Kazakhstan Super Cup: Which QJ League Players Could Take the Field?

Both teams held their pre-season training camp in Turkey, with players who spent last season or the season before in QJ League.

The players from QJ League who joined Kairat for the training camp included goalkeeper Sherkhan Kalmurza, defender Daniyar Tashpulatov, midfielders Olzhas Baibek and Abulkhaiyr Abdrakhmanov, as well as forwards Ismail Bekbolat, Ramazan Bagdat, and Dastan Satpayev.

As for Aktobe, the red and white squad traveled to Turkey with goalkeeper Sayatkhan Kussainov, midfielders Ayan Baidavletov and Miras Umaniyazov, and forward Miram Kikbayev.

Among these players, those who have already appeared in official matches for their club’s first team include Kairat’s Olzhas Baibek and Dastan Satpayev, as well as Aktobe’s Ayan Baidavletov, Miras Umaniyazov, and Miram Kikbayev. The rest are yet to take their first step into top-level football.

Some of the players who shined in QJ League may well take the field in the Super Cup. With that in mind, let's take a closer look at these young talents.

Sherkhan Kalmurza and Sayatkhan Kussainov still have everything ahead of them. At just 17 years old, they are at a very early stage for goalkeepers. For comparison, the average age of a debutant goalkeeper in Europe's top five leagues in 2020 was 23.4 years.

Dastan Satpayev has a strong chance of making an appearance on the field. The young Kairat forward, who recently signed a contract with Chelsea, played a total of 28 matches across two seasons in the Freedom QJ League, scoring 26 goals and providing 10 assists. He was named the league’s most valuable player last season and was also selected for the QJ League squad in the match against Crvena Zvezda.

In May of last year, Dastan made his debut for the first team in the League Cup, coming on late in the match against Akzhaiyk. During the January training camp, Satpayev scored his first senior goal, finding the net against Dordoi. Later, the Kairat academy graduate started in matches against Pari NN and Dynamo Makhachkala. Notably, in preparation for the Super Cup, the Almaty side played their last two friendly matches behind closed doors — without broadcasts, published starting lineups, or statistics.

As for Baibek, he played his first senior match last fall, starting in KPL's Matchweek 23 game against Turan. Later, Olzhas made two more appearances in the Kazakhstan Premier League and scored his debut goal — against Ordabasy. In the 2023 Freedom QJ League season, the midfielder played 12 matches, scored 3 goals, and was awarded the league’s Best Midfielder title. Olzhas is one of the key players of Kairat Zhastar: 53 matches and 9 goals in the First League.

Let's recall the statistics of other Kairat players who competed in the league. Daniyar Tashpulatov played two seasons in the Freedom QJ League, recording 3 goals and 16 assists in 38 matches. Like Satpayev, he was selected for the league's All-Star Game in 2024.

Abulkhaiyr Abdrakhmanov played 14 matches, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists in the 2023 season. Last year, he competed in the First League with Kairat Zhastar, where he made 21 appearances and scored 2 goals.

Ismail Bekbolat scored 16 goals and provided 7 assists in 19 matches during the 2024 Freedom QJ League season. Ramazan Bagdat, meanwhile, played 26 matches over two seasons, recording 23 goals and 8 assists. He was the league’s top scorer and best forward in the 2023 season. That same year, he also participated in the All-Star Game with the SuperBol team.

Among Aktobe’s players, Ayan Baidavletov has logged the most minutes for the first team in official matches. Like Satpayev, he made his debut in the League Cup, starting in the match against Tobol. In the following game against Zhenis, Ayan registered his first goal contribution by assisting José Cevallos.

Baydavletov played in the 2023 Freedom QJ League season, making 15 appearances, scoring 1 goal, and providing 5 assists. He was also selected for the league’s All-Star Game. Additionally, he has 37 matches, 4 goals, and 1 assist across two seasons in the First League.

Miras Umaniyazov has made four appearances for Aktobe's first team, though his total playing time is less than Ayan’s — 72 minutes compared to 89.

Umaniyazov officially made his debut in the first Matchweek  of the 2024 KPL against Kaisar, though he only came on during stoppage time in the second half. He had significantly more playing time in the League Cup match against Zhenis, where he started and played the first 60 minutes. Notably, the young player also featured for 10 minutes in the second extra time of the UEFA Conference League away match against Sarajevo, with the opponent advancing only after a penalty shootout.

Miras played 21 matches in the 2023 Freedom QJ League, recording 4 goals and 3 assists. In the 2024 season, he competed with the youth team, scoring 2 goals in 15 First League matches.

Finally, Miram Kikbayev made his debut for Aktobe's first team in the same League Cup match as Baidavletov, playing 23 minutes. So far, this remains his only official appearance for the senior squad. Kikbayev has played 25 matches in two seasons of the Freedom QJ League, scoring 11 goals and providing 2 assists. In the 2024 First League season, he made 27 appearances and scored 4 goals.

The Kazakhstan Football Federation announced that all tickets for the Super Cup were sold out a day before the match. This means the players can expect a thrilling battle in front of a packed crowd at the country’s main stadium.

Throughout the tournament's history, only eight players under the age of 20 have taken the field. Five of them were from either Kairat or Aktobe. Who knows — maybe this weekend, that list will grow?