Kirill Keker: “Reaching the Elite Round Is a very important step for our mindset and self‑confidence”

– The Kazakhstan U‑19 team has reached the Elite Round for the first time in history — what emotions do the players feel? What does this achievement mean to you?

– Yes, indeed, for the first time. For the team as a whole and for the players, it’s a very important step for our mindset and self‑confidence. The boys are making the right moves in their development, and the positive atmosphere in the dressing room confirms that. However, we should realize that we haven’t won anything yet — we have only promoted to the next stage. Personally, it’s a great experience, because working for a national team is fundamentally different from working at a club. And now we all have the opportunity to face high‑level European teams. 

– How would you assess the level of resistance / challenge in the matches in the Netherlands?

– To begin with, we should remember that we came into this group from pot four, which already indicates the strength of our opponents. The Dutch team, of course, stands out — and they proved their quality by winning all three games. I want to highlight my players: on the pitch, they showed that we can be stronger and can play our game. KFF

– What are your goals and expectations for the Elite Round matches? 

– We’re looking forward to the draw with interest — to see who we’ll face and where the games will be held. The expectations are high; after all, we don’t often get the chance to play against top-tier European national teams. We plan to hold a training camp ahead of the March FIFA window to bring the players together, align on our goals and strategy for the tournament, and then move forward accordingly. Anyway, we will set our sights as high as possible.