Uzbek midfielder Maradona Safarov will continue his career with Tajik football club Istaravshan.
Safarov spent the past three seasons in the Kyrgyz Premier League with OshMU. He served as team captain for a period and finished last season as the club’s top assist provider, recording seven assists in 25 matches. OshMU ended the campaign in sixth place, the highest league finish in the club’s history.
Istaravshan are coached by Sherali Bobokulov, the former head coach of the Uzbekistan women’s national team. Last season, Bobokulov successfully guided the club to safety, keeping them in the league.
Traditionally, Istaravshan’s squad features a strong Uzbek presence, largely due to the club’s geographic proximity to Uzbekistan. Last season, eight Uzbek players represented the club; at present, five Uzbek footballers are registered, with further signings still possible.
Safarov’s unusual first name has a simple origin: his father named him after Diego Maradona, the legendary Argentine footballer, whom he greatly admired.