Rising Stars on the Podium: The Freedom QJ League Season Closing Ceremony

The event brought together players, coaches, as well as representatives and staff of both the clubs and the League itself.

The ceremony was broadcast live on Freedom Media. A full recording of the event is now available on the platform, which currently offers a 90-day subscription for only 5 tenge via Freedom SuperApp.

The gala evening was styled in a Formula 1 aesthetic and hosted by Evgeniy Ozhogin and Lunara Yesen.

The ceremony was officially opened by David Loria, General Secretary of the Kazakhstan Football Federation, Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., and Rokhus Shokh, President of the Freedom QJ League.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Freedom Holding Corp. for its consistent support and contribution to the development of football in Kazakhstan. For the third consecutive year, the large-scale Freedom QJ League project has helped young athletes across the country grow, improve, and believe in their future. Such initiatives are the foundation for strong and professional football of tomorrow,” emphasized David Loria.

“Three years ago, QJ League was just an idea — a dream that every talented child in Kazakhstan could play football, develop, and feel believed in. Not much time has passed, yet it’s enough to prove that any dream can take shape.

54 teams, over 1,500 players, five tournaments — including the first-ever women’s season. 542 matches, dozens of cities, thousands of fans, all within one season. The League has grown tremendously in organization, quality of play, and in the technologies that help coaches and players improve.

But the most valuable thing is the people who give the League its meaning. No modern tool can replace what this is truly about — your emotions, the joy of victories, and the pain of defeats. Thank you to everyone who believes in the QJ League and makes it an important part of Kazakh football. My thanks to the project team and especially Rokhus Shoh. Congratulations, friends! Alğa, QJ!” — said Timur Turlov.

“I sincerely believe in the youth of Kazakhstan — in every boy and girl who steps onto the field. Their energy, desire, and determination are what drive this project forward. We’ve seen kids from all over the country — from cities and regions — begin to train systematically, compete, and attract attention,” noted Rokhus Shokh.

For the third consecutive year, the main Freedom QJ League title went to Kairat Almaty. During the ceremony, the team’s players lifted the championship trophy, which will now remain with the club permanently. As national champions, the yellow-blacks will once again represent Kazakhstan in the UEFA Youth League.

The ceremony also featured the debut of the official anthem of the Freedom QJ League — a composition blending classical and modern elements with national motifs, intended to become a core part of the League’s identity.

The League announced winners in 18 award categories, most of which are named after Kazakh football legends and modern stars.

Season Award Winners

Changan MVP of the Season – Gleb Makridov (Shakhter)

Award is named after Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov, the all-time top scorer of Kazakhstan’s national team. Thanks to the cooperation between the Freedom QJ League and Changan Kazakhstan – the official distributor of the Changan brand in Kazakhstan and a member of Astana Motors - this year's award winner will receive a grant for a trial with a foreign club.

Performance of the Year – Maksat Abraev (Astana)
Eduard Son Award for Best Forward – Abylay Toleukhan (Kairat)
Yevgeniy Yarovenko Award for Best Defender – Akezhan Kalikulov (Kairat)
Anton Shokh Award for Best Midfielder – Daniyal Nazarov (Astana)
Aleksandr Ubykin Award for Best Goalkeeper – Madiyar Toleubek (Irtysh)
Eustathios Pehlevanidi Award for Top Scorer – Daulet Orynbasar (Kairat)
Georgiy Khutidi Award for Best Coach – Igor Soloshenko (Shakhter U17)
Askhat Tagybergen Award for Best Goal – Aruzhan Ospanova (Irtysh W)
Igor Shatskiy Award for Best Save – Makhmudzhan Sungatullin (Zhas Kyran U18)
Aleksandr Kulakov Award for Best Referee – Daniil Polyanskiy (Kokshetau)
Best Match Inspector – Anatoliy Khodin (Atyrau)
Dias Omarov Award for Best Media Department – Atyrau
Seilda Baishakov Award for Best Marketing – Taraz
Yevgeniy Rott Award for Best Executive – Kirill Keker (Kairat)
Best Manager – Viktor Kasharin (Tobol)
Best Doctor – Alisher Artikov (Ordabasy)
Best Psychologist – Dana Kulmanova (Aktobe)

The shortlists were compiled through voting among players, coaches, experts, and League staff.

Team of the Year

Goalkeeper: Madiyar Toleubek (Irtysh)

Defenders: Akezhan Kalikulov (Kairat), Vasiliy Leontyev (Shakhter), Sanat Nurbolat (Kairat)

Midfielders: Daniyal Nazarov (Astana), Aliden Musaipov (Kairat), Ruslan Rakhmetov (Irtysh), Zhanali Yesenaliev (Ordabasy)

Forwards: Abylai Toleukhan (Kairat), Gleb Makridov (Shakhter), Alen Pak (Astana)

Another highlight of the evening was a charity auction, where the main item was a match-worn jersey of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé. The winning bid — 3 million tenge — was placed by Kairat Boranbayev, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of FC Kairat. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to charity.