"I regret not asking." Cherchesov revealed his biggest mistake while coaching the Kazakhstan national team.

In the past, Kazakhstan had a strong representative in the top league of the USSR—Kairat. Naturally, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the level of football declined across all 15 former Soviet states, but eventually, some began to rise again. Where would you place Kazakh football in a virtual ranking today? Recently, someone shared with me the current ranking of the local league worldwide—it stands at 86th according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. Football exists; it needs to be developed, particularly at the state level. Is that happening in Kazakhstan? Not to the extent that is necessary. During my tenure, the Kazakhstan Football Federation began to actively work on this front. I traveled across the country and saw the situation firsthand. Attention has gradually started to be paid to stadiums, and there are clubs with certain capabilities in this regard. Such progress was made during Barmenkulov's leadership. I hope that this momentum continues and does not stop. Currently, almost all national teams—the senior squad and the youth team—host their opponents at Kairat's arena. There simply isn't another option, as the stadium in Astana was closed for renovations. By the way, I regret not asking about the home arena when I was appointed; I was unaware that we wouldn't have the option to play on an artificial pitch, which turned out to be a disadvantage for us, while synthetic turf could have been an advantage. I wish I had inquired about it beforehand, instead of being presented with the situation as a fait accompli.

https://sports.kz/news/jaleyu-chto-ne-sprosil-cherchesov-raskryil-svoy-glavnyiy-proschet-v-sbornoy-kazahstana2025-02-03 09:25:36

The former head coach of the Kazakhstan national team, Stanislav Cherchesov, commented on the situation in Kazakh football following his dismissal from the national team, as reported by Sports.kz with reference to Sport-express.ru.

— In the past, Kazakhstan had a strong representative in the top league of the USSR — “Kairat.” It’s clear that after the collapse of the Union, the level dropped across all 15 post-Soviet countries, and then some began to rise. Now, in a virtual ranking, where would you place Kazakh football?
— Recently, someone sent me the ranking of the local league in the world (86th according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics. — Note from "SE"). There is football, and it needs to be developed, especially at the state level. Is that happening in Kazakhstan? Not on the scale that is needed. During my time, the KFF started to actively work in this regard; I traveled all over the country and saw it with my own eyes. Slowly, attention began to be paid to the stadiums — there are clubs that have certain opportunities in this sense. Such steps were taken during the time of Barmenkulov. I hope this will be picked up now and not halted. Currently, almost all national teams — the senior team, the youth team — hosted opponents at the “Kairat” arena. There’s simply nowhere else to play — the stadium in Astana was closed for renovations. By the way, my mistake was not asking about the home arena upon my appointment; I didn’t know there wouldn’t be a chance to play on artificial turf, which turned out to be a disadvantage for us, while synthetic turf could have been an advantage. I regret not asking, as I was already faced with the fact.

— Looking back, would you change anything in terms of media strategy?
— Listen, I am who I am. You didn’t ask me what questions you would be posing. Therefore, even at press conferences, when I hear a question, I react as I am, without inventing anything, responding as I understand and feel. I don’t want to please anyone on purpose. This is both a plus and a minus, I suppose, depending on the situation.

Recently, a Kazakh journalist wrote to me: “What will we do without you? You’re leaving us without work.” By the way, this is a large country, where there are not just two or three bloggers writing about football and sometimes nonsense. So, believe not in rumors, but in official sources. For instance, what I am saying in this interview.

— And what did you reply to the journalist?
— That everything is learned through comparison, so let’s compare.

— At least in the Russian media, there has been more frequent and extensive coverage of the Kazakhstan national team since your arrival.
— There is sport, and there is media presence — and it needs to be capitalized. The task also includes making my teams interesting — both on the field and off it, in interviews, and at press conferences.

— By the way, did you talk to the journalist who came to your press conference in a “PSG” jacket afterwards?
— No. Although I asked the federation to prepare a national team jacket — I wanted to give it to him; they said he would be at one event, but he wasn’t there.