Oraz Sailibaev

Oraz Sailibaev's route to the Kazakhstan Premier League ran through the country's lower divisions, without a single transfer fee changing hands along the way. He came up through the SDYUSSHR No. 8 academy before a spell with the Zhas Sunkar youth side, then began his senior career in the First League with SD Family in Astana.

The breakthrough came after he joined Batyr as a free agent in the spring of 2025, when he added goals to his defensive game, scoring twice in his appearances there. He carried that form into his move to Altay a few months later, again arriving without a fee, and produced his best return yet: eight goals across his matches in the First League by the end of 2025.

That season persuaded Altay to keep faith with him as the club stepped up. Sailibaev has since started to feature in the Kazakhstan Premier League for the club, while also turning out for Altay's reserve side, Altay-M, in the Second League. Earlier in his career he had a taste of cup football too, appearing for Ulytau in the Kazakhstan Cup.

He wears number 5 for Altay. There is nothing on record yet of a call-up to any Kazakhstan national team, and for now his story remains one of steady progress through the domestic pyramid rather than international recognition.