AICHI-NAGOYA, October 8. /Dunyo IA/. In connection with the successful performance of the sports delegation of Uzbekistan at the XX Summer Asian Games in Japan, Naoya Shibamura, the first Japanese professional footballer to play in the Uzbekistan Championship and the current Executive Director of “FC Ryukyu” football club, shared his impressions with Dunyo IA.

- As someone who played in Uzbekistan as a professional footballer in the past, I am immensely pleased with the successful performance and high results achieved by Uzbek athletes at the Asian Games, he noted.

Naoya Shibamura specifically highlighted the semifinal match of the men's football tournament between the national teams of Uzbekistan and Japan.

- National team of Uzbekistan demonstrated a highly competitive and balanced performance against Japan, concluding regular time with a 1:1 draw. Despite the narrow defeat in the penalty shootout, I was deeply impressed by the team’s high level of organization, sound tactical approach, individual skills of each player and their determination to fight until the very end, the former Japanese footballer emphasized.

He also mentioned that he had previously faced the head coach of the national team of Uzbekistan, Ravshan Haydarov, on the pitch as an opponent during the Uzbekistan Championship and is personally acquainted with him.

- Mr.Haydarov is an outstanding specialist with exceptional coaching expertise, possessing a proven capability to build strong, dynamic, and competitive teams, Naoya Shibamura stated.

Japanese football expert highly commended the honorable performance of Uzbekistan's athletes at the Asian Games and extended his wishes for the further advancement and continued success of Uzbek sports.