FIFA and UEFA Experts Share Views on First Scouting Seminar

The educational programme is aimed at enhancing the qualifications of specialists in talent identification and player selection. Participants study modern approaches to scouting, discuss criteria for evaluating players, and develop a shared understanding of the playing style and player profiles required for the development of football in Kazakhstan.

An important part of the seminar is the combination of theory and practice: following discussions, participants observe matches of the Zhalyn tournament, where they apply their knowledge in real conditions by analysing the game and identifying promising players.

FIFA Talent Identification and Scouting expert Steve Morrow highlighted the importance of the initiative:

“It is a big and important step for the federation to place an emphasis on talent identification, especially at an early age. If we are able to identify talent correctly at an early stage, it will raise the overall level of the national teams in the future.”

UEFA Elite Youth Football specialist Roger Meightry noted the strong engagement of the participants:

“Many important aspects are being discussed, and participants are eager to learn a new scouting system. It is very important to understand what kind of players you are looking for and what style of football you want to play. It is equally important that specialists from different regions work in the same direction and share a common understanding of football development in Kazakhstan.”

Club representatives also shared their views. Head of the FC Atyrau academy Kuanysh Kabdulov emphasised the practical value of the tournament:

“We are watching matches of the Zhalyn tournament and learning to identify talented players from different regions. Our task is to find promising footballers and develop them to the level of the national team.”

Head coach of the Qyzyljar women’s team Madiyar Kembilov also highlighted the importance of the initiative:

“Organising the first scouting seminar in Kazakhstan is a very good decision. I would like to thank FIFA representative Steve Morrow for coming to Kazakhstan and sharing his experience.”