Yulia Mamonova: “International Matches Give Young Players Valuable Experience”

In their opening match, the Kazakhstan WU-16 national team secured a confident 5–1 victory over Estonia. However, in the following two matches, the team suffered defeats against Israel and Uzbekistan. With three points collected, the team finished the tournament in second place.

How would you assess the team’s performance at the tournament?

– Overall, I’m satisfied with the team’s performance. This tournament was an important stage in the players’ development and a valuable opportunity to compete at the international level. The girls gained important experience from playing high-level matches, saw the intensity and demands of international football.

At the same time, the tournament highlighted several areas we still need to improve, including consistency in our performances, decision-making under pressure and maintaining our structure throughout the full 90 minutes.

The tournament began with a convincing win over Estonia. How important was it to start the competition confidently?

– A strong start is always very important, especially for a youth team where 50 percent of the players were representing the national team for the first time. The victory in the opening match gave the girls emotional confidence, helped them feel the level of the tournament and believe in their abilities.

At the same time, we understood that the level of opposition would only become stronger, so we tried to maintain emotional balance and focus on improving our game from match to match.

What did the team lack in the following two matches?

– Against Israel, the key factors were the opponent’s high intensity and excellent physical preparation. We competed well, but lacked concentration to maintain the 1–1 scoreline and conceded in the final minute of the second half.

the tournament highlighted several areas we still need to improve, including consistency in our performances, decision-making under pressure and maintaining our structure throughout the full 90 minutes.

In the match against Uzbekistan, we lacked compactness without the ball at certain moments, struggled to control the central areas and lacked stability in transition. In addition, for some players this was their first experience of international matches at this level, and at times the team found it difficult to cope with the emotional and tactical pressure throughout the game.

However, these are exactly the kinds of matches that provide the greatest opportunities for growth and development.

How important is it for young players to compete in international tournaments?

– It is one of the most important stages in the development of young players. International tournaments allow footballers to experience the real demands of modern football — the speed of the game, intensity, decision-making and mental resilience.

It is in these matches that players develop character, confidence and a professional attitude toward the game. For many players, experiences like these help them understand what they need to improve in order to reach a higher level in the future.