At the AFC 2024 Special Awards ceremony, held alongside the AFC Women’s Football Conference 2024 on November 12, Vietnamese football received a Special Award in the category of Best Grassroots Project for the “Football For All in Vietnam” (FFAV) project. The Best Grassroots Leader Award went to Mr. Nguyễn Hoàng Phương, Director of the FFAV project, and the Youth Academy of the Year (Boys) Award was presented to the PVF Football Training Center.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today marked the return of the landmark AFC Women’s Football Conference after a hiatus of five years in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Mrs. Nguyễn Thanh Hà, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), attended the event as a member of the AFC Women’s Football Committee.
As part of the Women’s Football Conference, the AFC organized a Women’s Football Development Workshop, which was attended by representatives from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), including Mr. Mai Đức Chung, Head Coach of the Vietnam Women’s National Football Team, and Mr. Lưu Quang Điện Biên, Head of the Grassroots Football, Training, and Member Organizations Department.
During the event, the AFC presented the 2024 Special Awards, including awards for grassroots football and youth football initiatives.
* Vietnam received 2 out of the 4 awards for grassroots football initiatives
In the grassroots football category, Vietnamese football triumphed in 2 out of the 4 awards. Specifically, Mr. Nguyễn Hoàng Phương, Director of the FFAV project, received the prestigious “Best Grassroots Leader” award, and the “Football For All in Vietnam” (FFAV) project was recognized as the “Best Grassroots Project.” Meanwhile, the Tianjin Pengcheng Football Club from China was honored as the “Best Grassroots Club,” and the “Best Grassroots Competition” award went to the Liga Suparimau in Malaysia.
Congratulating the winning representatives, Mr. Datuk Seri Windsor John, AFC General Secretary, said: “Our collective duty is to ensure we build a brighter future by enhancing our structures of excellence more systematically and cohesively. Therefore, it delights me to witness our unsung heroes being honoured for their dedicated efforts to grow the grassroots movement on the Continent.”
Recipient of the AFC Dream Asia Award 2017 for his outstanding commitment towards social development, Nguyen Hoang Phuong has remained a steady pillar in Vietnam’s quest towards ushering positive change in society through the power of football.
A key player in the success of the Football For All in Vietnam initiative, Phuong’s involvement in Vietnam’s grassroots football ecosystem for over 23 years has been instrumental in establishing inclusive football clubs, integrating life skills and climate awareness into football training, and promoting gender equality, touching the lives of thousands of children.
Among Phuong’s many achievements, his contribution to the success of the groundbreaking Football For All in Vietnam (FFAV) programme is most notable, which over time, has led to the establishment of hundreds of grassroots football clubs across the length and breadth of the Southeast Asian nation, focusing especially on the integration of ethnic minorities and children with disabilities.
Phuong said: “I am truly honoured to receive this award, as it represents a significant recognition of the FFAV’s contributions to enhancing grassroots football in Vietnam. This will not only motivate us to stay dedicated to our mission but will also lend strong credibility to our programmes, making them more appealing to potential partners and stakeholders, and encouraging their involvement in our initiatives.”
Highlighting the project’s many achievements, FFAV Vice Director Nguyen Thi Hoa said: “The project was initiated with the vision of enabling millions of children in Vietnam to play football while also helping them gain essential life skills through a structured, sustainable grassroots football programme. Since then, the project has made a significant impact on Vietnamese society by promoting inclusivity, personal development, and social cohesion.”
* Youth Academy of the Year (Boys): PVF Academy
Also at the ceremony, Vietnamese football received great honor as the PVF Youth Football Training Center was awarded the Youth Academy of the Year (Boys) title. Since its establishment in 2017, the PVF Football Training Center has continuously strived to become one of the most prestigious football academies in Southeast Asia.
The academy first received a three-star membership under the AFC Elite Youth Scheme in 2020 which was renewed earlier this year thanks to the institution’s stellar efforts to provide talented youth footballers in the country with the best resources for them to hone their skills.
“It is a matter of great pride that, following the renewal of our three-star membership—which already affirms us as one of the best academies in Asia—the AFC has further validated our efforts with this recognition,” said My Dung Nguyen, Deputy Director General at PVF Football Academy.
“We will keep enhancing our talent identification system, scouting the most promising players, and nurturing them to become professional players capable of competing both in Vietnam and abroad. Additionally, we will focus on strengthening our technical staff and fostering the development of more qualified coaches.”
14/11/2024 11:36:25
