Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world football team (statistically speaking) may simply be a little-known team from the closed Central Asian country of Turkmenistan.
Founded last year, Arkadag, named after former Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, has been unstoppable, picking up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a streak that continues.
The team lost just one competitive match and managed a league and cup double in its inaugural season, good fortune unthinkable almost anywhere else.
Photo: AFP
In Turkmenistan, however, it would hardly have been otherwise.
The energy-rich country is one of the most closed in the world, human rights groups say, and the Berdimuhamedows — father Gurbanguly and his son, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow — exert near-total control over every facet of society.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, who was president for 15 years, is now “Arkadag,” or protective hero. Although he has handed over the presidency to his son, he continues to de facto rule together and enjoys immense privileges as an official leader. of the NATION.
Photo: AFP
Arkadag, the football club that bears his name, plays its matches at the Arkadag Stadium in the newly built city of Arkadag, a mega-project built in his honor with a $5 billion official position.
The most important monument in the city is a 43 m high monument topped by a golden statue of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on horseback.
Despite its record-breaking streak, Arkadag has struggled to draw crowds. Around 200 spectators attended last month’s matches against Ahal and Altyn Asyr, which were spread across the new 10,000-seat stadium. Tickets were given out free of charge.
Photo: AFP
As he watched, fan Begench Mukhadov held up the club’s scarf, emblazoned with its official logo, an ice-blue and white shield depicting an Akhal-Teke horse, a symbol.
“Arkadag is sure to win every single name this season. I’m satisfied that an invincible team has emerged and that football is interesting,” said Mukhadov, 18, who works at a structures company.
Official Shageldy Soyunov, 34, “closely follows all of Arkadag’s matches” and appreciates the team’s “dynamic play. “
After completing the double last year, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow presented the Arkadag players with a photo of Serdar Berdimuhamedow signing a ball with the club’s logo.
The gift “was accepted with wonderful pride and deep gratitude,” Turkmen state media reported.
“He got to know our team and pushed us to win more,” said Didar Durdyev, a two-time most sensible scorer in the league.
After scoring 83 goals in 24 league games last year, Arkadag has maintained his attacking prowess, scoring 25 in games this season.
“We feel the support of our reputed protective hero Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow,” said Durdyev, a 30-year-old striker.
The sports government erased references to Arkadag as an invincible force in football.
There is no record in the Turkmenistan Football Federation of two recent defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk and Dnipro-1 of Ukraine in friendlies held in February.
Later this year, the club and its unbeaten record will face their biggest test yet, when they play in the AFC Champions League 2, the Asian confederation of the Europa League.
Unlike other Central Asian countries, Turkmenistan has never been a football country and has made its mark on the outside stage.
This is despite the state’s strong monetary policy, financed through the sale of its immense oil and fuel reserves.
The national team, whose backbone is made up of players from Arkadag, has been winning since June 2022.
Turkmenistan languishes at the bottom of the FIFA rankings, ranked 143rd out of 210.
However, officials say they are unfazed and hope Arkatag’s good fortune can bring about change.
“It’s smart for players to get to know each other,” an official at the national sports committee told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. “This reinforces their collective winning spirit. “