Baktyiar, Kings’ versatile midfield genius

There was no practice session for Bashundhara Kings players Tuesday and an informal party was arranged at the club premises to celebrate the historic premier league title victory. 

The players were found here and there but there was only one person, Baktyiar Duishobekov, who seen busy in gym session even when the party was already rolling. 

That was, doing extra training, one of the secrets behind Baktyiar’s consistent performances in the last four years.

The Kyrgyzstan midfielder informed that he broke into the national team in 2015 and made his international debut against Bangladesh during a 2018 World Cup qualifying match in Dhaka. 

The same year he spent a season in Europe for a Belarus top-flight club. 

Baktyiar termed the year the most important in his career.

Baktyiar never thought he would come back to Bangladesh after four years and then signing for an ambitious club who just got promoted to the premier league and won two silverwares in the debut season - the Bangladesh Premier League and Independence Cup.

Bashundhara Kings head coach Oscar Bruzon was seemingly in an emotional mood after guiding his big-spending side to the Bangladesh Premier League title on their debut season.https://t.co/wZndYghFCT#BPL #BFF #FOOTBALL #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #BANGLADESH #BASHUNDHARA #KINGS #BRUZON

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) July 25, 2019

A versatile midfielder like Baktyiar is an asset for any coach and it is no different for Bashundhara’s Oscar Bruzon who can field him in center and defensive midfield, and even in center-back and full-back positions.

He can also get goals and assists at the same time consistently. 

But Baktyiar’s favorite playing zone is in central midfield.

Baktyiar made around 20 appearances for the national team, out of which he featured in seven games as a defender. 

He also played as a defender for the Kings in five matches out of 22 appearances, and also left vital contributions by scoring seven goals and acquiring 10 assists. 

Apart from that, his playing position also changed during the game, serving the team’s purposes.

There were good and bad moments during his debut season in Bangladesh but he couldn’t hide some of the bitter experience he faced here too.

Bashundhara Kings ensured their maiden title on their debut Bangladesh Premier League campaign with a couple of games still in hand and despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited at Sheikh Kamal Stadium in Nilphamari Thursdayhttps://t.co/nxn3hpm432#BPL

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) July 25, 2019

“The league is so long. There are so many breaks during the league, I call it many pre-season. It’s sometimes difficult for the players and the team,” said Baktiyar.

The league matches were played in six different venues across the country. 

Like his Costa Rican World Cupper teammate Daniel Colindres, Baktyiar also complained about the venue in Noakhali. 

“All the pitches are not in good conditions. Sometimes hard, sometimes soft. When it was raining sometimes it was like swimming on the pitch and the game played more on only long ball and fight rather than tactics,” said Baktiyar.

After being groomed in one of the four renowned academies in Kyrgyzstan, Baktyiar went on to play for Belarus outfit Krumkachy Minsk. 

Like Bashundhara, Krumkachy had also just got promoted to top-tier league. 

He later played in Turkey’s second-tier in 2016, returning back to Kyrgyz League in 2017 before trying his worth in the Malaysian top-flight league last year. 

But the 24-year-old concluded the interview saying, “I just started my career”.