DUSHANBE, January 5, 2012, Asia-Plus – The eldest son of President Emomali Rahmon has been elected President of Tajikistan’s Football (Soccer) Federation, replacing Suhrob Qosimov.

A meeting to hear reports of Tajikistan’s Football Federation (TFF) and elect new TFF officials took place at the Hyatt Regency Dushanbe Hotel on January 5.

The meeting members reportedly included representatives from FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

President Rahmon’s son Rustam Emomali, formerly vice-president of Tajikistan’s Football Federation, was elected to head TFF, replacing Suhrob Qosimov.  

Suhrob Qosimov congratulated Rustam Emomali and said he was glad to pass federation’s management to him.

Established on December 25, 1991, Tajikistan’s Football Federation is the governing body of football in Tajikistan.  The Federation was accepted by the international community including the continental and global associations in 1994.  Mirzo Mahmadjonov was the first president of Tajikistan’s Football Federation and Suhrob Qosimov had headed it since 2002.

A Tajik National University graduate, Rustam Emomali, who is 25, is now head of the Customs Service department to combat smuggling and violation of customs regulations.  He had previously served as head of the small and medium-sized enterprise development support department within the State Committee for Investments and State-owned Property Management.

In 2009, Rustam Emomali was elected a deputy in the League of Tajik Youth, and in December of that year he was elected a member of the Central Committee of the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan.

In the recent past, he played soccer for Tajikistan''s Istiqlol club.

Rustam Emomali is married with one daughter.