The five-day football matches started Wednesday for boys aged 13 and below from Central Asian countries namely hosts Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

AFC Grassroots and Youth Director John Whittle opened the much-anticipated matches in a ceremony here.

In his speech, he said to the young participants: “Every year, the organisation of the festival is getting better and the progress of the young players in Central Asia is admirable.

“I wish you all successful and beautiful games and let these days spent in the festival remain in your memory,” said Whittle.

The matches will be played in two formats and in between them, skills tests will be carried out to measure the skill levels of the players for further development.

The matches are the culmination of the festival after many other activities such as the referee, coaching and physiotherapist courses that built the excitement in the annual youth football fiesta.