"Coach of the Future": SAU Announces Project Participants

“Coach of the Future” is the League’s first-ever project aimed at the individual development of talented specialists from football centers through continuous methodological support throughout the season.

Modern sports demand continuous learning to stay ahead. The goal of the project is to prepare coaches who can meet the rapidly changing demands of the profession and help maintain the global competitiveness of Kazakhstani youth football. This requires a combination of diverse qualities and skills, such as flexibility and adaptability, emotional resilience, tactical literacy, leadership and effective communication, as well as analytical and strategic thinking.

The first stage, held from February to March, focused on identifying the most promising specialists from football centers suitable for the program. Experts from the Sports-Analytical Unit carefully analyzed the work of coaching staffs from 54 teams participating in the current season of the Freedom QJ League, using advanced digital tools.

From April to May, the League's analysts established criteria and selected the main candidates for the program. As a result, SAB chose five coaches to participate in the project: Yerbol Mussabayev (Astana), Igor Soloshenko (Shakhter), and Iskander Geymat (Ordabasy) from League A, as well as Daulet Bazarbayev (Khan-Tengri) and Yessymbek Nurakhmetov (KFF Academy) from League B.

The third stage of the roadmap begins in June. It includes developing a personalized work plan for each participating coach, integrating it into daily routines, and providing support from the Sports-Analytical Unit throughout the season.

Additionally, in July and September, the League's experts will assess the interim performance of the teams led by the participating coaches and analyze the progress dynamics. Based on the findings, the direction of individual development will be adjusted. On August 23, the QJL ALL-STAR match against Atlético Madrid will take place — and the "Coach of the Future" participants will have the chance to showcase their skills on an international stage.

The program will conclude in November. SAU will provide an individual assessment of each coach’s progress and present a roadmap for further professional development.