New Head Coach Appointed for Turkmenistan National Hockey Team

Ahmet Gurbanow has been appointed as the head coach of the Turkmenistan national hockey team, according to THP. Under his leadership, the team will prepare for the III Division matches of the World Championship, scheduled to take place from April 13 to 19 in Cape Town, South Africa.

In the competition for promotion to the second division, Turkmen hockey players will face teams from South Africa, Turkey, Mexico, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Thailand.

According to the new coach, the key to success in the upcoming tournament will be strict discipline, precise role allocation among players, and their mental resilience.

“Being appointed head coach is a great responsibility. I understand the team’s internal environment well and know that in our division, much depends on small details. We will focus on these during the preparation period,” Gurbanow said.

Currently, training is taking place at the ice rink of the “Galkan” Winter Sports Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan. The extended squad includes both talented young players and experienced key athletes.

The head coach aims to place in the top three of the championship, with the main goal of winning the division and advancing to the higher division.

The Turkmen Hockey Federation is also considering friendly matches with foreign opponents as part of the World Championship preparation. Previously, Ilyas Weliyev held the position of head coach.

Ahmet Gurbanow, 32, has long played for the Turkmen national team as both a player and captain, combining his sports career with coaching. He completed a significant part of his professional development in Tatarstan, graduating from Kazan Federal University with a degree in Physical Culture and Rehabilitation Medicine. Additionally, he completed IIHF international coaching courses with experts from Sweden, Finland, and other countries.

Gurbanow regards his participation in the 2023 Kazan Hockey Cup as one of the most memorable moments of his career, being named the Most Valuable Player of his division and participating in the All-Star game at the famous Tatneft Arena ice rink.