5th AFC Coach Education Conference Sparks a Brighter Future

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Image Credit: AFC

The 5th AFC Coach Education Conference wrapped up successfully on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, reaffirming the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) commitment to boosting the performance of Asian teams on the world stage.

Over three days, the conference featured a series of engaging presentations addressing key topics essential to advancing coach education programs across the AFC’s Member Associations (MAs).

Under the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Coach Education,’ the event kicked off on Tuesday with AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh delivering a keynote speech titled ‘Tomorrow’s Coaches’. His address sparked a lively dialogue among attendees, setting a collaborative tone for the conference.

Day two began with a comprehensive session on the UEFA Coaching Convention’s membership criteria, which included discussions on running national coaching courses and increasing the number of female tutors within MA coaching structures.

This session led to in-depth conversations about the unique needs of each association, the value of practical learning, diverse leadership approaches, and embracing new technology.

A standout moment was the panel discussion on the ‘Emotions in Football’ initiative, featuring experts from Qatar Football Association, Aspire Academy, AFC grassroots development, and the Education 4 Peace Foundation. The panel emphasised the vital role of social responsibility within football.

Head of Coach Education at the Football Association of Singapore and former Bolton Wanderers defender, Hasney Aljofree, praised the conference.

“It’s been a fantastic few days with top-tier information sharing. The collective knowledge exchange clearly shows what we are working to achieve together,” he said via press release.

“Having played professionally and now working as an educator, this conference supports my role as football evolves — especially with the pressures players face today through social media and constant public scrutiny.”

The conference also offered an opportunity for coaching tutors to receive updates on the AFC–Japan Football Association Women’s Pro Diploma Course, currently progressing towards its final module.

The final day featured presentations from Saudi Arabian Football Federation Technical Director Nasser Larguet and Football Association of Ireland Head of Coach Education Niall O’Regan, who shared their experiences and sparked further vibrant discussions.

Coach Education Instructor at Football Australia, Faye Chambers, reflected on the conference’s impact to the program.

“The AFC Coach Education Conference has not only enabled us to exchange ideas but also hear of success stories which undeniably motivate MAs in improving their existing programs,” she said via press release.

“Moreover, a lot of work is being done to empower more women coach educators through exclusive courses, and the impact can clearly be seen, as over the years, more and more women are taking up leadership roles in football, which is a clear indication of the progress being made on the Continent.”
This conference not only strengthens coach education across Asia but also paves the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for football in the region.
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Eastern Suburbs Football Association Announces First All-Female Referee Course and Expanded Women’s Competition

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Image Credit: Football NSW

The Eastern Suburbs Football Association has opened its 2026 season with three structural investments that reflect the growing ambition of community football associations to address participation, representation and development gaps simultaneously, beginning with the delivery of its first all-female Football Match Official Course.

The course, held at Matraville Sports High School and led by female liaison committee member Michelle Hilton and 2025 Referee of the Year Ariella Richards, brought 25 new female referees into the association ahead of Round 1. The initiative targets one of the most persistent imbalances in community sport, with women remaining significantly underrepresented in officiating roles at every level of the game, by creating a dedicated entry point separate from the mixed course environment that many women find unwelcoming.

The Women’s Premier League has also expanded, now featuring eleven teams and introducing a WPL1 and WPL2 structure following the first ten rounds of the season. The tiered format creates more competition opportunities for clubs across the region while providing a clearer development pathway for teams at different stages of growth. Returning clubs Randwick City, Glebe Wanderers, Easts FC and Sydney University join established sides in what the association describes as one of its most competitive women’s seasons. ESFA clubs have continued to perform strongly in state-wide competitions including the Football NSW Sapphire Cup, State Cup and Champion of Champions.

Building the next generation

The season opened with an inaugural Development League Gala Day for Under-9 to Under-12 boys and girls, bringing eight clubs together in a structured development environment ahead of Round 1. Sydney FC A-League Women’s players attended the event and engaged directly with young participants, a deliberate effort to connect grassroots players with visible examples of where the pathway leads.

“We are committed to creating more opportunities for clubs, players, coaches and referees to thrive, with a strong focus on participation opportunities to suit participants of all abilities and aspirations,” said ESFA CEO John Boulous.

The three initiatives, a new referee entry point for women, an expanded women’s competition structure, and a development-focused junior gala day with elite role models present, together reflect an association responding to the participation pressures the AFC Women’s Asian Cup has brought into sharp relief across Australian football.

More Than One in Five Football Australia Staff to Lose Jobs Amid Growing Financial Losses

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Image Credit: ESPN

Australian football finds itself in a curious position.

From the outside, the game appears to be riding a wave of momentum. Attendances, visibility and public interest have all experienced significant uplift in recent years, while major international tournaments and growing discussion around football’s future continue to place the sport firmly within the national conversation.

Yet behind that momentum, Football Australia is now confronting a far more challenging internal reality.

 

A compounding deficit

Chief Executive Martin Kugeler has reportedly indicated the governing body’s projected financial losses for 2025 are expected to exceed the organisation’s reported $8.5 million deficit from the previous year. Accompanying the financial outlook are substantial organisational changes, with reporting from Tracey Holmes indicating more than one in five Football Australia employees are expected to lose their positions through restructuring measures.

The figures represent more than a difficult balance sheet. They point toward a significant period of recalibration inside the organisation responsible for overseeing the sport nationally.

 

Losing the wisdom of existing staff members

For governing bodies, restructures are often framed as strategic necessities for future sustainability. However, workforce changes on this scale also raise broader questions around the challenges of such a transition.

People are often the carriers of knowledge, relationships and long-term strategic understanding. When organisations undergo significant structural change, the effects can extend beyond immediate financial outcomes.

 

Contradicting timing

The timing is what makes the developments particularly notable.

Football in Australia has spent recent years discussing expansion, growth and long-term opportunity. The conversation surrounding the game has increasingly centred on future potential. Often headlining stronger pathways, larger audiences, infrastructure development and greater visibility.

Against that backdrop, news of deep financial losses and substantial staffing reductions creates a different conversation: one focused not on where the game wants to go, but on what may be required to sustain that journey. Therefore, this announcement points toward stagnancy, rather than growth.

Further detail surrounding Football Australia’s strategy and long-term direction will likely emerge over coming months. For now, the developments serve as a reminder that growth stories are rarely straightforward.

Often, the periods that appear strongest from the outside can also be the moments organisations face their most significant internal tests.

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