Vakhsh coach Uraz Turaqulov (left) and Dordoi-Dynamo coach Boris Podkorytov shaking hands after the pre-match press conference. Photo by: AFC/Stanley Chou.

KUCHING: There will be more on their minds than just the AFC President’s Cup title when Dordoi-Dynamo plays FC Vakhsh in the final on Sunday. Of greater consequence, the coaches believe, is to project the image and perception of the game in their countries. They do not want to spend several more years in this tournament, and instead reckon they deserve to be moved to a higher level, like the AFC Cup. “That is very important if the game is to be promoted. You can leave the teams from these two countries in this tournament for another 10 years, and it still will be these two countries that would be meeting in the final,” said Vakhsh coach Uraz Turaqulov. “Teams from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan played in last year’s final and it is the same again this year. Eventually, it is already becoming predictable.” “This is what the final is really all about. The title is all-important to us for sure. But of more importance to us is the opportunity to play against the better teams in the higher levels,” said Podkorytov. Perhaps, just to reflect the quality of the game in their countries, it may be pertinent to point out Tajikistan’s Fifa ranking is 125 while Kyrgyzstan are 146. The first game in the tournament for these two teams was against each other, and even at that time it was clear that these two teams would play again in the final. Vakhsh won that encounter 3-0, a convincing victory naturally. But any soccer pundit will tell you that the result should not be a consideration at all for the stakes in a final match are always different, and higher. “In that match, we used our chances better. I was also surprised that we won 3-0. We have not factored that in as we planned our strategies for the final. It is of no consequence at all to us.” “We are up against a fine team. Dordoi are a good, technical side and it would be silly to underestimate them at this stage,” added Turaqulov. With all things being equal – both teams use the 3-5-2 system and they are equally sound technically – the individual ability of their players may separate them eventually. In this sense, Dordoi may have the edge. They have three players who have been outstanding – central midfielders Sergey Kniazev and Aibek Bokoev and the tournament’s joint topscorer Roman Kornilov. Vakhsh depend largely on one player. He is Mikhrob Zakhurbekov, but the influence of goalkeeper Aslidin Khabibulloev should not be discounted either. Besides their mission – to move up the rungs of Asian football – there is vengeance on Dordoi-Dynamo’s mind. For Vakhsh, they want to re-affirm their superiority over their Central Asian neighbours. Podkorytov had a parting shot: “The team that won before may have to lose this time.”