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.
