Valery Tikhonenko left the post of General Director of the Professional Basketball Club «Astana» on May 13, 2022, by decision of the Sole founder of the club KF «Fund for Support of the Tourism and Sports Industry».
Samson Arakelyan was appointed General Director of the Professional Basketball Club «Astana» by the decision of the sole founder of the club KF «Tourism and Sports Industry Support Fund».
Samson Arakelyan was born on March 28, 1978, in the city of Aktau — President of the Basketball Federation of the Mangystau Region, a technical delegate to the FIBA International Basketball Federation, as well as a well-known Kazakh rap artist, producer, and film director. Samson Arakelyan, before his appointment as a General Director of the Astana Basketball Club, headed the Aktau Basketball Club Kaspiy.
General Director of the Sport Qory Foundation, Askhat Seisembek:
«The club will be subject to restructure with an emphasis on the development of the children's academy and the training of local pupils, the promotion of the Astana brand, and Kazakhstani basketball in general. Basketball club «Astana» will retain its participation in the VTB United League Championship.»
Valery Alekseevich Tikhonenko has headed the «Astana» basketball club since 2011. As the General Director of the club became:
- Ten-time champion of the National League of Kazakhstan
- Nine-time winner of the Cup of Kazakhstan
- Silver medalist of the National League of Kazakhstan
- Silver medalist of the Cup of Kazakhstan
- Bronze medalist of the FIBA Asian Champions Cup
- VTB United League:
- Season 2012/13 — 5th place in the subgroup, playoffs — 1/8 finals
- Season 2013/14 — 5th place in the subgroup, playoffs — 1/8 finals
- Season 2014/15 — 8th place in the regular season, playoffs — 1/4 finals
- Season 2016/17 — 8th place in the regular season, playoffs — 1/4 finals
- Season 2018/19 — 6th place in the regular season, playoffs — 1/4 finals
In 2014, under the leadership of Valery Tikhonenko, «Astana» took part for the first time in European club competitions — the FIBA Challenge Cup, finishing at the Top 16 stage one step away from the quarterfinals.
