically. So, as soon as the video premiered it went viral on networks, leading TV channels, everywhere. The motivational fragment of the song got soon on everyone’s mouth: “I’m Uzbekistani, victory is in my blood”.

THE MOTIVATION

Every one of our Olympic football team has high talent, diligence and hard work, as much as family and loved ones who contributed to the development of these qualities. Had their parents and those around them said, “What are you going to do with this nonsense? Do something useful than kicking around a ball from morning to night”, we would not have made it to the Paris Games.

Motivation also has an important role to play in the rise of skilled athletes. We felt the fabulous magic in the #qonimdagalaba challenge, promoted at the initiative of Uzbekistan’s club by many organizations and companies, celebrities, mass media with immense enthusiasm. That was meant to have our players who have done a great job as a source of motivation for millions of our compatriots, and especially those who strive for success notwithstanding difficulties.

Instagram is now popular among youths and even among middle-aged people who are raising children. It was there that hundreds of creative videos were uploaded in support of our Olympian soccer players, raising our spirits and those of our fans. They contributed to us being looked at with more support and love.

THE DEBUT

At the end of the first game at the Olympics, against Spain, the scoreboard showed the digits of our defeat. But that night we felt that we had secured a great achievement. We made up a real team spirit, becoming one body and one soul. As the squad that went to the Olympics for the first time, we played a decent game against the Games’ favorite team who had earlier earned one gold and two silver medals in previous Olympic contests.

We also had a solid 12th player. This should also be mentioned. It is our fans who were able to shout louder than the thousands of Spanish spectators who came from not far away to the city hosting the Games, and who were able to give us an indescribable realization and spirit. They won the attention not only of ours, but also of everyone in the stadium, especially journalists from other countries.

As I always told the boys, “Football is such a sport that when you lose, there is no person worse than you. Therefore, always work on yourself and strive for higher goals”. There seemed to be something unfair about soccer. But even if we lost the subsequent games, too, during the Olympics, we felt that our fans were with us.

The Paris 2024 competitions have ended, but there are still many games ahead of our Olympic and national football teams. In terms of Uzbek soccer rising to a new level, I think this is just the beginning.