The victorious spirit of “Kairat” – MK Kazakhstan

It will be very difficult to do this, since the team has a new coach and new players. But everyone always expects only victories from Kairat. The founder of the club, its main inspirer, Kairat Orazbekov, told us about how things are now in the renewed team.

At the end of October in Mallorca, Spain, Kairat played in the main round of the Champions League. Our team beat Differdange (Luxembourg) 4:2 in the opening match, then played a draw with the Hungarian Haladas 2:2 and in the final match lost to the current Champions League winner Palma (Spain) 3:4. Having taken second place in its quartet, Kairat entered the elite round of the Champions League.

“Considering that this year the renewed Kairat and its new coach Marlon Velasco played official matches in the UEFA tournament for the first time, I rate the team’s performance in the main round of the Champions League at seven points on a ten-point scale,” says Kairat Orazbekov. – What did we achieve? We were able to check the players’ readiness for high-intensity matches. What didn’t work? There was not enough time to prepare for the tournament, since our players played in the championship, the National Cup and in the qualifications for the 2024 World Cup for the Kazakhstan national team.

— In the match with Palma, after the first half our team was losing 0:3, but in the second half we almost turned the tide of the match. Did you believe after the first half that a turnaround was possible? And what prevented our team from achieving a positive result?

— Of course, I definitely believed in the team, because in such matches, especially in matches with the current Champions League holder, character must be shown. And it manifests itself in truly qualified players who have the appropriate competence. During the break in the locker room, our players, together with the coaching staff, made the appropriate conclusions, and already in the second half we saw how the guys clearly carried out the coaches’ instructions. We managed to turn the game around. It was very important in a match with such an opponent to test the team’s ability to change technical and tactical actions, as well as to see different combinations of players on the court. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time and luck to bring the match to a draw or victory.

— Now in every Champions League match there is a very intense battle for points. Little-known teams, which were previously considered to be mere outsiders, are taking points away from the favorites. Is this due to the fact that the average level of European teams has increased?

— European club futsal has made a huge step forward in institutional development. Every year the clubs have more experienced, qualified mentors, physical training coaches, goalkeeper coaches… They invite medical personnel who take part in organizing the training process and help distribute physical activity from a scientific point of view. In addition, the infrastructure of clubs is being improved and selection is being carried out more carefully. And all these structures act in a single manner, which is very important. In my opinion, many futsal clubs are acquiring the management structure of big football clubs. We see this, we notice it both in our opponents and in the Champions League participants in general. The average level of European clubs is growing rapidly. Today, any team can show its teeth. And I am very pleased that our clubs in Kazakhstan have begun to introduce modern sports management as a basis for creating strong clubs.

— How would you characterize the new coach? Did he find a common language with all the team players?

— I think the club is still getting used to it. Marlon Velasco is a young but very talented specialist. Considering that Kairat is a team of professionals, a team of masters, and the language of futsal is universal, I am sure that master and master will always understand each other. I think that the creative process takes place within the team to a greater extent, and this is normal, it is a matter of time. I also really like his style of working, which allows our young players to develop into big players. This is very important for us, we are looking forward to the appearance of new Orazovs and Tursagulovs in “Kairat” in the near future.

— Goalkeeper Dennis played very well against Differdange. The legendary Higuita performed in other matches. And there is also Narun Serikov. What can you say about the team’s goalkeepers?

— Who will play in a particular match is the coach’s decision. I would like to note that Spanish specialists prefer to rely on three goalkeepers at once, even to the detriment of the field player, whose place in the lineup may be taken by the third goalkeeper.

“Kairat” has a very good goalkeeper trio, everyone is ready to replace each other. Velasco trusts them all. As for Dennis, he played well, although he is just recovering from six months of treatment for an injury. As you know, Higuita is also just getting into her best shape after surgery. Narun, the goalkeeper of the Kazakhstan national team, is constantly progressing. I think any of the goalkeepers is ready to defend our team’s colors at the right time.

— For many years, only victories have been expected from Kairat. How high is the pressure? And how does the team deal with this?

“Many are accustomed to Kairat’s victories” and think that Kairat must constantly win everyone and everything. In this sense, we are truly hostages of our victories. It is clear that fans’ expectations do not always coincide with reality. But I want to say that the traditions of the club, the spirit of winners in the team is always present. It relies on the leaders of the team, experienced players who have come a long way with the team. And this spirit, like a virus, is transmitted to Kairat’s newcomers. And even in the most difficult moments, due to the traditions once laid down, we always remain in the leading positions of European club futsal.

— Futsal is the leading sport in Kazakhstan. What needs to be done to ensure development continues?

— You know that today futsal is one of the most popular sports in Kazakhstan. We strived for this and achieved our goal. Now our task is to make Kazakhstani futsal more professional. Now, together with the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF), the mechanism for creating the First and, most importantly, the Second League of Kazakhstan futsal is being worked out. Competitions must be held in accordance with all UEFA and CFF regulations. In these leagues we want to see many new teams and athletes who would fuel the Kazakhstan national team and other clubs. We will have a basis, a foundation, a basis for the development of both our futsal and big-time football. As you know, many big football stars started with futsal.

And this would be a good social lift for players who will have the opportunity to increase their status to professional in a competitive environment.

— What do you expect from the team’s performance in the elite round of the Champions League, in which Kairat’s opponents will be the Portuguese Benfica, the Slovenian Dobovec and Pristina from Kosovo?

— Reaching the Final Four is definitely task number one.