Development – Inside World Football

Saudis build women’s programme with launch of first U17 squad

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:08:10 +0000

February 7: Criticism of FIFA’s proposed sponsorship deal for the 2023 Women’s World Cup with the Saudi Arabia tourist board has been loud, but domestically the Saudi’s look to be making all the right moves to provide more opportunity for women in football.

The Kingdom has formed a national U17 squad the first 28 players heading to Riyadh for a training camp in Riyadh this weekend.

The U-17 squad was chosen following trials across the country’s three Regional Training Centres in the capital city Riyadh,

LaLiga and Chinese FA hook up to create permanent Madrid training centre

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 09:20:37 +0000

December 4 – The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has expanded its player development activity outside the country with the set up of a permanent training centre in Santo Domingo, Madrid, for its men’s and women’s teams.

The training centre will host CFA youth teams and coaches with the first group being China’s Under-15s, who are competing in a Madrid Football Federation (RFFM) league as a part of a 10-month programme. The Chinese Under-15 women’s team and the men’s Under-17s are also involved in programmes run at the centre but their stays are generally for less than a month.

AFC launches new editions of FAC programme for its bosses of the future

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:07:23 +0000

July 26 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has boosted its management education for members as it launches its second and third editions of the Football Administration Certificate (FAC) programme for member associations.

A total of 51 participants from 26 Member Associations will take part in the second and third editions of the FAC which has been expanded to include a seventh module focussed on Financial Management in Football.

The new module will augment the current core aspects,

Bangladesh keep focus on grassroots as part of AFC development push

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 09:04:57 +0000

July 10 – India may be taking the lead over its neighbours in terms of big tournament organisation with the FIFA U-17 World Cup this October, but the Asian Football Confederation is rolling out its development programmes throughout the region with the Bangladesh Football Federation’s AFC Grassoots Football Day being reported as a resounding success.

More than 100 young players took part in the day-long event at the Bangladesh Football Federation’s (BFF) artificial turf at the BFF House in Motijheel.

Money talk: AFC gathers leagues for forum on financial sustainability

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:36:22 +0000

July 6 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) brought its top leagues together earlier this week for a forum that put financial stability at the top of the agenda. The meeting was organised as part of the AFC League Development Programme.

“To deliver the best development plans, the best players and top coaches, the financial future of our leagues and clubs must be secure,” said AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John at the opening.

Iran reaps the success of grassroots as focus now turns to developing women’s game

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 31 May 2017 03:15:54 +0000

By Paul Nicholson

May 31 – The strength of football in Iran was out evident again at the weekend when the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) held its second Islamic Republic of Iran National Grassroots Conference in conjunction with the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Grassroots Football Day with more than 600 grassroots coaches and managers from across the country present.

If proof was needed that a powerful grassroots programme brings results at the highest level then Iran is the Asian example.

AFC and CONCACAF extend knowledge-sharing deal via new MoU

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 10 May 2017 05:00:08 +0000

May 10 – Two of FIFA’s six confederations, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, have strengthened their collaboration by signing a fresh Memorandum of Understanding “to encourage knowledge, exchange and to enhance football development in the respective territories.”

The ceremony was conducted by the respective confederation presidents Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, the second such signing in two years, and attended by delegations from the AFC Executive Committee and the CONCACAF Council.

AFC to recruit region-wide talent to new Referee Academy

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 07:49:47 +0000

April 21 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is to set up a Referee Academy based at AFC headquarters in Kula Lumpur, aimed at increasing the number of AFC referees at world class level within the region and improving standards across the region.

The decision was taken by the AFC Referees Committee yesterday, chaired by South Korean FA president Chung Mung Gyu. The new academy will replace the AFC Project Future Referees Programme.

AFC graduates more young officials as video ref training launches for upcoming club comps

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 09:41:24 +0000

March 22 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) completed its third accelerated learning course for referees in Japan on Monday. Designed to identify and speed up the development of refereeing talent in the region, the two-year programme aims to graduate more officials to FIFA standards.

FC Project Future Referees Course Batch 2015 completed their course in conjunction with the ongoing Sanix Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament 2017. The referees officiated U-17 international matches,

AFC and Germany’s DFB commit to development mission for further four years

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 09:37:31 +0000

March 1 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has renewed its partnership with the German FA (DFB) for another four years. The Memorandum of Understanding between the two bodies was first signed in 2013.

The MoU includes co-operation and information sharing on technical development, integrity, good governance and Member Association development.

AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa met with German Football Association President Reinhardt Grindel in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week to sign the MoU.