Kuala Lumpur: The next batch of Asian football leaders eager to leave their mark in shaping the future of the sport across the Continent embarked on the fifth edition of the landmark Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Football Management Certificate (FMC) programme today.
As many as 48 participants from the AFC’s Member Associations (MAs), Regional Associations (RAs) as well as independent stakeholders will follow in the footsteps of their predecessors in pursuing an all-inclusive programme designed to produce high-calibre Asian football leaders.
The AFC Deputy General Secretary of Member Associations, Vahid Kardany, in welcoming the participants, said: “Four editions down the road, and the FMC today is synonymous with the values of professionalism and good governance that have become the trademark of the AFC over the last decade.
“The FMC programme was designed to not only provide our participants with an understanding of Asian football, but the way the AFC functions as a true business entity, where every detail off-the-pitch is just as important as the ones on the field of play.
“Most importantly, the FMC underlines the AFC’s commitment, through our Vision, to provide dedicated, focused and expert services that benefit our Member Associations, Regional Associations and the Asian football community.”
The FMC curriculum, a blend of skillsets and industry knowledge, comprises virtual lectures, discussions, quizzes and business project presentations. It totals 290 hours of study in nine core modules - Organisation of World Football, Strategic Management, Financial Management, Income Generation, Media & Communications, Event Management, Operational Management, Human Resource Management and Child Safeguarding.
These comprehensive modules allow participants to develop expertise in key management areas, which in turn, will empower them to oversee daily operations, keep abreast of the game’s evolving nature, and advance all aspects of football administration.
The trailblazing FMC programme was introduced under the AFC Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE), an online education platform launched in September 2021, built on the core values of excellence, innovation, and passion for football education.
The FMC first premiered in October 2021. The second edition followed in January 2022, the third in May 2022 and the fourth in October 2022.