Hosted in collaboration with the Football Federation of Turkmenistan (FFT), the six-month programme robustly equipped its 25 graduates with the leadership competencies required to meet the demands of the modern football industry.

They will now be able to apply their newfound capabilities to provide solutions to regional football needs and further strengthen administrative excellence in their respective organisations, joining a growing roster of future football leaders looking to further impact the Continental game.

Continuing on the heels of successful launches in the Kyrgyz Republic and Indonesia, the Turkmenistan edition was similarly delivered in a hybrid format that combined online classes with face-to-face sessions, enabling participants to take advantage of both flexible learning and interactive engagement.

Comprising a syllabus of 12 dedicated modules that align with the AFC’s efforts to assist its Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs) in building sustainable, forward-looking football organisations, the key functional areas included income generation, professional club licensing, content creation, financial management, strategic management, principles of leadership, child safeguarding and sustainability  and football governance, all of which allowed participants to obtain an all-encompassing understanding of football administration and management.

Vadim Baratov said: "The ACFAM allowed me to exchange ideas with colleagues from the football community, which made the learning experience even more constructive and fun. The practical relevance of the topics and their insights are directly related to the challenges we face in football today, and I look forward to using these lessons in my daily work."

"This was a most rewarding, beneficial programme,” said XXX. “The diverse range of modules, combined with the opportunity to learn from AFC experts and industry specialists, has improved my ability and confidence to contribute more effectively to inter-organisation development.”

Comprising managers and administrators from the FFT, clubs and key stakeholders from the Central Asian nation, the participants undertook practical learning exercises, group activities and case-study discussions aimed at enhancing their problem-solving, strategic thinking and operational management skills.

To further enrich their learning experience, the programme featured special guest lectures on valuable topics such as infrastructure and pitch maintenance and professional club licensing, which offered deep insights into contemporary football management practices and the evolving requirements of the game.

AFC Deputy General Secretary – Member Associations, Vahid Kardany said: “The successful completion of the ACFAM in Turkmenistan marks a milestone in the AFC’s commitment to provide tailored, educational tools and processes that address in-country needs while contributing to the overall, long-term growth of football across Member Associations.

“The ACFAM curriculum is in line with international best practices in football management, and I applaud our graduates for their passion to acquire the practical knowledge required to bring about positive change to the local football ecosystem.

“We are also grateful to the FFT for its collaboration and support in delivering this programme. Their investment in education has created a strong foundation that future leaders can build upon and drive sustainable growth.”

Conducted under the AFC Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE), the ACFAM initiative underlines the AFC’s capacity-building efforts and reflects an ongoing mission to nurture skilled football administrators capable of consolidating governance structures and elevating professional standards.

The AFC’s wider portfolio of education-first programmes includes the AFC Football Management Certificate, AFC Football Management Diploma, AFC Certificate in Football Leadership, AFC Certificate in Child Safeguarding, AFC Club Management Programme, AFC Certificate in Strategy and Planning and the AFC Empowering Women in Football Programme.

For more information on the ACFAM programme, please visit https://www.afcacademy.com.