AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh highlighted the significance of the AFC Elite Youth Scheme at the beginning of the meeting: “As an endorsement by the AFC, the Elite Youth Scheme is an important step in talent development that will help the Member Associations (MA) establish youth academies and training centres and to grade these as a method of improving standards and creating a bridge to the elite game.”

The AFC Elite Youth Scheme, which highlights 11 key criteria such as competitions, coaches, talent ID medical services and education, is aimed at providing MAs with Continental recognition for their elite youth programmes and to help them succeed in their efforts to nurture talented footballers.

The highly acclaimed Scheme continues to recognise efforts by MAs to develop a strong and sustainable foundation for youth football in their country.

QFA has been successful in the transition of its youth players to the senior team and was duly rewarded when AFC Player of the Year 2019 Akram Afif and Almoez Ali helped Qatar lift the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 for the first-time.

KFA’s success in AFC and FIFA youth competitions, most recently their gallant runner-up finish at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019, underlines their commitment towards building and improving their foundation for youth football.

Japan’s Eiichiro Matsuki received the Best Grassroots Leader award while Paro FC from Bhutan and ISF Football Programme were conferred the Best Grassroots Club and Best Grassroots Project accolades respectively.

Meanwhile, full-time teacher Chan Shuk Chi of Hong Kong, who is an AFC-KFA Pro-Diploma license coach and current Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) U12 Girls’ team head coach, was named the Youth Coach of the Year (Female) in the award ceremony.

The 3rd AFC Youth Conference was attended by close to 100 delegates – among them some of the most experienced coaches of youth football in Asia.

Andy Roxburgh, the AFC Technical Director who led the Conference, set the tone on the first day with a keynote presentation on elite youth football titled ‘An Asian Adventure,’ which provided insights on the key elements and systems for youth coaches to achieve success.

Making history as the first Youth Coach of the Year (Male) was Abdulwahab Alharbi from Saudi Arabia, with the Youth Football League of Tajikistan winning the Youth League of the Year award and Chinese side, Shandong Luneng Taishan claiming the Youth Academy of the Year Award.

The Youth Coach of the Year (Female) will be announced during the AFC Women’s Conference in Kuala Lumpur on November 19, 2019.