Stanislav Cherchesov, the head coach of the Kazakhstan national football team, spoke to the official website of the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF) about the team's upcoming training camp and shared his insights on the Norwegian and Slovenian national teams.

– Mr. Cherchesov, the training camp is starting in Almaty next week. Could you tell us more about how it will be conducted?

– I'll be heading to Almaty a few days before the camp begins to handle some organizational details. The camp will be held at the Central Stadium. It's crucial that the pitch is in a good condition, especially since numerous matches were hosted in the arena recently. Our training schedule is set, but we need to adjust the timing because the Kairat vs Astana match has been rescheduled to a day later. Some players will arrive on September 1st, others on the 2nd, and a few on the 3rd. The coaching staff will arrive a day or two early to finalize plans and make sure everything runs smoothly.

– Regarding the goalkeeper position, we've noticed that there are four goalkeepers listed instead of three as before. Could you explain the reason for this?

– I'd like to highlight that Stas Pokatilov is returning to the national team. I've spoken with him to clear up any potential misunderstandings. He had a certain situation, but it has since been resolved. He needs to be ready to step in at any moment. We know his goalkeeping skills although he hasn’t been part of the national team over the last year for various reasons. He has learned from that experience, too.
Shatskiy has been performing well for the past two years and continues to play consistently for Aktobe.
Zarutskiy is a skilled goalkeeper. I observed his performance against the Azerbaijan national team. Unfortunately, he hasn’t played in the last few matches for his club. However, we are aware of his capabilities, which is why he made the final list.
As for the young Temirlan Anarbekov, it’s important to note that our coaching staff keeps a close eye on the youth national team. I regularly communicate with Konstantin Gorovenko, who assists me in this regard. I plan to consult with Mr. Gorovenko regarding the inclusion of players from the youth team because he is more familiar with the players and better understands their potential. This experience will also be beneficial for his own professional growth. He will also offer practical support during this camp. We aim for the players to understand that the main team monitors their progress. Anarbekov will train with experienced goalkeepers, gaining valuable experience and absorbing the national team's spirit before returning to the youth team a couple of days before their match. We intend to invite one or two youth team players to each camp so they can immerse in the main team’s environment and recognize that the national coaching staff is attentive to the youth players.

– Bekhan Shaizada, who was regularly called up to the national team, is not on the list this time. Why?

– We don’t issue contracts; rather, we call players up for camps. As such, we will assess the players' conditions and may decide differently for the next camp. It should be noted that Shaizada performed brilliantly in the European competitions, particularly during the penalty shootouts. Today, we made this decision, and going forward, we will make further decisions based on the circumstances at the time.

– Among the fans, there are questions about why players who are performing well at Kairat—such as Yerkbulan Seidakhmet and Andrey Ulshin, as well as Zhan Ali Payruz from Yelimay—haven't been called up.

– The new coaching staff is only conducting its first camp. Several players who had not recently been called up for various reasons have returned to the team, and new names have appeared. I want to emphasize that we monitor all players. We can’t call up everyone at once or replace all the experienced players immediately because we have yet to find players who are distinctly better. We need to strike the right balance. Yes, these players are showing potential, and we are keeping an eye on them. Ulshin, for example, has scored some remarkable goals and is currently on the expanded list. He hasn’t made it to the main team yet, but this means we are watching him closely, and he could be called up at any moment.
Please note that questions from the fans will always arise, which is just excellent. If questions are being asked, it shows they are engaged with and care about the team. Kazakhstan is a country of millions, and unanimity is impossible. I would like to reiterate that this is just our first camp. The most important thing is that the players arrive in good spirits and healthy.

– What can you say about the national teams of Norway and Slovenia? What strengths and weaknesses can you identify?

– Currently, our focus is solely on Norway as they are our initial challenge. We'll consider our strategy for the next opponent later on. The national leagues in Europe and Euro cups have kicked off, and Haaland has already scored a few. However, our preparation targets the Norwegian team as a whole, not just Haaland. Regarding Slovenia, I've observed their performances at Euro 2024. The Kazakhstan national team also competed against them last year. They are a robust team with a definite level of skill. Still, as the saying goes among hurdlers, focusing on the second, third, or tenth hurdle too soon will only lead to stumbling at the first. Hence, our current thoughts are not on Slovenia.

– Maksim Samorodov has been injured but is still on the reserve list. Will he recover in time for the upcoming matches?

– I'm pleased that he has transferred to Akhmat where he'll be working with Magomed Adiev, a coach he knows well. However, this is a different league with a different team and new demands. We've coordinated with Akhmat's medical staff to have him come to Astana for specialized rehabilitation. He's on our expanded list, and we'll keep a close eye on his recovery process before making any decisions. He certainly won't be ready for the first match. Unfortunately, Sagadat Tursynbay has also suffered an injury. He was on our expanded list, and we intended to call him up. However, we don’t want him to join the first camp in less than optimal condition and risk aggravating his injury.

– What would you like to say to the fans?

– I’ve heard that tickets for the match sold out in just half a day. We are eagerly anticipating the presence of all our fans in the stadium and greatly appreciate their support. On our part, we aim to deliver a performance that will make you proud and will put our heart and soul into the game. I trust in your support and ask that you keep faith in us too – we can achieve some great things together!