U-19 Uzbekistan head coach: We have to play without few key players due to Uzbek League

With Central Asia’s U-16 Championship - won in style by the hosts - fresh in the memory, a slightly older generation of players are set to battle for regional bragging rights, as well as prepare for this year’s all-important AFC U-19 Championship 2020 Qualifiers.

The tournament, which runs until next Thursday, will see each team meet once on a round-robin basis, with the team on top of table at the end of the 10-match schedule to be crowned Central Asian champions.

Tajikistan will play host to some of Central Asia’s best young talent for the second time in less than a month as the region’s future stars converge on Dushanbe for the 2019 CAFA U-19 Championship, starting Friday.

With Central Asia’s U-16 Championship - won in style by the hosts - fresh in the memory, a slightly older generation of players are set to battle for regional bragging rights, as well as prepare for this year’s all-important AFC U-19 Championship 2020 Qualifiers.

The tournament, which runs until next Thursday, will see each team meet once on a round-robin basis, with the team on top of table at the end of the 10-match schedule to be crowned Central Asian champions.

Tajikistan will play host to some of Central Asia’s best young talent for the second time in less than a month as the region’s future stars converge on Dushanbe for the 2019 CAFA U-19 Championship, starting Friday.

With Central Asia’s U-16 Championship - won in style by the hosts - fresh in the memory, a slightly older generation of players are set to battle for regional bragging rights, as well as prepare for this year’s all-important AFC U-19 Championship 2020 Qualifiers.

The tournament, which runs until next Thursday, will see each team meet once on a round-robin basis, with the team on top of table at the end of the 10-match schedule to be crowned Central Asian champions.

Uzbekistan are the defending champions, having defeated Kyrgyz Republic to win the inaugural staging in 2016.

Despite the absence of some players due to club duties, head coach Otabek Gulyamkhodjaev is satisfied with the depth of his squad.

“Every month we collect guys and conduct training,” he explained at the pre-tournament press conference on Thursday.

“Here in Dushanbe, we were unable to bring a few players who play in the Uzbekistan Super League but, nevertheless, this generation of players is very strong. We have two equal teams, and each player is ready to replace each other.”

Source: The-AFC.com