Mirziyoyev visits “Neftchi” football academy in Ferghana

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Football Association center of Ferghana region and the children’s football academy “Neftchi”, where he reviewed the conditions created for training young athletes.

Ferghana region has traditionally been considered one of the main centers of football development in the country, known for producing talented players and sporting achievements. The “Neftchi” football club, founded in 1962, is a six-time champion of Uzbekistan’s top league, a two-time winner of the national cup, and a Super Cup winner.

In 1994, the team reached the final of the CIS Cup, and in the 1994–1995 season won bronze medals in the Asian Champions League.

Work on identifying and developing promising players, as well as forming a coaching reserve, continues on a systematic basis in the region. As part of infrastructure development at professional clubs, the “Neftchi” children’s football academy was established in 2025.

The training complex covers more than 4.5 hectares and is designed to train over 150 young footballers. It includes six football fields of different formats, as well as a physiotherapy unit equipped with modern medical and rehabilitation equipment.

In addition, an indoor football hall with artificial turf and an air dome structure was built at the academy, with an investment of 1.1 million US dollars.

To enhance training quality and introduce international standards, UEFA instructors and other foreign specialists have been engaged in the program.

During the visit, the head of state inspected the academy’s infrastructure, spoke with trainees, and observed training sessions.