Opening of the AFC Fitness coaching certificate course level 2B

The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Nguyen Tuan Sinh, Director of the National Sports Training Center No. 3; Mr. Huynh Manh Hoa, coach at the National Sports Training Center No. 3; Dr. Yasumatsu Mikinobu, AFC and Japan Football Association (JFA) instructor and course lecturer; Mr. Kanno Atsushi, MA, AFC and JFA instructor and Head of Japan’s Fitness Development Project; representatives of VFF; as well as the course instructors and participants.

The course continues to receive strong support and cooperation from JFA. In addition to Dr. Yasumatsu Mikinobu, who was directly appointed by AFC to deliver the course, JFA has assigned Mr. Kanno Atsushi to Vietnam to provide support in both organizational and technical matters. The close cooperation among VFF, AFC, JFA and the host venue has helped create favorable conditions for the course to be delivered in a professional and effective manner.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, course instructor Yasumatsu Mikinobu thanked VFF for providing him with the opportunity to return to Vietnam and share his knowledge. He also highly appreciated the facilities and organizational support provided by the National Sports Training Center No. 3.

He emphasized that the instructors had come to the course not only to impart knowledge but also to guide, share experiences and learn from the coaches themselves. Therefore, participants were encouraged to actively engage in discussions, ask questions and share their own experiences throughout the course.

Sharing the same perspective, instructor Kanno Atsushi welcomed the participants and expressed his pleasure at meeting again with coaches who had previously attended courses in Japan. He emphasized that the contribution of every member—from instructors and participants to supporting coaches—would be crucial to the success of the course, while encouraging everyone to enjoy the experience and actively engage in the technical activities.

The course combines theoretical learning with practical training. Following classroom sessions, pitch-based training and gym work, participants will complete multiple-choice theory tests, develop training plans and directly implement practical exercises. This approach will provide coaches with opportunities to immediately apply the knowledge they acquire to real-world training situations.

Notably, the course is supported by the student football team of the Da Nang University of Physical Education and Sports. The 11 participating coaches will be tasked with analyzing the fitness levels of 11 players, thereby developing their ability to assess individual needs, design training programmes and organize appropriate exercises for each player.

According to the instructors, a good fitness coach needs not only a strong foundation in sports science but also an understanding of players and football, knowledge of the physical demands of each position, and the ability to work effectively with the head coach and coaching staff. More importantly, fitness coaches must be able to translate scientific knowledge into meaningful and highly applicable exercises on the football pitch.

In addition to the 11 official participants, three coaches are attending as observers and providing support during the course: Mr. Dao Quang Hung, Director of the Youth Training Center of SHB Da Nang FC; Mr. Huynh Viet Nam, Head of the Department of Science, Information, Library and International Cooperation at the Da Nang University of Physical Education and Sports; and Mr. Nguyen Van Quan, Level 1 Fitness Coach and coach at the SHB Da Nang Youth Football Training Center.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Sinh, Director of the National Sports Training Center No. 3, said the Center was honored to continue working with VFF in organizing coach education courses. Following the AFC C Coaching Course and AFC Level 1B Fitness Coach Course, hosting the current course reflects the increasingly effective cooperation between the two organizations.

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Sinh affirmed that the Center would make every effort to provide the best possible facilities and conditions for the course, while encouraging participants to cooperate and comply with the regulations of the military environment throughout their studies. He wished the course success in terms of professional development, stronger solidarity among participants, and practical contributions to the development of Vietnamese football.

Representing the participants, Mr. Phan Ba Hung, class representative, expressed his appreciation to VFF, the National Sports Training Center No. 3 and the instructors for their coordination in organizing the course. On behalf of the class, he pledged to make every effort throughout the seven-day course, actively acquire knowledge and experience, and improve the quality of fitness training at their respective clubs, thereby contributing to the overall development of Vietnamese football.

With a practical-oriented curriculum combining professional knowledge, fitness analysis and hands-on training on the pitch and in the gym, the AFC Level 2B Fitness Coach Course is expected to contribute to improving the quality of the fitness coaching workforce and better meeting the professional development requirements of Vietnamese football.