Delighted individuals celebrated their graduation today from the fourth edition of the Football Management Certificate (FMC) programme, the landmark initiative from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) that enhances the foundation for future Asian football leaders. The graduates, from AFC Member Associations (MAs), Regional Associations (RAs) and independent stakeholders, concluded their eight-month programme equipped with the knowledge, skills, tools and processes to lift football to greater heights. AFC Deputy General Secretary of Member Associations, Vahid Kardany, said the graduates would now embark on a journey that will see their newfound abilities put to good use. “Graduating from the FMC is only the beginning of a path that I hope will eventually lead to the pinnacle of football management,” he said. “The FMC aligns with the AFC’s Vision to provide beneficial services to our MAs, RAs and the Asian football community. I urge you to keep this in mind as you hone your capabilities, set benchmarks of excellence, and impact the future generation of football leaders.” First introduced in 2021, the FMC instils specific skillsets and industry knowledge via proprietary modules. These provide valuable insights into the game, within the Asian context, to enable participants to oversee daily football management operations effectively and efficiently. The nine core modules comprise the Organisation of World Football, Strategic Management, Financial Management, Income Generation, Media & Communications, Event Management, Operational Management, Human Resource Management and Child Safeguarding. Spread over a total of 290 study hours, the modules required participants to attend virtual lectures and discussions, complete various assessments and present business projects. “The curriculum, teaching staff and overall environment were really conducive to learning, and even as a long-time football fan, I was amazed to discover that there’s much more to how football management affects the game’s direction,” said Kyota Yamada from the Japan Football Association’s Technical Department. “This course has inspired me to acquire further knowledge and heighten my decision-making skills, while instilling qualities that will transform me into a potential leader of continental football and positively influence those coming up the ranks in the Japan Football Association.” For Rahmatul Aufa, from the Football Association of Indonesia’s Competitions Department, the FMC highlighted exciting new challenges and the openings to overcome them. “While I do have management experience, topics such as Child Safeguarding are new to me,” she said. “I am glad to have come across these as they allow me to respond appropriately to situations that arise within their contexts, and then forge ahead to help innovate and grow the Asian football scene.” The FMC was introduced under the AFC Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE) platform, unveiled in September 2021, to develop future football leaders. A game-changer in the AFC’s portfolio of educational initiatives, the programme has resulted in graduates being afforded careers and internship opportunities within the AFC and promotions in their respective MAs and RAs.
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