Central Asia returned to having just one active domestic league this weekend, in the form of the Turkmen Yokary Liga.
On Wednesday, we reported here that Tajik football would now suspend indefinitely given the accelerating spread of COVID-19 across the country.
While football of any sort calls for rejoice across the region, for a few hundred or so locals who picked up a free ticket on the day, the Yokary Liga continues to live in the shadows. Only a few reputable outlets to follow live scores, let alone peruse the matches live.
State TV continues to shun operating live broadcasts of football, instead choosing to relay highlights or full match replays in the week following the matchday, if at all. Strict control over what is presented to the general public even within their own borders has long been a local practice; however, it’s now exacerbated by the league’s near-unique position as an active football competition during a global pandemic. A quick social media search on any given Yokary Liga matchday will attest to the world’s real obsession with such a niche, mysterious league championship.
Sports betting markets have flexed their considerable muscle during this period of uncertainty. While their Central Asian neighbours Tajikistan flourished from it, striking up sponsorship deals and distributing television rights, Turkmenistan has remained a closed shop. Reigning champions Altyn Asyr came into this weekend unbeaten and in imperious form. Defeat in Balkanabat to bottom-placed Nebitci then came as a considerable surprise to many.
Severe market swings ahead of kick-off suggested otherwise, however, forcing some betting companies to pull the match from their coupons all together, leaving some punters scratching their heads at a result they weren’t expecting.
It hasn’t been the first suspicious result of the season, and it sure won’t be the last. Still, while others in the region have attempted to clear up any suggestions of corruption and increase transparency, the Yokary Liga, and particularly the Turkmen government have more significant issues to concern themselves with at the moment.
That minor issue being the lingering threat of COVID-19. As has been reported over the last week, Turkmen officials continue to refuse World Health Organisation inspectors entry to the country, all the while denying they have a single confirmed case of the virus.
Turkmenistan wouldn’t be the first nation to suppress reporting on the real impact of the outbreak, however, given where we are globally, the focus is starting to hit home on those still to have confirmed a single case, as is the situation with North Korea. When it hits, if it hasn’t already (the Yokary Liga had already stopped for two weeks due to the Coronavirus “threat” a month ago), it will hit a country which has limited medical facilities and infrastructure. Having a massive knock-on effect on the sports, an area the current government is keen on pushing as the country’s saving grace. For now, we’ll have to rely on the snippets of information we receive directly from the TFF.
On Friday Kopetdag returned to third temporarily, with their first victory since the break, beating Merv 3-1, before Sagadam on Saturday underlined their promising start to leapfrog the capital club once again with a 1-0 win over Energetik. Current league leaders Ahal survive in the top spot given Altyn Asyr’s defeat, after their derby fixture with Aşgabat was mysteriously postponed on Thursday night. Yet more intrigue from the most closeted of leagues running in current times. Don’t expect any let-up in the weeks and months ahead.
