Kaisar chiefs in Kazakhstan

Three points clear at the top of the table in Kazakhstan after eight league games, no-one is more surprised than FC Kaisar Kyzylorda about their success.

Shock success
Apart from a 1-0 defeat against champions FK Aktobe and this weekend's 2-1 loss to FC Okzhetpes Kokshetau, Kaisar have won all of their league games this season – and by the same 1-0 scoreline – leaving coach Vladimir Nikitenko a little bewildered about how his side have stumbled on to such a consistent winning formula. "Jokes aside, our strong suits are discipline and organisation," he said.

Financial stability
"The third important factor is the financial stability of the club," continued the coach. "The maintenance of the team is controlled by the head of the Kyzylorda region and has nothing to do with any mystery investors. However, our success at the start of the league season is based not only on strategic matters but also on the ambition of the players. Their determination is very high."

Aktobe calm
Still second in the table, Aktobe are not panicking about the mysterious upstarts just yet. Captain Samat Smakov said: "Kaisar made a good start and exploited the shaky performances of the top teams, but there is still more than two thirds of the season to go. In our game against them, we showed the supporters who was stronger. The task of winning the title again still seems realistic."

Irtysh shaken
FC Irtysh Pavlodar are also banking on an upturn of form as they lie seventh in the table. According to coach Oyrat Saduov, "our situation has been affected by unexpectedly dropping points at home, but the team has got over it. The new signings and established players have found common ground now. Any talk about us winning the title is not over."

Astana change
Meanwhile, FK Atyrau and FC Astana have allowed their coaches, Sergei Volgin and Aleksandr Irkhin respectively, to leave because of poor results. "Pre-season performances were promising and it seemed the new arrivals were the right choice," said Astana president Aleksandr Konochkin. "But as soon as the season started, the failures kept coming one after another."

Volgin unseated
At Atyrau, Volgin has been replaced by his assistant Sergei Klimov after famous coach Voit Talgayev declined an offer from the club. "Our current position in the league is down to my own mistakes," said Volgin. "The situation needs to be reassessed and I don't want to be head coach at that time. The potential of this side will perhaps be revealed under another coach than me."