The winner of the Georgiy Khutidi Award, presented to the best coach of the Freedom QJ League season, has been announced.
Following the 2026 season, the individual award went to Igor Bugaev, head coach of Tobyl U-15, who received the prize at the annual QJL Awards ceremony.
The young players from Kostanay claimed silver medals in the U-15 competition thanks to their exciting attacking football, scoring 74 goals – the second-highest tally in the tournament behind Kairat. Tobyl remained in the top two throughout the season: they led the standings after Matchweek 1 before occupying second place from Matchweek 2 all the way to the finish.
Igor Bugaev is a significant figure in Kostanay football. Between 2012 and 2015, he made more than 100 appearances for Tobyl and scored 25 goals. He also represented the Moldova national team for more than a decade and ranks among its all-time leading scorers.
The Georgiy Khutidi Award was previously won by Maksim Gabunov (Aktobe) in 2023, Ruslanzhan Raimbakiyev (Kairat) in 2024 and Igor Soloshenko (Shakhter U-17) in 2025.
