Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today launched the third edition of its landmark AFC Certificate in Football Leadership (ACFL), an online initiative that aims to further advance the abilities of Asian football’s emerging and established leaders.
This follows the success of its predecessors, both of which were well received by decision-makers in the AFC’s Member Associations (MAs), Regional Associations (RAs) and diverse football stakeholders.
The six-month programme, which first took place in 2023, is another groundbreaking offering from the AFC Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE). It equips participants with the requisite skills, perspectives and processes that will enable them to guide and uplift Asian football, as well as develop both professionally and personally, and polish interpersonal and communication skills. The inaugural edition witnessed 19 graduates, with 35 following in the second edition.
Participants will gain in-depth knowledge and information via six proprietary modules. These components seamlessly blend theoretical perspective, hands-on activities, and case studies to accelerate their leadership capabilities and hone their real-time decision-making competencies – factors that are critical in light of Asian football’s ever-evolving ecosystem.
The modules comprise Principles of Leadership, Influence and Impact through Communication, Organisational Design and Development in Football, Environmental, Social and Governance in Football, A Leader’s Perspective of Football Development & Performance, and Managing Projects in Football.
Upon graduation, participants will be able to support their respective organisations’ strategies, and adopt and progress towards new benchmarks of excellence that will help drive Continental football. They will leverage opportunities and organise resources for improved efficiency as well as inspire and direct their organisations towards realising their mission statements.
AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said: “The AFC continuously looks to propel Asian football towards greater heights, and our vison to become the world’s leading Confederation can be summarised in the ACFL’s delivery of exclusive, substantial content geared towards uplifting the individual and consequently, our MAs, RAs and stakeholders.
“Education plays a vital role in our efforts to realise our vision, and the ACFL arms its graduates with essential leadership concepts and theories that are of the utmost benefit in reinforcing their organisations’ quest towards improved efficiency and the achievement of their respective goals.
“As football management moves with the times, so has the AFC in ensuring our various educational programmes keep up with all its new developments, stay abreast of the changing standards, needs and expectations of the game and create a tangible impact that advances our MAs, RAs and the larger Asian football community.”
The ACFL follows the highly acclaimed AFC Football Management Certificate, the AFC Football Management Diploma, the AFC Certificate in Child Safeguarding, the AFC Certificate in Football Administration and Management, the AFC Certificate in Strategy and Planning, and the AFC Empowering Women in Football Programme.
Registration for the third edition of the ACFL closes on March 21, 2025. For more details on the ACFL, please visit www.afcacademy.com .