Closing Ceremony of the 2026 Magic Moves Community Football Instructor Training Course

The closing ceremony was attended by Mr. Do Minh Truong, President of the Can Tho Football Federation; Mr. Luu Quang Dien Bien, Head of the Grassroots Football, Training and Member Organisations Department of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF); and instructors Do Thi Ngoc Cham and Huynh Viet Nam.

Representing the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), Mr. Luu Quang Dien Bien congratulated the participants on successfully completing the course and expressed his appreciation to the Can Tho Football Federation for its coordination and support in organising the training programme. He also thanked the instructors for their dedicated guidance, knowledge sharing and valuable experience, which contributed to the success of the course.

Mr. Luu Quang Dien Bien expressed his hope that participants would effectively apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the course to organise fun and safe training sessions, helping girls develop basic football skills, build confidence in participating and nurture their passion for the sport.

The VFF representative also encouraged participants to stay connected, share experiences and continue working alongside the VFF in implementing the programme, contributing to the wider promotion of the spirit of “Magic Moves” and bringing football closer to girls in schools, clubs and communities.

Prior to the closing ceremony, during the practical session held on the morning of 25 October at the Can Tho multi-purpose artificial turf pitch, participants put into practice the training plans they had developed throughout the course, working directly with girls aged 6–9 from Cai Khe Primary School.

As many of the girls were still unfamiliar with football and lacked confidence in group activities, the participants used a combination of physical games and storytelling to create a friendly and welcoming environment, spark the children’s interest, encourage them to participate with confidence and gradually nurture their love for the game.

The practical activities were delivered in a flexible and engaging manner, beginning with the story “Magic Moves” about the Snail Fairy to capture the girls’ attention, followed by physical games and exercises focusing on movement, shooting, ball control and other basic football skills. The session took place in a lively atmosphere, with the girls actively participating, confidently expressing themselves and enthusiastically experiencing their first football activities.

Following the practical session, many of the girls expressed their joy and excitement, as well as their hope that the programme would continue so that more girls could have the opportunity to participate in and experience football.

Reflecting on the course, instructors Do Thi Ngoc Cham and Huynh Viet Nam praised the participants for their serious approach to learning and proactive engagement in theoretical sessions, group discussions, and the development and presentation of training plans on the pitch.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, instructor Huynh Viet Nam said that introducing football through storytelling was a new approach being implemented under the cooperation programme between UEFA and AFC.

He noted that the participants had successfully completed the course requirements, particularly the on-pitch practical session, which provided girls with their first opportunity to experience football in a fun and friendly environment. He also expressed his confidence that, with the continued support of the VFF, girls’ football would continue to grow, making a positive contribution to grassroots football in Can Tho in particular and Vietnamese football as a whole.

On behalf of the participants, class representative Le Nguyen Hai Dang expressed his gratitude to the two instructors for their dedicated teaching, sharing of knowledge and experience, and encouragement throughout the three-day course. He noted that the knowledge gained through the combination of theoretical learning and practical training would provide an important foundation for participants to apply in their coaching and instructional activities in the future, contributing to the development of grassroots and girls’ football in their local communities.

At the conclusion of the course, the VFF presented certificates of completion to all 32 participants. The training programme contributed to strengthening the capacity of community football instructors while promoting greater access to football for girls, with the aim of creating a safe, positive and inclusive environment for all.