Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan Futsal Federation President Bekzod Mamatkulov met former Portugal international and Real Madrid defender Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira, known as Pepe, during a working visit to Portugal.
Mamatkulov invited the former footballer to visit Uzbekistan, and Pepe expressed his willingness to travel to Tashkent in the near future, the Uzbekistan Futsal Federation reported.
Hugo Nunes, an adviser to the president of FC Porto, also attended the meeting.
The parties discussed strengthening friendly ties between Uzbekistan and Portugal through sport, expanding cooperation in football and futsal, and exchanging experience.
They also considered ways to raise the international profile of Uzbek futsal through cooperation with prominent figures in world football.
The participants exchanged views on applying Portugal’s experience to futsal development in Uzbekistan. They also discussed expanding professional ties between specialists and exploring potential joint projects.
Following the meeting, the parties expressed their readiness to develop sporting cooperation, particularly in football and futsal.