Osh: AFC Cup runners-up in 2015, it all went very wrong for FC Istiklol in last year’s competition as the team from Tajikistan crashed out in the group stage.
But after seven points in their first three Group D fixtures in the 2017 edition, the Dushanbe side are in pole position to secure one of the places in the Inter-zone Play-off semi-finals, a turnaround that FC Istiklol’s Tajikistan international Jahongir Aliev is convinced has been spurred on by the disappointment of 2016.
The-AFC.com spoke to the 20-year-old forward ahead of his side’s vital tie against FC Alay in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, on Wednesday.
Aliev nets FC Istiklol’s second in their 2-0 win over Dordoi in AFC Cup 2017
“In the first Group Stage game last year we were able to draw against Jordan’s Al Faisaly but after that we went on to lose the next five matches in the group. We had very strong opponents, but this isn’t an excuse just my opinion,” says Aliev, joint top scorer for FC Istiklol in the current AFC Cup campaign.
“However, I’m sure that those defeats have pushed us to better results this time around. We have learnt much from that poor campaign. You can see it in our play this year.
“Our training sessions have gone very well and we’ve been able to show good performances. We started preparations for the AFC Cup in January and we consider it our main focus for this year.”
Having come so close to winning the AFC Cup title in October 2015 - edged out 1-0 by Malaysia’s Johor Da’rul Tazim at a sold-out Central Republican Stadium in Dushanbe - it’s clear to see that Aliev has the desire to take Tajikistan football to new heights.
“Of course we can [win the AFC Cup], we always strive for more,” insists the former FK Khujand player. “We will fight hard to win this competition - we won’t want to just to take part.
“I repeat that the AFC Cup is not simply important for us; it’s our main target and we will do our best to win it. In every match we play in this competition we are supported by 15,000 fans.
“They believe in us, they trust in our skills and will to win. We can’t let them down.”
And that belief and support of the fans at home is obviously a driving factor for the Tajik, who turns 21 in July. Especially as interactions between the player and supporters are an active part of his normal life off the field.
“The life of a football player in Dushanbe is like one of any other guy my age,” adds Aliev.
“But, yes, of course people recognise you on the street and want to come say hello and talk to you. For me, though, in such moments you understand how important football is for the people here: you can’t let down those who believe in you.”
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com