Meanwhile, a third candidate representing the Palestine Football Association (PFA) will join the programme on January 13 and be mentored by experts in the Competitions & Football Events Division (CFED).

Designed to maximise the potential of the Confederation’s MAs and Regional Associations (RAs), the programme will provide the participants with an excellent opportunity to gain fresh insights into the day-to-day operations of the AFC.

The three candidates will receive hands-on training from some of the most renowned experts in the industry, enabling them to hone their skills and understanding of best practices in football administration at the Continental level.

Following the completion of the programme, the candidates, now equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to become the future leaders of Asian football, will be expected to share their insights with their respective MAs, fostering a culture of continuous development and further underlining the AFC’s ambitions of maintaining its position as a model Confederation.

The AFC Knowledge Sharing Programme is open to all employees of the AFC’s MAs and RAs. Moreover, AFC ACE Valedictorians will also have the opportunity to be part of the programme.