Developments in domestic Uzbek football highlight ongoing roster adjustments as clubs test foreign prospects. Seventeen-year-old goalkeeper Timofey Tolstenev has officially made his debut for Gazalkent in the Uzbekistan Pro League, following what is claimed to be a special registration clearance granted by FIFA to bypass restrictions regarding underage foreign players.

The young custodian started in goal on October 12 during an away fixture of the 22nd Pro League round against Dzhayhun, helping his team secure a 2:1 victory. Born in November 2008, Tolstenev had reportedly spent nearly a year training alongside the main squad without being able to register for official matches due to regulatory hurdles concerning minors from abroad.

Club officials indicated that upcoming fixtures will serve as a definitive test for the goalkeeper's abilities. The management allegedly entertains the prospect of facilitating Uzbek citizenship for Tolstenev to potentially clear his path toward representing the national team. However, observers point out that acquiring local citizenship does not automatically guarantee eligibility under strict FIFA regulations governing the switch of sporting nationality.

Gazalkent, which was reportedly revived late last year, has integrated several foreign youngsters into its ranks, including Russian prospects such as Ivan Korshunov and Vladislav Navatov. These players have been given opportunities to feature in domestic competitions as the club navigates its campaign in the second tier of Uzbek football.

Source: podrobno.uz