On 7 November, Koktobe Hall in Almaty hosted the QJL Awards – the gala ceremony that brought the curtain down on the fourth season of the Freedom QJ League, Kazakhstan’s youth football championship system.
The gala’s visual identity was built around the QJ Gravity concept. Cosmic motifs ran through the hall décor, the stage sets and the social media posts. The evening was hosted by Yevgeniy Ozhogin and Balausa Yergalina.
Guests were welcomed by Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding Corp. and Chairman of the Freedom QJ League Board of Trustees, and by League President Rokhus Shokh.
“Congratulations to our champions and to everyone who took part in the season! When we were creating the League, I said it should become a stepping stone into professional football.
“Today, the QJ League has grown into a fully fledged sports ecosystem: this season it brought together 66 teams and around two thousand players, who played almost 700 matches.
“We have introduced smart cameras, a digital platform for coaches and technology for analysing training. Thanks to the League, more than 350 young players have already stepped up to the professional level, and some of them now play for the national teams.
“Ahead of us is our fifth, anniversary season, and we will certainly keep developing the League and investing in the future of football in Kazakhstan,” Timur Turlov said in his welcome speech.
“Evenings like this mean a great deal to young players: every nominee has already won simply by being here tonight, among the best.
“It is just as important to remember the veterans our awards are named after – generations of Kazakhstani footballers grew up following their example.
“I would like to thank our partners, and Timur Turlov personally, for their support and for believing in our project, which is already delivering results. And I am proud that the League is built by our own Kazakhstani specialists,” Rokhus Shokh added.
Award Winners and Team of the Year
The League announced the winners in its traditional annual categories.
Almost every award presented at the QJL Awards bears the name of someone who has left their mark on Kazakhstani football – from the idols of the past to the stars of today.
Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov Award – Changan MVP of the Season: Daulet Orynbasar (Kairat).
Eduard Son Award for Best Forward: Adilbek Turdakh (Ordabasy).
Yevgeniy Yarovenko Award for Best Defender: Alikhan Abdi (Kairat).
Anton Shokh Award for Best Midfielder: Rasul Akimov (Shakhter).
Alexander Ubykin Award for Best Goalkeeper: Daniil Nurzhanov (Tobyl).
Eustathios Pehlevanidi Award for Top Scorer: Daulet Orynbasar (Kairat).
Performance of the Year Award, presented by Freedom Video: Kamil Gainullin (Kairat).
Georgiy Khutidi Award for Best Coach: Igor Bugaev (Tobyl U-15).
Askhat Tagybergen Award for Best Goal: Anuar Tolendi (KFF Academy).
Igor Shatskiy Award for Best Save: Nursultan Soltangazy (Caspiy U-17).
Alexander Kulakov Award for Best Referee: Nurdaulet Kozhamuratov (Taraz).
Best Match Inspector: Vasiliy Yurchenko (Aktobe).
Dias Omarov Award for Best Media Team: Shakhter.
Seilda Baishakov Award for Best Marketing: Shakhter.
Yevgeniy Rott Award for Best Executive: Zaurzhan Baltiyev (Zhas Kyran).
Best Manager: Kaiyrbay Khassenov (Irtysh).
Best Doctor: Yelaman Saurbayev (Irtysh).
Best Psychologist: Dinara Isayeva (Astana).
Daulet Orynbasar, winner of the Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov Award, will get the chance to train with a club abroad. This is made possible by the official distributor of the Changan brand in Kazakhstan, a member of the Astana Motors group, under the League’s international player development programme.
For example, last season’s Changan MVP, Shakhter academy graduate Gleb Makridov, spent a week training at Atlético’s base in Madrid.
The best players in each position and the MVP – Daniil Nurzhanov, Alikhan Abdi, Rasul Akimov, Adilbek Turdakh and Daulet Orynbasar – received 200,000-tenge certificates from Freedom Bank.
The Team of the Year was also presented at the ceremony:
Goalkeeper: Daniil Nurzhanov (Tobyl).
Defenders: Ruslan Dzhetenov (Tobyl), Alikhan Abdi (Kairat), Meirlan Baltabayev (Shakhter).
Midfielders: Mansur Avaskhanov (Kairat), Ibrahim Bauyrzhanov (Aktobe), Rasul Akimov (Shakhter), Zhanibek Zhaylaubek (Shakhter).
Forwards: Adilbek Turdakh (Ordabasy), Ayan Amanzhulov (Aktobe), Daulet Orynbasar (Kairat).
PUMA STELLAR Pro – Official Match Ball of Freedom QJ League 2027
The League’s new official match ball was unveiled during the ceremony. While last season’s matches were played with the adidas Tiro Pro, in 2027 the League’s tournaments will use PUMA balls – with special Freedom QJ League branding.
The STELLAR Pro QJ League model carries FIFA Quality Pro certification, confirming that it meets the requirements of official football competitions.
Before the season kicks off, each participating team will receive dozens of balls from the League for matches and training.
Charity Auction
The evening’s programme also included the traditional charity auction.
Up for auction was a shirt signed by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland himself – provided by the League’s partner Mastercard.
The lot was particularly symbolic – in October, the Freedom QJ League announced a strategic partnership with City Football Group.
The auction was won by businessman Berik Kaniyev, head of the Zhas Kyran youth football centre, with a bid of 3 million tenge. As in previous years, the proceeds will go to charity.
Grand Finale: The Champions’ Triumph
The team highlight of the evening was the celebration of Kairat U-18 – on the Koktobe Hall stage, the young players raised the championship trophy above their heads. The Almaty side have now won the Freedom QJ League title four years in a row.
In the 2026 season, the Yellow-Blacks wrapped up the title with three matchweeks to spare, equalling their own points record (62) and completing a third straight season without a single defeat.
Kairat will now once again represent Kazakhstan in the UEFA Youth League in 2027/28, via the Domestic Champions Path.
The QJL Awards ceremony was streamed live on the Freedom Video online cinema, where the full recording is also available.
Freedom QJ League was founded in 2023 by Timur Turlov and Rochus Schoch and operates under the auspices of the Kazakhstan Football Federation.
All League expenses are fully funded through private investment from its General Partner, Freedom Holding Corp.
The League is the first to introduce conditions comparable to professional championships in Kazakhstan's youth football. Competitions follow a weekly schedule and a round-robin format, with teams playing both home and away matches.
