The footballer Tulyagan Isakov, who avoided the “Pakhtakor” tragedy in 1979, died
The player did not fly due to an injury sustained during the game, which saved his life.
On November 8, the Football Association of Uzbekistan announced the death of Tulyagan Isakov at the age of 76.
Tulyagan Isakov dedicated his life to football. As a player, he has worthily defended the honor of the “Pakhtakor” team for 13 seasons, playing 252 matches and scoring 52 goals.
At the end of May 1979, he was injured during a game against “Dynamo,” which prevented him from flying with the team to Minsk on April 11, when two Tu-134A aircraft collided in the sky over Dneprodzerzhinsk. 178 people, including 17 members of the “Pakhtakor” team, were killed. Later, Tulyaganov noted that the injury saved him from the tragedy and became his second birthday.
In his coaching career, he led the teams “Pakhtakor”, “Zarafshan” and “Surkhan”, and in recent years, he headed the Veterans Council of the Uzbekistan Football Association, making significant contributions to the popularization and development of football in the republic.
Tulyagan Isakov was an experienced specialist who made worthy contributions to all spheres of football. He selflessly served to educate the younger generation in the spirit of love for the Motherland and devotion to sports. The Football Association of Uzbekistan mourns his passing and expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, — the message says.
Comments