Kazakhstan welcome new dawn

uefa.com: In qualifying, Kazakhstan have drawn twice and were unfortunate to lose against Poland and Finland. Do you consider this a successful start?

Rakhat Aliyev: We learned some lessons from the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and hired a Dutch coach. We chose Arno Pijpers, first because he had built a decent Estonia team in quite a short time. We drew the right conclusions and prepared intensively for the beginning of this campaign.

uefa.com: Is Pijpers the only difference between the old and the new Kazakhstan?

Aliyev: The boys who played in Europe for the first time several years ago aren't the same either. They have experience now, though we also have some young players who are just making their name in the national team.

uefa.com: Doesn't hiring a foreign coach deny a local one the opportunity to work at international level?

Aliyev: Every case has to be considered on its own merits. Sometimes there are local coaches who are up to the job, but today it is right for Kazakhstan to entrust the team to a foreign, or Dutch, coach. I am not saying all Dutch coaches are great, but there were four of them at the World Cup and that says a lot.

uefa.com: Judging by results, Kazakh football is making progress. Would you agree with that assessment?

Aliyev: It has been a difficult step for us, but we have made it. Our federation set itself the task of building the foundations for a better future by developing the youth set-up. FC Astana are now considered the basis for the national side as they contribute so many players to the Kazakhstan team. Solidarity, team ethic, willpower - we have all these qualities now. We have come through the stage when we looked up to the European teams.

uefa.com: When you played in the Asian Football Confederation you were one of the best sides around, but in Europe you are underdogs. How does that affect the players and Kazakh football in general?

Aliyev: In UEFA, we face stronger competition. But in sport, you only raise your game by playing tougher opponents. If you win easily you are taking a step backwards. European football has high standards and we are trying to live up to them to become better.

uefa.com: What problems does the Kazakhstan FA face at the moment?

Aliyev: Our main problem is the lack of technical infrastructure for youth football. Fifteen million people live in Kazakhstan and we have enough kids who want to play football, but we have to create the conditions for that. UEFA is helping us do that and the government and local authorities also support us by building pitches.

uefa.com: What do you expect from Kazakh clubs and the national side in the next two years?

Aliyev: I won't say we are going to set the world on fire and be among the leaders. We do not set such targets because we want to be realistic. We have a development programme for the next five to ten years. As fans, we want to be European champions, but we understand we have to take it step by step.