Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Each year, grassroots football in Asia continues to reach greater heights and set new milestones and I am pleased to note the AFC Grassroots Football Day 2019 will surpass all previous records when 42 Member Associations participate in the celebrations.
The AFC’s Vision and Mission has underlined our desire to confirm football as the number one sport in Asia and the grassroots game forms the building blocks to bring our ambitions to life.
Credit must go to all our Member Associations for never failing to answer the clarion call to spread the reach of the game. And it is only through this spirit of unity and solidarity that we continue to strengthen the foundations for football in Asia.
As the Continent’s governing body, our mandate is clear: We want to create conducive environments for everyone, people of all ages, regardless of their playing ability or background, with the opportunity to play.
And our commitment to grassroots football has never been stronger. Last year, we introduced the Grassroots Charter, which is already proving to be a game-changer in enhancing the quality and delivery of the movement and programmes across the Continent.
We now have 15 Member Associations endorsed under the Charter and I urge more Member Associations to come forward to embrace the Charter in the same way they have grown the popularity and scale of the AFC Grassroots Football Day.
We also introduced three new AFC Special Grassroots Awards in 2018 to celebrate our dedicated volunteers in Asia – the unsung heroes who work tirelessly every day to spread the joy of football.
Grassroots football must continue to uphold the principles of inclusiveness, instilling lifelong values and building character. It must always be fun, but it is also a serious business. For every superstar, the journey begins at the Grassroots and the livelihood of football depends on our ability to nurture the game for our future generations.
I would like to express my appreciation to all the AFC Member Associations who are organising activities in their countries this year. A special thank you is also extended to all our volunteers and parents for believing in the power of football.
I wish you all a successful and fulfilling AFC Grassroots Football Day!