AFC Academic Centre of Excellence - ACE

💬 Serdar Geldiyev, General Secretary of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan, reflects on the importance of hosting the AFC Certificate in Football Administration and Management (ACFAM) Hybrid Programme in Ashgabat. 🇹🇲⚽

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🎙️ AFC Deputy General Secretary Mr. Vahid Kardany delivered his opening and congratulatory remarks at the AFC Certificate in Football Administration and Management (ACFAM) Hybrid Programme in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. 🇹🇲

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🎓 ACFAM HYBRID PROGRAMME GRADUATES IN TURKMENISTAN READY TO LEAD 🇹🇲⚽

Today marks our latest milestone of our landmark AFC Certificate in Football Administration and Management (ACFAM) hybrid programme with the graduation of our participants in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan! 🎉

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. 🌏⚽

Congratulations to all graduates - the next generation of football leaders! We wish you every success. 🙌🎉

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AFC Certificate in Football Administration and Management Hybrid Programme in Turkmenistan - Milestone achieved in Ashgabat. 🇹🇲⚽

We have officially concluded the final leg of the AFC Certificate in Football Administration and Management Hybrid Programme in Turkmenistan.

Over an intensive 5-day session, participants from the Football Federation of Turkmenistan, local clubs, and leagues brought the journey to a close by diving into modules such as the organisation of world football, principles of leadership, strategic management, financial management and income generation.

With this chapter complete, these participants step forward ready to translate big-picture strategy into tangible progress for regional football.

A huge thank you and congratulations to all participants for their dedication from April all the way to the finish line! 🙌

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🎓 Meet our AEWFP Guest Speaker - Victoria Koh

With nearly 10 years of experience in Asian football, Victoria Koh worked across administration, governance, social responsibility, and safeguarding during her time with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). She has recently transitioned into competition operations with the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), broadening her experience in the operational delivery of football competitions.

An alumna of the AFC Academic Centre of Excellence programmes, she is a strong believer that education and continuous learning are keys to empowering women and developing future leaders in football.

We’re excited to welcome Victoria to share her journey across different areas of the football industry.

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Meet our ACFL Guest Lecturer - Mr. Yosuke Mihara! 🎓

Mr. Yosuke Mihara is the Deputy Director of International Relations at the Japan Football Association (JFA) and the General Secretary of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF). Having grown up in the United States and France, and with years of experience at both the JFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), he is a true expert in navigating multicultural environments and leading across cultures.

Passionate about connecting people through the global game, Mr. Mihara will be sharing his valuable insights on Leading Multicultural Organisations, drawing directly from his personal journey and extensive career in international football governance.

We are delighted to have him share his expertise with our ACFL participants.

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🎓 Meet our ACMP Lecturer - Benjamin Tan

Benjamin Tan brings over 25 years of professional experience in football leadership, league management, governance, and strategic development across some of Asia's leading football organisations and institutions.
He has held senior leadership positions with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), and the Thailand Professional Football League (TPL), providing him with extensive regional expertise in the development, transformation, and professionalisation of football ecosystems.

In the public sector, he currently serves as League Transformation Director at Sport Singapore, where he leads strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening the structure, sustainability, and competitiveness of professional football in Singapore.

Throughout his career, Benjamin has overseen the delivery and development of major domestic and international competitions, FIFA and AFC events, and league development programmes across Asia. He continues to contribute to the advancement of football as an AFC Consultant and as both a FIFA and AFC Match Commissioner, appointments that reflect the confidence placed in his expertise by the sport's governing bodies at continental and global levels.

He is particularly recognised for his role in the transformation of professional football in Thailand, where he championed the implementation of club licensing as a key driver of professional standards, governance, and long-term development, contributing to the emergence of one of Asia's most respected professional league systems.

We are delighted to have Benjamin share his experience with ACMP participants.

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🎙️ Meet our AEWFP Guest Speaker – Kanya Keomany

Kanya Keomany is the visionary sports executive rewriting the playbook for football governance in Asia. From volunteering at local matches in Laos to breaking barriers on the world stage, Keomany made history as the first Laotian ever elected to the elite 37-member FIFA Council.

As Vice President of the Lao Football Federation and Chairperson of the AFC Women’s Football Committee, she has been a tireless champion for equity, building Laos’ women’s national team and youth academies from the ground up. Whether managing elite men’s World Cup qualifiers as a historic match commissioner or creating long-term grassroots leagues, Keomany is proving that leadership knows no gender, inspiring the next generation of women and girls to take their rightful place on and off the pitch. ⚽

Together with the AEWFP participants, we look forward to an inspiring session with our guest speaker.

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