ALMATY, Kazakhstan — If keeping the public placated is according to ancient Roman wisdom about “bread and circuses,” then Tajikistan’s national soccer team is holding up its side of the bargain with aplomb.
On a heady evening on January 28, Tajikistan defeated the United Arab Emirates on penalties to reach the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, sparking joyous scenes both on the field and more than 2,000 kilometers back home in Central Asia, where millions of residents were unable to watch thanks to nighttime electricity blackouts.
The emotional release wasn’t just due to the…
