Youth competitions are divided into age categories for a reason: when a young athlete’s body is developing rapidly, even a one-year age difference can be a decisive factor on the field.
However, younger players can sometimes hold their own against older opponents – and surprise them. A vivid example is the KFF Academy boys’ team made up of players born in 2010, which leads the standings in the Freedom QJ League B after two matchweeks.
But even 15-year-old players aren’t the youngest in the League. This year saw the launch of the U-16 category for the first time – and among the team rosters are 22 players born in 2011. Additionally, one representative of that year is playing in the U-17 tournament – defender Nurdaulet Esture from Caspiy.
The absolute youth record, however, belongs to Ordabasy’s Arman Batyrkhan, who made his League debut at just 13 years, 2 months, and 18 days old. He appeared in the final minutes of the U-16 matchweek III game against Zhas Kyran (0:0).
At the time of his debut, Batyrkhan was eight months younger than the previous record-holder, Kairat’s Roman Chernomorets, who played in the U-17 tournament.
Arman is the first – and so far, the only – Freedom QJ League player born in 2012. Interestingly, when he was born, the participants of the League’s first season were already attending school.
As for the League’s main tournament, seven players born in 2009 are registered. The youngest among them is Caspiy midfielder Islam Kuanysh, who turned 15 at the end of last December. Had he been born a week later, he would have been the first and only participant of the League’s flagship competition born in 2010. He has already spent a total of 237 minutes on the pitch over four matchweeks.
It’s worth noting that the season has only just begun – which means the League’s young talents will have many more chances to showcase themselves on the field.
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