Dear Kazakhstan…
I'm Hibiki Hojo, and I'm from Japan.
I'm Captain of my regional school.
I've been meeting wit a Kazakh friend during in my class. She's the new student, moving from Almaty. She also loves soccer, like me.
When I played soccer with her, I saw her style. She played very well, her feet moving close, but well-placed and good at choosing position. She has a good height, that helped her a lot on corner fight. She can score a goal from both two. I had been chasing around her, and challenging her, but never thought that she was good like this.
Even with my friend, Kanade, also surprised, when she could make a cake like her. Kanade admired her so much, and wished one day she would be going to Kazakhstan, and walking on the steppe, making cake. I'm glad that we and her are friend…
But… one thing I must have to say…
…
In a night on the park, she said that she wanna see Kazakhstan at the Asian Cup. I'd been watching the AFC Asian Cup, but I would never think like this. Turns out, I listened on her…
She told…
When she was in Astana, her father, was a official football organizer of the city so she did not have much time. She watched Kazakhstan playing soccer in Astana Arena. While in the stadium, she found that Kazakhstan had lost. Losing to an European nation. I felt surprised when she said "the Kazakhs are half European, but they are not players". I asked why, and she said about it…
When Kazakhstan got independence from Russia, Kazakhstan's soccer was created in 1992. Kazakhstan participated in Asian Games in 1994, 1998 and 2002, but they never qualified for an Asian Cup or World Cup. Even so, Kazakhstan national football team was one of the top strongest in Central Asia, and one of the most-emerging national team in Asia. The Kazakhs played in 1998 World Cup qualifying's last round, almost qualified for 1996 and 2000 Asian Cup. Women's even participated in Asian Cup for girls. Kazakhstan U-17 also qualified for World Cup's U-17. So Kazakhstan's football was very strong and powerful…
At least, when they're in Asia, where technically they belong to, in geography.
But due to these successes, the Kazakh leaders decided to move from Asia to Europe in 2002. All of them. So moving out from Asia, Kazakhstan joined Europe. Her father, felt proud that Kazakhstan would soon play in Euro. He talked to everyone, saying something, but mostly, he always said "Kazakhstan will be in Euro!" He always said like that…
Sadly, it did not same…
Kazakhstan, since joining Europe, has always been one of Europe's weakest team, only better than San Marino, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Malta, Faroe Islands and Andorra. Their team they can challenge are mostly from ex-Soviet states. They always lost, failing to have a better performance in the battle of Euro. UEFA Euro, must be a higher level. Kazakhstan can't face all of them. The Kazakhs can't beat England, France, Germany, Italy… all top national teams existing in Europe and worldwide.
And so did it, her father turned disappointed. He always blamed itself for "joining Europe"…
In my opinion, I don't think joining Europe is a bad decision. Kazakhstan has a good team, manages a wonderful skills. But seeing my Kazakh friend fell down, tears everywhere, I suddenly felt upset. I realized that thing I learnt:
-Kazakhstan is basically part of Asia
-Kazakhstani football is much better when they were in Asia
-Kazakhs are the people from Central Asia with half-European blood
-Before 2002, Kazakhstan was in Asia
In another else, I do not know. Kazakhstan had joined Europe, that's a good step. But since so many strongers have been in Europe, so from my friend, the person that I forgot to ask her name, I do wish someday, Kazakhstan can rejoin Asia.
May Kazakhstan rejoin Asia, again? I know in Europe, you can play with famous, but they're all stronger than you. I know, and that does not mean I'm an anti-Europe.
All depends on you. If you don't mind, we'll keep opening the gate for Kazakhstan.
Please return back…
We miss you, Kazakhstan.
Sincerely
Hibiki Hojo