The Shortan Chronicle
Squad6 Mar 2028
Abrorbek Toshqo'ziev stays put
“The easiest signature of my career.” Abrorbek Toshqo'ziev and Shortan agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Boardroom6 Mar 2028
5 academy players handed senior numbers at Shortan
The morning the pathway stops being a brochure and becomes a team sheet. Most of them will not be here in three years; all of them have already done the hard part, which was getting to today.
Squad6 Mar 2028
Abbos Ergashboyev falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Market6 Mar 2028
Shortan promote Shohruh Abdullaev from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Shohruh Abdullaev has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market6 Mar 2028
Shortan promote Doniyor Ganiev from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Doniyor Ganiev has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market6 Mar 2028
One of our own: Timur Mirzaev joins the Shortan first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Timur Mirzaev is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market6 Mar 2028
Mirzo Mirzaev steps up from the Shortan academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Mirzo Mirzaev has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
The dugout6 Mar 2028
Abbos Ergashboyev gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Match4 Mar 2028
Abbos Ergashboyev the difference as Shortan beat Bukhara
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Abbos Ergashboyev. 1‑0 against Bukhara, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
In brief
- Squad Tempers go at Shortan
- Squad Harutyun Natoyan wants to go home
- Player ratings Abbos Ergashboyev takes the honours