e-Goal East Zone kicks off with workshop on Sport and Sustainable Development

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

e-Goal East Zone kicks off with workshop on Sport and Sustainable Development

Kuala Lumpur: As many as 20 aspiring youth social ambassadors from seven Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Member Associations in the East Zone have begun the e-Goal programme which kicked off on September 21, 2020.  

The first of the eight online workshops focused on how sport can be used to accelerate progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and was led by Kim Encel from UNESCO.

AFC and AURORA expand pioneering youth development programme across Asia

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC and AURORA expand pioneering youth development programme across Asia

Kuala Lumpur: Building on the widely acclaimed pilot e-Goal project in the West Zone, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), through its AFC Dream Asia Foundation, has partnered again with Jordan-based youth development organisation, Aurora for Training and Development, to expand the positive impact of the ground-breaking programme to the AFC Member Associations in the ASEAN, East, Central and South Zones.

The next phase of the 40-day virtual programme, which commenced today (September 19, 2020), will bring the total number of Member Associations engaged to 43.

More than 60 Youth Social Responsibility Ambassadors will be empowered with innovative and educational opportunities through which they can engage with fellow players and establish a network to support development post COVID-19.

UNHCR names regional Nansen Refugee Award winners

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

UNHCR names regional Nansen Refugee Award winners

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) social responsibility partner, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have announced Rozma Ghafouri from the Islamic Republic of Iran and Dr. Rana Dajani from Jordan as the 2020 Regional Winners of UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Award.

The 66-year-old UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Award recognises those who have gone beyond the call of duty to protect forcibly displaced and stateless people.

GameChangers: Karishma Ali - More than football 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

GameChangers: Karishma Ali - More than football 

Chitral: Some footballers have the ability to change the course of a match. Karishma Ali wants to change lives. 

In the latest edition of the AFC’s GameChangers series – which tells inspiring stories from women’s football in Asia – we meet the 23-year-old whose passion has taken her from northern Pakistan to Paris and Milan; and for whom the game provides a window to so much more.

New pitch and changing room delivered to School 79

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

New pitch and changing room delivered to School 79

Ulaanbaatar: The AFC Dream Asia Foundation, in collaboration with the Mongolian Football Federation (MFF), delivered a new mini pitch, goalposts and changing room to students in School 79.

The proposal to build a football pitch was initiated in 2018 and supported by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President and AFC Dream Asia Foundation patron Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, after tragedy struck when an 11-year-old male student tragically died after a goalpost fell on him.

The AFC President congratulated all concerned in the opening ceremony on August 31, 2020, saying: “The new pitch at School 79 shows that the Asian Football Confederation lives up to its promise to make a significant difference to communities across the Continent.

Park lends voice in anti-racism message

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Park lends voice in anti-racism message

Kuala Lumpur: Asia’s most successful footballer, Korea Republic’s Park Ji-sung, has delivered a strong anti-racism message to the world of football.

Park, who captained Korea Republic and played for Manchester United and PSV Eindhoven in Europe, won 19 titles but sees defeating racism as his next major challenge in what has been a stellar career.

UAE Pro League holds Child Safeguarding workshop

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

UAE Pro League holds Child Safeguarding workshop

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Pro League organised its first workshop for the newly appointed Club Safeguarding Officers (CSO) as part of the second phase of its child safeguarding initiative to ensure children continue to play football in a safe environment. 

The UAE Pro League is the first governing body in the Middle East to launch a Child Safeguarding programme in May which focuses on preventing any risk of harm to children in football and increasing awareness of children safety and protection within clubs.

The virtual workshop featured guest speakers from leading organisations including Head of Safeguarding at FIFA, Kathryn Leslie and a representative from the recently-formed AFC Safeguarding Unit.

Major Abdulrahman Al Tamimi of the UAE Ministry of Interior Child Protection Centre, the UAE Football Association Technical Director Michel Sablon and Callum Irving, a leading youth development Consultant, also joined the discussions.