Jaxybekov at the helm in Kazakhstan

Adilbek Jaxybekov has been elected as president of the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF) for a four-year term.

Jaxybekov was elected unanimously at the association’s assembly, and succeeds Seilda Bayshakov, who stepped down at the beginning of the year. He is currently the head of the national athletics federation.

The 63-year old has held the KFF president’s position previously, from 2007 to 2014. After his election, he said that strengthening the country’s domestic championship and further developing the grassroots would be key priorities.

“The championship is competitive,” Jaxybekov said, “and football centres for children are operating in all regions in Kazakhstan. Of course, we have to address some problem areas - our national team is not performing as well as we would like.”

“We have to develop our local championship, and then we will have a strong national team," he added.