Bunyodkor

Tashkent, Uzbekistan. 2008.

FC Bunyodkor (founded in 2005) became a symbol of a football bubble in Asia. In 2008, the club, financed by Zeromax, invested millions in rapid growth: Rivaldo’s contract was estimated at €10–12 million for two years (≈€5–6 million per year), while the average monthly salary in Uzbekistan was $150–200. Coaches of the level of Luiz Felipe Scolari were brought in, and negotiations were held with top players. My reportage was shot on September 24, 2008, during an AFC Champions League match against Saipa FC, just a few months after Rivaldo’s arrival.

In 2010, following the collapse of Zeromax, the project fell apart: the money disappeared, the ambitions ended, and the club became an ordinary Uzbek team.