Which former Freedom QJ League players are preparing for the new season: Part Two

FC Astana

The capital club is holding its first training camp at its home stadium, with this phase running until January 28. Head coach Grigoriy Babayan and his staff have called up several former QJ League players to train with the first team: Maksat Abrayev, Ruslan Valikhan, Akhmetali Kaltanov, Sanzhar Anuarov, Timur Tokenov, and Arsen Akhmetov.

The oldest players on the list are Anuarov and Tokenov, both born in 2005, while the youngest are Abrayev and Valikhan from the 2008 age group, who took part in last season’s flagship tournament.

It is worth recalling that Maksat Abrayev was named “Performance of the Year” at the end of last season. In addition to his impressive attacking output in the tournament (9 goals and 7 assists in 18 matches), he became the champion of the Freedom Media Cyber Cup and scored against Atlético Madrid academy players in the QJL All Star match.

So far, only Anuarov has experience playing for FC Astana’s senior team – Sanzhar made his debut in 2024 in the QFL League Cup. For the remaining players, their first appearance for the club’s main squad is still ahead.

FC Shakhter

The Karaganda club has invited a number of young academy players to the first team’s training camp. These include goalkeepers Nikita Kildzhiyev and Nurali Nurgaliyev, defenders Alexander and Ali Akylbayev, midfielders Nurkhan Kagazbayev, Gleb Makridov, and Roman Assylbayev, as well as forward Ilya Gezik.

Dmitry Ogay’s team is holding its first training camp in Antalya, which will last until January 22.

In addition, Shakhter’s squad features several talented youngsters who previously played in the QJ League for other teams. These include former Kairat players Alikhan Israilov and Artem Litosh, who moved to Karaganda last summer, as well as graduates of FC Astana’s football center – Daniyal Nazarov, Alan Azamat, and Alen Pak.

In the upcoming season, the Miners will compete in the First League. At the initiative of Timur Turlov, changes were introduced to the competition regulations: teams will now be required to field at least two junior players – one born in 2007 or later, and another born in 2008 or later.

Finally, it should be noted that Gleb Makridov was named Changan MVP of the Season following the conclusion of the previous campaign. Winning this award also earned him a grant to attend a trial with a prestigious foreign club. This opportunity became possible thanks to the partnership between the Freedom QJ League and Changan Kazakhstan, the official distributor of Changan and part of the Astana Motors group.