Freedom QJ League Holds Press Conference Ahead of the 2025 Season Kickoff

Among the speakers were Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding Corp.; Rokhus Shokh, President of Freedom QJ League; Sanzhar Zhamalov, General Director of Mastercard in Kazakhstan and Central Asia; and Sergey Galkin, Deputy Director of Distribution at Changan Kazakhstan.

The opening video summarized the League’s first two years. Over that time, Freedom QJ League has involved more than 3,000 athletes and professionals — including coaches, managers, and administrative staff. A total of 226 boys had the opportunity to showcase their skills in professional football at various levels, including the Kazakhstan Premier League and international competitions.

The League’s total social media reach and external coverage exceeded 168 million views. All 452 matches have been broadcast in high quality on YouTube, with hundreds of games shown live on national television with professional commentary.

Additionally, the League organized a number of training seminars for coaches and specialists, and held football festivals across the regions, attended by over a thousand children. In September 2024, the League launched its own multifunctional digital platform — FF Manager — designed to optimize the training process. The platform went on to win awards in 11 categories at the prestigious international Tagline Awards.

The League continues to expand: the new season will include competitions for boys under the age of 16. For the first time, a girls’ tournament will also be held, featuring eight teams in the U-17 category.

Three new teams will join the Freedom QJ League: KFF U-16, Khan-Tengri and Zhenis. In total, 1,620 young players from 54 teams representing all 18 regions of Kazakhstan will compete in the 2025 season, which will include 542 matches.

Since last year, all clubs participating in the League have been required to include a full-time administrator, doctor, media officer, and marketing specialist dedicated to the League team. This season, two new mandatory roles will be added: a mental performance coach and a coordinator.

The League’s Sports Analytics Department is also launching two new initiatives: “Player of the Future” and “Coach of the Future.” These programs aim to provide individual support throughout the season to talented players and coaches, helping them unlock their full potential. The analytics team will gain new capabilities for collecting and processing in-depth data through the installation of smart cameras and the introduction of video analysis tools for training, developed in partnership with Freedom Telecom.

“We truly believe that football is the most popular and widespread sport. Our country genuinely loves it. We believe we have enough talent — both among players and professionals — to play beautiful, world-class football with the right approach. There is no reason Kazakhstan’s footballers shouldn’t one day be winning prestigious competitions in Europe and beyond.

To get there, we need real long-term planning. The road is long, but it must be traveled correctly and consistently. We've already made some progress, and we’re moving forward. If we keep going like this, I believe in the coming years we’ll see major growth in our domestic football, driven first and foremost by Kazakhstani players”, said Timur Turlov, Chairman of the League’s Board of Trustees.

“Every season is special, but this one stands out because we are launching a tournament for girls for the first time. This is a big milestone that opens a new path for girls in Kazakhstan to enter football.

Freedom QJ League is a platform that truly drives development. These are not empty slogans — it’s something everyone can see and feel. People in the regions have been waiting for this girls’ tournament: they told me in person, and wrote about it on social media. Everything is going according to plan, and the League continues to grow step by step”, explained League President Rokhus Shokh.

Before the 2024 season, Freedom QJ League signed a partnership with Mastercard — one of the world’s largest financial services corporations.

Anton Lyssyak, Head of Media and Marketing at the League, summarized the first year of this collaboration. Throughout the season, both sides held joint events that were not only entertaining but also socially impactful — including the first girls' football festival in Pavlodar. During the press conference, it was confirmed that the partnership will continue into 2025.

Sanzhar Zhamalov, General Director of Mastercard in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, highlighted the key achievements from the previous year and shared the company’s optimism for the upcoming season:

“Football is the number one sport for many Kazakhstanis. Mastercard has long supported sports events globally, including the UEFA Champions League. We’re happy to extend that global approach to Kazakhstan and are honored to be a partner of the Freedom QJ League, contributing to the development of youth football in our country. This season, our focus will be on both boys' and girls' football. We wish all the athletes and coaches great victories and unforgettable moments!”.

On August 23, the traditional QJ League All Star match will take place in Almaty, featuring the League’s top players against the youth team from one of the world’s most prestigious football academies — Atlético Madrid.

During the event, the League introduced a new official partner — Changan’s distributor in Kazakhstan, part of the Astana Motors group.

Changan will be actively involved in all major League events, including the opening match, the season closing ceremony, regional football festivals, and charity initiatives. Each matchday event will double as an experience zone for exploring Changan’s innovative vehicles — featuring branded areas, test drives, consultations, and special promotions. Changan will also be the official partner of the QJL All Star vs. Atlético match, offering exclusive sponsorship activations and premium content.

“Football is not only a competition, but also a powerful opportunity for youth to express their talents, learn teamwork, and aim high. Supporting initiatives like the Freedom QJ League is an investment in the future of our country and our children. We look forward to many bright moments and rising stars this season. Every League participant contributes to building a healthier and more active society. Let’s make sports accessible to everyone and support the dreams of young athletes together!” said Sergey Galkin, Deputy Director of Distribution at Changan Kazakhstan.

The new season of the Freedom QJ League is set to kick off on April 19.