Thanks to Abdugadir Husanov, the Tajik football player chose the Belarusian championship

A young Tajik footballer Alisher Rakhimov has chosen Smorgon, a representative of the Belarusian Premier League, as his new team. He explained his decision in an interview with a well-known insider Ivan Karp. According to Rakhimov, he received offers from Kazakhstan and Belarus, but based on the experience of famous footballer Abdukоdir Khusanov, he decided to play in the Belarusian championship.

"I had very little time to make a decision. They offered options from Belarus and Kazakhstan. I chose the club "Smorgon". Abdukоdir Khusanov's experience shows that any player is capable of playing in good clubs. My goal is to play in the top leagues of Europe like him," - says Rakhimov.

Professional football, not Medialiga

Alisher Rakhimov emphasized in his interview that he is focused on professional football and therefore has no intention of returning to Medialiga.

"I am no longer thinking about Medialiga. I do not intend to return there. I will focus all my attention on professional football and the training process. That is why I have repeatedly rejected Medialiga teams," - says the player.

The 22-year-old central striker Rakhimov can also play on the wings as an attacking player. He took his first steps in football in the Tajik club "Barkchi". He later played for Russian Media League teams Amkal and Broke Boys, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists in 49 appearances. Although he joined Ravshan in early 2024, he did not play in a single official match and went to the Belarusian championship.

Abdukоdir Khusanov: a source of inspiration for the youth of our region

Alisher Rakhimov's move to the Belarusian championship reminds many of Abdukоdir Khusanov's career. Khusanov took his first steps in professional football in the Belarusian championship. Khusanov, who studied at the Bunyodkor academy, made his way to Europe after signing a contract with Energetik-BGU.

After playing for one season in Belarus, he moved to Lens in the 2023 summer transfer window. A number of European clubs showed interest in the defender, who played in the French championship and demonstrated his potential. In the winter transfer window of 2024, Manchester City signed him. The club paid 50 million euros for Khusanov (40 million euros in transfer fee + 10 million euros in bonuses). This is a huge success for the defender.

Abdukоdir Khusanov made history as the first Uzbek player to debut in the English Premier League. He made his debut in the Premier League, the domestic cup and the European Champions League with Manchester City, scoring goals for his team. At the same time, his transfer value has reached 35 million euros.

Strong motivation for regional players

Abdukоdir Khusanov's success is a strong motivation not only for Uzbek football, but also for Central Asian players. If Alisher Rakhimov's participation in the Belarusian championship and his performance there attract the attention of European clubs in the future, he may also find his way to big clubs like Khusanov.

Rakhimov's decisions and future successes depend on what kind of mark he leaves in European football. One thing is certain - new paths are opening up for Central Asian football players, and this is a great opportunity for young talents. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”