Today, the Olympic stadium, which is located in the capital Olympic village and is the largest one in Central Asia, hosted the meeting within the 1/8 final of the Second League of Champions of the Asian Football Confederation - match between «Arkadag» (Turkmenistan) and «Al-Nassr» (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) football teams.
Today, at the initiative of National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Hero-Arkadag and thanks to efforts of the head of the state, a great deal of work is carried out in our country with a view of development and increase of prestige of local sports on the world arena. The measures taken in this area are also aimed at wide attraction of citizens to mass sports and popularisation of principles of healthy lifestyle in society by physical training, health and Olympic movements.
The given activity not only brings an essential contribution to international sports movement, which has accepted ideals of humanism, but also raises the authority of our native land. As President Serdar Berdimuhamedov marks, sports acts as a key factor of consolidation of universal peace, friendship between states and peoples as well as constructive cooperation.
At present, the considerable attention is paid to development of football development in Turkmenistan and it is clearly reflected in creation of proper conditions in the country, including in the capital. The measures taken for it were defined by the complex strategy, which today is successfully realised under the leadership of head of the state Serdar Berdimuhamedov, initiated by National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
If one should speak of basic areas of development of football in our fatherland, it is necessary to point out the formation of the Football Federation in 1992. It was since that significant year that matches of the Superior League of Turkmenistan and tournaments for the Cup of the country have started to be held.
In 1994, the Football Federation of Turkmenistan became member of FIFA and AFC. Besides, the same year the national football team make the quarterfinals in the Asian Games and since 1995 has taken part in international football tournaments.
Since 2014, the Football Federation of Turkmenistan has actively co-operated with Football Association of Central Asia and West Asian Football Federation.
Every year, the Football Federation of Turkmenistan together with FIFA holds in our country international seminars for improvement of professional skill of football referees, by the results of which the referees who have successfully undertaken tests, receive the status of referee of international class.
As the head of the state notes, following the course put by Hero-Arkadag, in our native land large scale initiatives are implemented in the field of development of physical culture and sports, which find a broad support and recognition of authoritative sports structures. Visits of heads of international sports federations to Turkmenistan open new pages in the context of expansion of sports cooperation.
In this plan, the visit of the president of the International football federation (FIFA) Giovanni Infantino to our country, who handed the head of the state a symbolical gift - a personalized T-shirt, an official ball and a FIFA pennant is remarkable. The given event clearly attests to the growing global interest in Turkmen football.
It is pleasant to mark that the match of «Arkadag» and «Al-Nassr» football teams was held in the unique Olympic village of regional importance erected at the initiative of Hero-Arkadag.
As known, during his visit to the Olympic village, Hero-Arkadag familiarised with rates of work at the Olympic stadium within preparation for the football match, one of the main events of this year declared «Independent neutral Turkmenistan - the native land of purposeful winged racers». The given fact fully testifies to attention given at the state level to development of football.
… Before the match, the concert of workers of culture and art of our country was held. In their performances, they glorified achievements of our country in the sports sphere.
In recent years, Turkmenistan has turned into the centre of large international tournaments and world championships in various sports. The similar tendency considerably strengthens the status of our fatherland as the country of health and inspiration, increasing the sports prestige of the independent neutral Turkmen state in the world.
By the way, the capital Olympic village became the centre of successful V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in 2017.
It is remarkable that the program of the Asian Games-2017 included competitions in 21 sports - chess, indoor football, tennis, Thai boxing, sambo-wrestling, kurash, ju-jitsu, bowling, cycling, swimming, basketball, weight lifting, track and field athletics, taekwondo, dance sports, kickboxing, belt wrestling, wrestling, billiards, equestrian sports (show jumping) and Turkmen national wrestling goresh.
It is also necessary to note that for the first time several thousand representatives from the countries of Asia and Oceania, and national team of refugees took part in the Games. Similar precedent has considerably enriched the experience in organization of the international sports competitions in our country.
The artistic monumental image of racer - the main symbol of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games and also the largest Olympic stadium in the region - became a unique architectural display of prompt development of Turkmen sports. A bunch of yuzarlik decorated the monumental image of racer brought in the Guinness Book of Records, at the proposal of Hero-Arkadag and according to noble traditions of our people. The ornament of the image of racer with a woven amulet – alaja became one more remarkable evidence of harmonious combination of modern achievements with noble traditions of our people. The image of alabai Vepaly became the main symbol of the Games -2017, which had a huge significance not only for our country, but also for the entire region.
Along with other sports, the special attention is given to development of football in Turkmenistan. Creation of "Arkadag" football club at the initiative of the National Leader of the Turkmen people became a significant mark in development of football- the most popular sport.
«Arkadag» FC, which represents the tradition of national architecture combining in the architectural shape of "smart city" of Arkadag recognised in the region and modern experience in the given field became a visible symbol of blossoming of national football.
Despite the little time past since its creation, «Arkadag» team has repeatedly become the champion of Turkmenistan and the champion of Challenge League of the Asian Football Confederation in 2025.
Achievements «Arkadag» FC- another evidence of successful realisation of large-scale reforms initiated by Hero-Arkadag under the leadership of the President of the country to develop sports in our country.
The present match with Saudi «Al-Nassr» became a logic consequence of successful performances of football club "Arkadag" in international tournaments. It is necessary to note, this important meeting has evoked a great interest in Turkmen nationals.
… An exciting moment came: the whistle of the referee sounded - the match started, a thrilling game was developed on the green field.
The burning of the torch at the unique Olympic stadium in the region, which can hold 45 thousand spectators, also marked the game’s beginning.
From the first minutes, the competition promised to be hard. Both teams showed the skilful ball possession.
Coordination of actions of players FC «Arkadag» displayed a high level of their readiness for opposition to the strong contender: ensuring reliable protection, our players made counterattack to the goal of «Al-Nassr».
The game became rather thrilling. The overwhelming support of thousands of fans at the Olympic stadium of Ashgabat created the improbable atmosphere, which inspired football players of FC «Arkadag» forward throughout the entire match.
Meeting of FC «Arkadag» of our country and team «Al-Nassr» of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirmed again that football - not simply game, and a large-scale cultural event.
The skill shown by players of both teams during the meeting opened a true beauty of football. Intense struggle in the field did not cease until the latest minutes of the match. As Hero-Arkadag marked, football players showed a fair, beautiful game.
The meeting of teams «Arkadag» and «Al-Nassr» came to the end with the account 0:1.
And in this regard, the words of Hero-Arkadag are remarkable that even if the match ends in favour of the contender, anyway, it will become for our people a true holiday and inspiration into new achievements for our sportsmen.
Thus, the present match became a meeting of two cultures and a new page in the history of domestic sports was written with golden letters. Selflessness of football players, fidelity of fans and triumph of international cooperation became the main victory of this football evening.
