GETTING TO KNOW THE TURKMENISTAN YOKARY LIGA

Football in Turkmenistan was suspended towards the end of March like the majority of countries around the world but it has returned with the top tier of football being 'The Yokary Liga' playing matchdays four and five over the past two weekends. So here are some facts and figures for you to get to know the country and it's game - 

Turkmenistan is a sovereign country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the North West, Uzbekistan to the North and East, Afghanistan to the South East, Iran to the South and South West and the Caspian Sea to the West.

Up until 1991 it was part of the USSR but it became independent after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. 

It has an estimated population of 5.8 million people with just over 1,000,000 people residing in the Captial Ashgabat. 

The flag of Turkmenistan features a white crescent (The symbol of Islam) and five stars which represent the five regions of the country. It replaced the previous Soviet era flag in September 1992. 

The Turkmenistan Yokary Liga (also known at The Turkmenistan Higher League) was founded in 1992 when FK Kopetdag Asgabat won the title with a total of fifteen teams invovled. 

Over the past six seasons FC Altyn Asyr FK have dominated the league winning the title in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. They have also won The Turkmenistan Cup in 2009, 2016, 2016 and 2019. 

The second tier of football in the country is the 'Turkmenistan First League' which is split into four provincial zones. 

FC Ahal have been runner's up in the last three seasons and they have started the 2020 season with four wins scoring eight goals and four clean sheets. Altyn Asyr have had three draws and only one win. 

For the 2020 league there are four teams based in the Capital City being Ahal FK, Altyn Asyr FK and FC Asgabat who all play in the same Ashgabat Stadium complex. The fourth club are FK Kopetdag who play in the Kopetdag Stadium in the city. FC Energetik and Merw KF are from the Mary District with Nebitci FT from Balkanabat and Sagadam FK from Turkmenbasy on the Caspian Sea coast. 

The Champions of the League qualify for the AFC Champions League Group Stage with the runner's up going into the AFC Cup Preliminary Round. These are much like the UEFA Champions League and Europa League in Europe. 

Altyn Asyr FC got to the 2018 final of the AFC Cup where they lost to Iraqi side 'Al-Quwa Al Jawiya' - This was the first time a team from Turkmenistan got to the final of any of the two main AFC competitions.

There was an AFC President's Cup which ran from 2005 to 2014 which was set below the two AFC competitions which are still played for. Two clubs from Turkmenistan won this competition with HTTU Asgabat (now known at Yedigen FC) winning it in 2014 by beating North Korean side Rimyongsu in the final. Balkan Balkanabat (now renamed Nebitci) won the 2013 Cup by beating Pakistani side KRL. 

YOKARY LEAGUE CURRENT LEAGUE TABLE

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	FORM
1.	AHAL	4	+8	12	WWWW
2.	ASGABAT	5	+4	10	WWWLD
3.	KOPETDAG	5	+1	8	LDWWD
4.	ALTYN ASYR	4	+2	6	DDWD
5.	ENERGETIK	5	-1	5	DWLLD
6.	SAGADAM	5	-2	5	WLDLD
7.	NEBITCI	5	-6	3	LLLWL
8.	MERW	5	-6	3	LLLLW

FK Kopetdag Asgabat are the oldest team in the division having been formed in 1947. They did win six of the first eight Yorkary titles before being dormant from 2008 to 2015. They did play in the Soviet First League (Second Tier) between 1970 to 1974 and 1976 to 1979 with their best placed finish being 7th in 1976. 

The International team of Turkmenistan played it's first game in June 1992 against Kazakhstan. They have never qualified for the World Cup but are currently top of Group H in Round Two of the AFC qualification tournament - They still have a home game against Lebanon and away games in South Kora and North Korea. 

If they are lucky enough to get through to Round Three there are two groups of six with the top two qualifying for World Cup 2022. The two third placed teams get another chance by playing each other in the third round with the winner going into the International Confederation Play-Offs - the format of which has not yet been announced. Croation Ante Miše was the naitonal coach but his contract expired in March and it wasn't renewed. 

The countries most coveted player is Arslanmyrat Amanow who currently has 44 caps and 13 goals. The 30 year old attacking midfielder recently moved to AGMK who play in the Uzbekistan Super League. He moved Lokomotiv Tashkent who finished as runner's up in the Uzbekistan Super League last season. 

Forthcoming Fixtures

Thursday 30th April 
Altyn Asyr v Ahal 

Monday 4th May
Altyn Asyr v Aşgabat 
Şagadam v Köpetdag Aşgabat
Merw v Nebitçi

Tuesday 5th May
Ahal v Energetik


The next two fixtures for champion's Altyn Asyr are must win games after their start threes draws and just one win. They have two City derby games coming up taking on table topper's Ahal before hosting Asgabat next week.