The shortlist of nominees for the Georgiy Khutidi Award, presented to the best coach of the Freedom QJ League season, has been announced.
Rafael Khamidullov, Shakhter U-17
Rafael Khamidullov's side pushed Kairat all the way in the U-17 title race, eventually finishing just one point behind the champions.
The Miners claimed silver with 56 points from 18 wins, two draws and two defeats. Shakhter opened the campaign with nine consecutive victories – the longest winning streak in the competition – and became the only team to score in all 22 matches. Just a year earlier, the same generation had finished sixth in the U-16 competition with only 27 points.
Yerik Yermagambetov, Aktobe U-16
Yerik Yermagambetov guided Aktobe to bronze in the U-16 competition, collecting 43 points from 13 wins, four draws and five defeats. His side boasted the second-best defensive record in the tournament, conceding just 21 goals and keeping ten clean sheets. Only Kairat conceded fewer.
The Red-and-Whites were particularly impressive in the second half of the season, taking 26 of a possible 33 points – a tally bettered only by the champions. In the final round, Aktobe thrashed Kaysar 6–0 to secure third place.
Igor Bugaev, Tobyl U-15
Igor Bugaev guided Tobyl to silver medals in the inaugural U-15 competition, with attacking football playing a key role in their success. The Kostanay side scored 74 goals – the second-highest total in the tournament behind Kairat.
Tobyl spent the entire season in the top two. They led the standings after Matchweek 1 before settling into second place in Matchweek 2, a position they held until the end of the campaign.
The winner will be announced at the QJ League Awards ceremony, which will take place on November 7 in Almaty. The ceremony will be broadcast on Freedom Cinema and TV.
Previous Georgiy Khutidi Award winners:
2023 – Maksim Gabunov (Aktobe);
2024 – Ruslanzhan Raimbakiyev (Kairat);
2025 – Igor Soloshenko (Shakhter U-17).
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