Winger Sirozhiddin Astanakulov, who plays for Turkish side Bodrumspor, has been called up to Kyrgyzstan’s Olympic national team for a training camp in Thailand and is set to wear the national team colours for the first time.
The training camp will take place in Bangkok from 28 May to 10 June and will mark the first Olympic team camp under new head coach Urmat Abdukaimov.
During the camp, Kyrgyzstan’s U23 side will play three international friendlies against Thailand (3 June), the UAE (6 June) and South Korea (9 June).
For 20-year-old Astanakulov, the call-up represents an important step in his international career. Born in Osh, he received his football education in Turkey through the Ankaragücü academy system.
Even during his youth career, he was regarded as one of Kyrgyzstan’s most promising young footballers and viewed as a potential future star within Ankaragücü’s academy system.
In 2023, Ankaragücü handed Astanakulov his first professional contract. According to Transfermarkt, he went on to make 13 appearances and score twice for the club’s senior side, while also recording 36 appearances and six goals for the U19 team.
In February 2024, Astanakulov also found the net for Ankaragücü’s first team in the Turkish Cup.
The winger was also called up to Turkey’s U18 national team, but his long-term future in Turkish football became complicated by registration and nationality rules.
Turkish media reports discussed uncertainty over whether the Ankaragücü academy graduate should count as a domestic or foreign player under Turkish football regulations. The issue became even more significant after the club’s relegation to the third tier.
At the beginning of 2026, the winger joined Bodrumspor, a club competing in Turkey’s second tier. According to the Turkish Football Federation, his contract runs until 30 June 2028.
Game time at his new club has been limited so far, however. Public statistical databases show just two appearances and 63 minutes played across all competitions, one outing in the league and another in the Turkish Cup.
Against that backdrop, the call-up to Kyrgyzstan’s U23 national team could offer Astanakulov an important opportunity for regular game time and a return to the international spotlight.
For Kyrgyzstan, it is also an intriguing addition. The Olympic squad may now have access to a player developed in the Turkish football system, with experience in the Ankaragücü academy and a professional contract at a Turkish club.
At the same time, the call-up to Kyrgyzstan’s Olympic team does not yet mean Astanakulov has permanently switched his sporting nationality.
Training camps and friendly matches do not officially tie a player to a new national association. The decisive step would come if he were to feature in an official FIFA or AFC competition match for Kyrgyzstan.
If Astanakulov previously represented Turkey’s youth national teams in official competitions, he may eventually need to complete FIFA’s one-time switch process in order to represent Kyrgyzstan in competitive matches.
For now, however, his involvement in Kyrgyzstan U23 training camps and friendly matches means his international future remains open.
According to Eurasia Football sources, Astanakulov could join one of Kyrgyzstan’s clubs as early as this summer.
Kyrgyzstan U23 Fixtures in Bangkok
3 June
Thailand U23 vs Kyrgyzstan U23
6 June
Kyrgyzstan U23 vs UAE U23
9 June
Kyrgyzstan U23 vs South Korea U23