UEFA, AFC, and VFF collaborate to develop a strategy for women’s football growth
On the morning of November 6th, a seminar on the UEFA/AFC Women’s Football Development Support Project was held at the headquarters of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).
07/11/2024 10:57:56
The seminar was attended by Mrs. Lowri Robert, a representative of the European Football Association (UEFA), and Mr. Amir Assokan Bin Abdullah, Head of Special Projects at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
On the side of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), attendees included Mr. Trần Anh Tú, VFF Vice President; the VFF Women’s Football Committee; Mr. Koshida Takeshi, VFF Technical Director; Mr. Trương Hải Tùng, Director of the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center; as well as representatives from various VFF departments.
The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is honored to be one of five national football federations, alongside Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, and Lebanon, selected to benefit from the UEFA/AFC Women’s Football Development Support Project for countries with developing women’s football programs. This is a valuable opportunity for Vietnamese football to engage with and learn from top football experts, bringing the country closer to advanced football nations worldwide. Through this project, Vietnam aims to exchange professional knowledge, share experiences, and implement innovations and professionalization in areas related to the development of women’s football.
At the opening of the seminar, Mr. Tran Anh Tu, Vice President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), emphasized: “In recent years, the VFF has consistently focused on mobilizing all available resources for the development of football in Vietnam, with a long-term commitment to women’s football. This dedication has led to success, most notably with the Vietnam women’s national team qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, marking a significant milestone in establishing Vietnam’s presence on the global women’s football map.
This achievement has opened up numerous opportunities for the national women’s team and youth teams, which will receive even more attention and investment. However, to sustain and further develop women’s football in Vietnam, a long-term plan is needed, with clear direction, supported by both domestic and international resources. The VFF hopes this seminar will serve as a foundation for meaningful programs and activities that will bring practical benefits to the development of women’s football in Vietnam.”
Mr. Tran Anh Tu’s words reflect the VFF’s strong commitment to advancing women’s football in Vietnam, leveraging international partnerships and expertise to ensure its continued growth and success on the world stage.
Mrs. Lowri Robert, UEFA representative, stated: “UEFA will support the development of women’s football in Vietnam for the next three years. We have four key initiatives in place, with the most important being long-term development and ensuring sustainability for the operation of women’s football in Vietnam. I believe that Vietnamese women’s football has made significant strides. The Vietnam women’s national team participated in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the Ho Chi Minh City Women’s Football Club reached the quarterfinals of the AFC Women’s Champions League. This is a pivotal moment to continue elevating women’s football in Vietnam. I sincerely hope that professional women’s clubs and the Vietnam women’s national team will inspire young girls to pursue football careers in the near future.”
Her statement highlights UEFA’s commitment to supporting the continued growth of women’s football in Vietnam, emphasizing the importance of sustainable development and the inspiring achievements that are driving the sport forward in the country.
Mr. Amir Assokan Bin Abdullah, Head of Special Projects at the AFC, praised the efforts of the Vietnam women’s national team for their participation in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand. He also congratulated the Ho Chi Minh City Women’s Football Club for reaching the quarterfinals of the AFC Women’s Champions League. “AFC has always supported the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) in this project. We hope this initiative will provide the VFF with additional motivation to continue developing football in general and women’s football in Vietnam in particular,” said Mr. Amir.
His remarks underscore the AFC’s continued support for the VFF and the positive impact of international collaboration on the development of women’s football in Vietnam.
Over the three days from November 6th to 8th, UEFA and AFC experts, along with representatives and relevant stakeholders from women’s football in Vietnam, will discuss various topics related to the development of women’s football. These include strategies for women’s football, talent identification programs, grassroots football, as well as the vision, goals, national teams, human resources, competitions, and club development. Additionally, the discussions will cover opportunities for growth in leagues and commercial value.
