During a visit to AFC House on Monday, the Uzbek players saw a large picture of their hero, Uzbekistan international Server Djeparov, hanging on the foyer.

In the picture, Djeparov was holding his 2008 AFC Player of the Year award and the Uzbek youngsters are hoping that they can one day emulate the Bunyodkor star.

Said one player: “It is not every year that an Uzbek player may win the AFC Player of the Year award.

“It is a good motivation for us to see his picture at AFC House and this will help us against Saudi. Every one of us hopes that one day, our picture will be hanging there.”

Uzbekistan has won all of their three matches so far in Group A and need only a draw against Saudi to top the group.