The shortlist of nominees for the Yevgeny Yarovenko Award, presented to the best defender of the Freedom QJ League season, has been announced.
Alikhan Abdi, Kairat
Alikhan Abdi plays in the league's best defence this season, with Kairat conceding just 10 goals in 22 matches. Alikhan has an 83% pass completion rate, along with 215 interceptions and 158 tackles and recoveries.
Abdi has also contributed in attack, scoring four goals this season.
Meirlan Baltabayev, Shakhter
With Meirlan Baltabayev in defence, Shakhter conceded just 18 goals in 22 matches. Meirlan won more than 60% of his duels and recorded 276 interceptions, along with 212 tackles and recoveries.
With 1,073 passes, Meirlan ranks second among defenders for total passes and leads the league in completed passes. He also recorded 37 touches in the opposition penalty area – the joint-highest tally among defenders, matched only by Tamerlan Temirgaliyev of Ertis.
Ruslan Dzhetenov, Tobyl
Tobyl captain Ruslan Dzhetenov is one of just three outfield players in the league to have played every minute of the season – all 1,980 minutes.
Ruslan leads the league in total passes, as well as tackles and recoveries. He also ranks second in interceptions (292). In addition, he scored five goals, making him Tobyl's joint-top scorer alongside Nazar Zakharchenko.
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.
Yevgeny Yarovenko Award winners by year:
2023 – Ruslan Zakharov (Zhas Kyran);
2024 – Amirbek Bazarbayev (Kairat);
2025 – Akezhan Kalikulov (Kairat).
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