Freedom QJ League President Rokhus Shokh paid a working visit to Almaty, where he visited the Zhas Kyran Stadium.
Rokhus Shokh familiarized himself with the upgraded infrastructure of the youth football center. This year, the stadium is undergoing major renovations, including the replacement of the pitch and the installation of a new irrigation system. The League President also met with the founder and head of Zhas Kyran, businessman Berik Kaniyev.
Zhas Kyran has been a participant in the League since its inception. The Almaty-based club won silver medals in the flagship tournament's inaugural season. This year, the academy's players are once again aiming for a place on the podium, with the U-18 team currently sitting in third place after six weeks.
"Football has always been a part of my life. As boys, we used to attend Kairat matches, and I would always imagine myself playing alongside those legends on the pitch. I want to pass on at least a fraction of that passion to these youngsters.
I would like to thank Timur Turlov and my close friend Rokhus Shokh. If it were not for the QJ League, there probably would not be so many emotions, and so many talented young players might never have emerged. I believe this contribution cannot be measured either in money or in working hours. Many people speak about the League with tears in their eyes.
The QJ League constantly challenges us to meet its standards. Thanks to this, we continue to grow: our staff is expanding, and the quality of our work is improving.
Our teams have always achieved solid sporting results, but cooperation with the QJ League has opened up new opportunities and new directions for development.
The coordinators of the League's sports and analytics unit work closely with our coaches by conducting match reviews, providing recommendations, and exchanging expertise. The development of youth football is a shared responsibility. I believe that if we complement one another, everyone will benefit from it," noted Berik Seraliyevich.
"Back in 2023, when we were just getting started, we immediately established clear criteria and standards. And how could we overlook Zhas Kyran, which was already operating at a very high level, with its own training base, stadium, excellent coaches, and talented players? There was already a well-structured system in place.
From the very beginning, we made it clear that participation in the League would not be limited to representatives of the regions. If there was a strong private academy that met all the requirements, it also deserved to be part of the project.
And we were right. The most important thing we saw was the genuine love and dedication that the investors and management of the academy have for their work.
Today, many people talk about private clubs. Thanks to the initiative of the Head of State, private investment has begun to enter professional football. However, Berik Kaniyev has been doing this for many years already — calmly and without unnecessary publicity. He continues to develop infrastructure while placing a special emphasis on youth football.
Zhas Kyran has been operating successfully for a long time. If you look at the statistics — how many of its graduates are already playing in the Premier League and representing Kazakhstan's youth national teams — it becomes clear just how significant this center's contribution has been.
I would like to thank Berik Kaniyev. What he is doing today sets a great example. He is not merely replacing the pitch; he is reconstructing the entire training base, planning to expand it further and establish a full-fledged academy here. The stadium and internal facilities are also being renovated.
And who is all this for? First and foremost, for our children. It is a powerful message and an excellent example for all regions," emphasized Rokhus Shokh.
