RAZIA NURKENOVA: "IT IS NECESSARY TO DO A GREAT JOB TO IMPROVE WOMEN'S FOOTBALL"

The new head coach of the Kazakhstan women's national team, Raziya Nurkenova, shared about her plans and tasks in an interview with the press service of the Kazakhstan Football Federation.

- Razia Tuleuovna, recently you have been appointed the head coach of the women's national team, Our congratulations.

- Thank you. For me it's a great honor to coach the national team of the country where I was born and bred. I have always dreamed to work in Kazakhstan, despite the long period of residence in Russia. Of course, we have many things to do and we need to make a lot of efforts to develop the women's football in Kazakhstan.

- What problems in women's football could you name?

- First of all, this is a great shortage of qualified players in the national team. I think it happens due to the fact that the championship of the country involved only five clubs. This is not enough to grow the necessary number of qualified players, who already in the short term could protect the colors of the team. That is, here we must move from quantity to quality.

- Recently it has been announced about the Women's Football League in Kazakhstan in the near future. How will this affect the development of this sport?

- In the most positive way. Regions will pay attention to the need to create women's professional teams. It is planned to increase the number of football clubs from 5 to 10-12. This will create a competitive championship, improve the skills of players and, of course, affect the attendance of matches of the championship. It's no secret that there is an opinion that women's football in Kazakhstan ‘’work in isolation from the rest of the world " and not interesting for most people. Believe me, women's football is an entertaining sport that is gaining momentum in the world. I would like that in my country football developed not only among men, but also among the representatives of the fair sex.

- You touched upon the issue of popularizing women's football in the country. At least TV broadcasting is really necessary for this.

- Agree with you. In this regard, the Kazakhstan Football Federation is making all the necessary efforts. For example, the matches of the "UEFA Development Cup ", which took place in Shymkent, was broadcasted live on the Internet. I think this is not the limit and soon there will also be an opportunity to see the championship games live. Moreover, the matches of the World Cup and European Championships qualifications, as well as European club tournaments were also broadcasted on television. Of course, we understand that if we manage to create a strong championship, then the spectator will be interested in it. So the KFF and the regions are doing a great job in this regard.

- Have you already analyzed the players of our national team?

- Before visiting Kazakhstan I had watched a few matches with the participation of the women's team. The team is not bad and there are a number of leaders.

- Recently two Kazakhstani players  have signed contracts with foreign clubs. Aida Gaistenova became a player of the Russian FC "Yenisei", Sabina Rgaeva – the Turkish FC "Antalyaspora 1207". Do you think it will strengthen the women's national team?

- I have always said that if it becomes possible to play at a higher level, this should be used. I think they made the right choice. The most important thing is for the players to develop and have a constant playing practice. Only in this case they will improve their skills. If the game practice is not a problem, then, of course, they will get a chance in the national team.

- On June 12, the women's team will play another match in the 2019 World Cup qualification against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- According to the agreement with the Kazakhstan Football Federation, my contract will come into force on July 1 of this year. Nevertheless, I will watch with interest this match. Of course, I'll do a detailed analysis of both this match and the previous games. Now I'm collecting information for each player of the national team and potential candidates for the team.

- The media have already touched upon your appointment. Some experts believe that you do not have information about what is happening in our women's football.

- Of course, until you come to the country and work there, you cannot say with absolute certainty that you know local football. But believe me, the experience and knowledge that I acquired in Russia would help me to carry out my work in a qualitative way. As I said, now I am collecting detailed information about Kazakhstan women's football and I hope that it will be useful to me in the near future. I want to give all my strength to achieve a good result. As for criticism, it makes us stronger.

- How to assess the performance of the women's team in the current qualifying round of the 2019 World Cup?

- Our group is very difficult for us. Wales and England are favorites of the group. In these countries, women's football is paid great attention, there is a high public interest. In this regard, both Kazakhstan and Russia have to do many things. I hope that in the next qualifying round Kazakhstan will perform better. Technically, as I noted our players are equipped well, there is a game discipline, they are motivated enough. Other factors, including the result, will come with time.

- Not everyone in Kazakhstan knows how your career as a player and coach developed.

- I was born and bred in Karaganda, where started playing football. Then we organized a women's team, which took part in its first tournament in Chisinau (Moldova). Then I played in the team "Karaganda-Olympus" and after got a chance to play for the national team of the Kazakh SSR, and then to the national team of the Soviet Union. It was in the late 80's - early 90's. With the collapse of the USSR, women's football in Kazakhstan practically ceased to exist, and at the invitation of the coaches Aleksandr Solovyov and Vitaly Shashkov, I moved to Russia,Samara city. As part of the local team (CSK VVS) became a three-time champion of Russia, winner of the Cup of countries, prize-winner of the championship. I got into the Russian national team, participated in major international tournaments. In 2004, the Samara team ceased to exist. In 2000, I began my coaching career. For 18 years I had headed Samara "Wings of the Soviets" and CSK VVS, that repeatedly became winners and prizewinners of Russian championships among girls of different ages. During that period I managed to prepare sixteen players - members of the junior and youth teams of Russia, as well as two players of the national team - Valentina Orlova and Anastasia Pozdeeva, who became masters of international sports. Even during my work, I managed to get a great coaching experience of participation in qualifying competitions of national teams, since seven years - from 2006 to 2013 I had been working as coach of the women's junior team of Russia. An important role in my coaching career was played by FIFA instructor, head coach of the Dutch women's national team Vera Pauw, who from 2010 to 2013 was the technical director of women's teams in the Russian Football Union. Working under her guidance, I managed to get a lot of knowledge about modern methods of training in European women's football and increase the level of my coaching education.

- Do you have a dream?

- It can say that it has partially realized. I am in Kazakhstan and will work with the national team of my country. Now I would like to contribute to the development of Kazakhstan women's football. There is a potential and it's big. The main thing is to set high goals and constantly improve.