The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) has elected the Chairman of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan (FFT), Guvanchmuhammet Ovekov, as a member of the Technical Development Committee.

"The election of a representative from Turkmenistan to this authoritative body, which includes only 24 specialists from 211 federations, demonstrates international recognition of the successes and correct course of development of Turkmen football," the FFT statement reads.

Currently, the FFT is actively working with FIFA's "Football for Schools" and "Talent Identification and Development" programs, and is also working to improve the qualifications of youth coaches. These initiatives lay a solid foundation for developing young footballers who will be able to compete successfully on the international stage in the future, the organization's press service notes.

The FIFA Technical Development Committee plays a key role in promoting youth, women's, and grassroots football worldwide, as well as in developing coaching staff. Its work enables developing federations to implement promising long-term programs.

"Committee members analyze and approve plans and projects for football development. Therefore, the election of a representative from Turkmenistan to this committee opens up new opportunities for the further progress of domestic football," the FFT added.

Ovekov has served as Chairman of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan since November 4, 2024. After retiring from professional football, he worked as a coach for Ahal, then led Ahal and Arkadag. During his professional career, Ovekov played both in Turkmenistan and abroad. He spent a significant portion of his career in Ukraine and also played in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

As a member of the national team, Ovekov set a unique record, becoming the only Turkmen footballer to score four goals in a single official match. This occurred in a game against Afghanistan at the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup.