National player in an interview
© Tengelbes Musaev
In the A-youth, Kimi Merk dreamed of running out in the Fritz Walter Stadium for the professionals of 1. FC Kaiserslautern. But it turned out differently. In the meantime, the 20-year-old plays at FK Dordoi Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan and for the national team there. At the transfer market, he talks about his not everyday and sometimes adventurous career path.
Two years ago, Kimi Merk kicked in the youngsters of the FCK and hoped to follow players like Roman Weidenfeller, Miroslav Klose or Jean Zimmer and to celebrate his professional debut in front of a home backdrop. “The region lives and breathes the FCK. I went to Betzenberg with my brother and my father. I had a concrete offer from SC Freiburg in the B-youth, also Mainz 05 and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim were interested in me a few years earlier. For me, I was always out of the question that I wanted to make the leap to the professional at the FCK. Unfortunately, it was not shown in the end. It worked completely, ”says the midfielder.
Over time, he felt and, above all, realized that the likelihood of making the leap into the professional team is low. While many of his former teammates from the youth chose their way to the regional league in order to land in German professional football, Merk decided in 2023 for the way to the Uzbek Tashkent, which was over 5000 kilometers away. But how did the 20-year-old get the exotic idea of switching to the record champion Pakhtakor, for which the former Bundesliga professional Eren Derdiyok was also active a few years ago?
“Of course I could have stayed in Germany, for example, I had a specific offer from VfL Osnabrück or other third division teams. However, I would not have been the chance of a lot of play. When Pakhtakor Tashkent’s offer arrived: What should I do in Uzbekistan, I have other claims. But I said, I then looked at everything calmly and without rating. Because he takes part in the Asian Champions League and there is absolute professionalism within the club.
Kimi Merk in the jersey of Pakhtakor Tashkent
The professional born in Pirmasens speaks of the sporting quality at Pakhtakor in the highest tones. “The club is a record champion and this is also reflected in the squad structure. A large number of Uzbek national players are active there. I am convinced that Pakhtakor could exist in the German 3. League. There will certainly be some people who have found football there, but I did not play a good level. It was not for nothing that the Uzbek national team played 3: 3 against Mexico and 1 before 1: 1 Australia. “
Make about impressive away trips and fan culture in Uzbekistan
While he found infrastructural conditions at a high level in his association, it looked different in the case of away games. “I remember that we had to compete in the trophy. The place was a catastrophe and like one in the district league. He had holes, he had little hill. I had the feeling that the mole was a guest in advance,” said Merk and continues in a serious voice. “The away trips have impressively showed me in which luxury we live. If we drove through small villages, it was as if you were in a different country as if the color is from the picture. You see sheep on the streets, you see houses where you think they have stopped.
Due to his own past, Merk was and is spoiled by German fan culture, but he also experienced special situations in Uzbekistan, especially when it came to the derbies against Bunyodkor and Neftchi Fergana. “When the derbies take place, then there is a state of emergency in the stadiums. Then we talk about 15,000 to 20,000 spectators. The fans show choreos, Bengalos are ignited. The journey to the stadiums is already difficult. In my first derby, the team bus was attacked with all objects. If you want to step in the game and come too close to the opposing fans, greet you very friendly with you Firewirts, ”Merk remembers back with a laugh.
Merk is “very proud” for missions in AFC Champions League
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Merk gained experience not only at the league level, but also internationally at Pakhtakor. So it led him to Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran and Iraq in the AFC Champions League. “Of course I am very proud that I was used in the Asian Champions League. It is that not every footballer also gives the opportunity to play in the European Champions League. Accordingly, I am very grateful that I got this opportunity. And I have to say that the level is extremely high. I was allowed to compete against players who have a million market value. Countries in particular.
A changeover was also the Ramadan’s fasting weeks for Merk, because Uzbekistan is mostly Muslim and this had a corresponding impact on football. “You can tell that the players are not at 100 percent, which nobody can expect. In general, it was very interesting for me to immerse yourself in a completely different culture. Before training, in the cabin and also after the games.
Merk goes to Kyrgyzstan: “Actually, it was planned that I would move to Iran”
After almost two years in Uzbekistan, Merk moved to Kyrgyzstan a few weeks ago to the local record champions FK Dordoi Bishkek. “I signed a contract until summer at Dordoi. It was actually planned that I would switch to Iran. I was in concrete conversations with the Tractor FC, in the end it didn’t work for various reasons. But what I experienced in connection with the Iranian fan culture was blatant. I was on site in Tehran to look at a game. Stadiums have formed a crowd around me.
Well -trained footballers who have learned their playful skills abroad are Kyrgyzstan a few and so Merk, whose father comes from the Central Asian country, quickly came into focus. He still remembers his first international match a year and a half ago. “I was allowed to debut against Bahrain at the side of my brother. To this day, this awakens incredible and unique feelings for me. I think every player who plays for a national team feels pure pride and pure joy,” says the 20-year-old, who has played 13 times for Kyrgyzstan so far.
Football has had to be satisfied in Kyrgyzstan in recent decades with the existence of a marginal sport, because rings or judo played a greater social role. But a change has been moving in for a few years. The success of the recent history is perceived. For example, the national team qualified for the Asia Championship in 2019 and 2024 and the country will also be there in 2027. The national team now occupies 103th place in the FIFA world rankings.
Kimi Merk 2024 in the duel Kyrgyzstan with Saudi Arabia
Merk also took part in the Asia Cup 2024. “I now understand why the Asia Cup is so important. Already at the airport we were received as if we were superstars. Everything was clocked in a minute. Every wish was read from our lips, at the same time every outcome was monitored by security. Our game against Saudi Arabia took place before 40,000 spectators. Experienced, ”Merk looks back, who is reminiscent of the preparation at that time“ One says Kyrgyzstan is a dream country for nature lovers, that’s actually true. We have completed a running training camp near the lake YSSYKKÖL.
The memories of the tournament are also a bit negative from Merk, because in the second group game against Saudi Arabia he conceded a dismissal. “The red card still annoys me extremely. You have the opportunity to get a big stage and then you don’t use it. Very annoying. But I hope I get the chance in 2027.”
Kyrgyzstan remains little hope of participating in World Cup 2026
The dream of participating in the 2026 World Cup is currently omnipresent, although it does not look good in the current qualification group. The white falcons have 14 or eleven points behind the current tables and second -second Iran and Uzbekistan, which would now qualify for the final round. But there is a little hope, because the third and fourth place-placed games in a kind of playoff’s other participants. Kyrgyzstan is currently four points behind Qatar as the fifth in the table with two missing days.
“On the one hand, everything is possible in football. On the other hand, I can realistically assess the situation. It will be a mammoth task because we have to win and at the same time have to lose two games. Even then difficult playoffs would wait for us. But that we have a very young team that has great potential, I calculate that we have a greater chance at the next World Cup qualification. With the 3: 1 against Qatar, showed that we have the quality, ”said the midfielder.
Not only does Kimi Merk benefit from his experiences in terms of sport, he also changed as a person. “The last few years have made me mature. I have grown up. In Germany I only felt like Kaiserslautern, now I have already seen some parts of the world. It gives me joy to leave the comfort zone. Where it will do it to me.
Interview and text by Henrik Stadnischenko