AFC hosts first Regional Associations Workshop since 2019

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AFC Regional Associations Workshop
Image Credit: Asian Football Confederation Website

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) hosted the AFC Regional Associations Workshop for the first time since 2019.

Conducted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from January 15 to 16, the workshop aimed to bolster the aptitude of Regional Associations (RAs) through discovering the best services to assist them, by providing a platform to acknowledge problems and share solutions.

Highlighting the importance of the conference, the General Secretaries of each AFC RA; Winston Lee (ASEAN Football Federation), Ulugbek Karimov (Central Asian Football Association), Yosuke Mihara (East Asian Football Federation), Anwarul Huq (South Asian Football Federation) and Khalil H. Al Salem (West Asian Football Federation), spoke at the event, facilitating a number of conversations around the successes, goals of and threats to each RA.

The first day of the workshop hosted sessions centred around integral programs for the regions, such as the FIFA Forward 3.0 Initiative, AFC Enhance Programme and AFC Academic Centre of Excellence courses.

Additionally, members conversed over the AFC’s dedication to social responsibilities such as child safety.

Day two of the forum saw Football Australia President Anter Isaac hold a presentation on creating and maintaining sustainable growth alongside reinforcing RA governance.

Next, the AFC Governance Coordination Unit and AFC Legal Unit held presentations and conversations around desirable governance, and how to become more transparent and resilient.

AFC General Secretary, Datuk Seri Windsor John, outlined the importance of forums like the AFC Regional Associations Workshop.

“It takes a great deal of dedication to ensure the continuous development of the game, and platforms such as this workshop provide the opportunity to foster collaboration, share insights and address the challenges we collectively face,” he said via press release.

“This workshop underlines the AFC’s steadfast commitment to empowering our RAs, who serve as the cornerstone of football development in Asia.

“Therefore, it is more important than ever before to enhance collaboration among RAs and overcome constraints and build stronger bonds between each other.”

The AFC will continue to evaluate and explore ways to assist Regional Associations across 2025 and beyond.

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UEFA and Unilever renew partnership

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Image credit: Europa League website

UEFA has embraced Unilever as an Official Global Partner of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, kicking off in Switzerland on July 2 until July 27, 2025.

Unilever’s deal with UEFA builds off of their 2024 partnership and will see a wide array of Unilever’s Foods and Personal Care brands ignite their own integrated advertising campaigns to connect with fans and consumers in and out of the stadium, including household names like Dove, Rexona, Knorr and Hellmann’s.

UEFA marketing director, Guy-Laurent Epstein expressed UEFA’s excitement to work with Unilever again.

“Building on the success of our collaboration last summer, we are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Unilever for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025,” he said in a press release.

The support and interest in women’s football is on a sharp upward trajectory, and with Unilever’s portfolio of Food and Personal Care brands reaching billions of people every day, we look forward to celebrating the power of the game and bringing excitement to fans everywhere.”

General Manager of Unilever Foods Europe, Robbert de Vreede conveyed his enthusiasm for Unilever’s involvement in the upcoming Women’s EURO 2025.

“We are thrilled to partner with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, enabling our Foods brands to connect with a large audience who come together enjoying the thrill of a football match with friends whilst sharing delicious foods,” he said in a UEFA press release.

“Just as a great BBQ brings people closer, football unites fans in a shared experience of passion and camaraderie. In this partnership we will create memorable moments that highlight the best of summer – good food, great company, and beautiful games.”

General Manager of Unilever Personal Care Europe, Fulvio Guarneri detailed why the collaboration between UEFA and Unilever was a perfect fit.

“This is an exciting opportunity for some of our biggest brands to tap into a big cultural moment and connect with millions of consumers who will be watching the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025,” he said via press release.

“It’s a great time for women’s football and this partnership fits perfectly with our Personal Care products which are all about feeling clean and confident, and taking part in sports. Together with our retail partners, we look forward to building on the success of last year’s men’s tournament, delivering unmissable campaigns across a variety of channels that celebrate the power of women’s football.”

Unilever joins an exciting list of brands for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 tournament, including household names such as adidas, Amazon, AXA, Booking.com, EA, Euronics, Grifols, Heineken, Hublot, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Lay’s, Lidl, PlayStation and Visa.

The Club Development Conference highlights community football

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Significant Sporting Events Program 2023-24

On Saturday, February 1st, over 200 attendees came together at Valentine Sports Park for the 2025 Football NSW Club Development Conference.

With registrations for the 2025 season still coming in, over 85 Football NSW clubs from both Sydney Metropolitan and regional areas gathered for a dynamic day of workshops, panels, and special guest speakers, celebrating community football.

Presented by Stephanie Brantz, the Conference included keynote addresses from Karen Jones, Acting CEO of Destination NSW and Chief Executive of the NSW Office of Sport, Dr. Catriona Rose of the Australian Sports Commission, and Matildas cap #167, Ellie Brush.

After the successful second edition of the conference, Trevor Huxley, Football NSW’s Program Manager for Club Development, expressed his excitement over the strong support from the community.

“The Club Development Conference is a fantastic opportunity to bring together all levels of the game to learn from one another, network and discuss best practice for grassroots football,” said Huxley via press release.

“It has been inspiring to see grassroots clubs across the state in attendance, illustrating a remarkable commitment to supporting their local communities. It’s vital that Football NSW continues to lead in this space, providing support to the volunteers and local administrators who are central to the ongoing growth of our game.”

Along with the keynote speakers, attendees were able to choose sessions tailored to their Club or role, covering topics such as safeguarding, volunteerism, marketing and data analysis, infrastructure and grant funding, player and spectator behaviour, women & girls’ football, diversity and inclusion, and grassroots coach education.

The Football NSW Club Development Conference serves as a pivotal platform for enhancing community football by Empowering Clubs, Facilitating Networking, Offering Targeted Education and Showcasing Leadership.

By focusing on these areas, the conference plays a crucial role in strengthening community football, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring the sport’s sustainable growth.

To gain further details and access Club resources, click here.

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