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Turkmenistan's 'can't lose' soccer champs stir Soviet-era memories

Arkadag FC named after Central Asian nation's authoritarian ex-president

Arkadag won its first 20 games of the season to clinch the league title. (Photo from Football Federation of Turkmenistan)

LONDON -- When, Arkadag FC, Turkmenistan's newest pro soccer club, was crowned league champion this month, few in the authoritarian Central Asian nation raised an eyebrow, publicly at least.

After all, the club is filled with the isolated country's best players, it won its first 20 games of the season and clinched the title of the nine-team league with four games still to play.

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