February 9 – Afghanistan may not be able to host international matches but the process of football development knows no boundaries and Afghan football administrators for the first time took part in their own series of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) workshops this week in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe.
The workshops were timed with another historical moment, the first time an Afghan club side has competed in AFC competition. Shaheen Asmayee are competing in the re-formatted AFC Cup, which has increased the number of clubs participating with the group stage played in five regional zones. They played their first and second-leg matches against Tajikistan’s FC Hosilot – the first match was a 0-0 draw, FC Hosilot won the second 1-0.
The workshops for the Afghan administrators were organised by the AFC under its League Development Programme. The AFC covered the travel and accommodation costs of AFF officials and the presidents of the 20 provincial football associations.
The workshops covered specific areas including club licensing and event management, training for match commissioners and an introduction to the AFC’s live streaming platform.
President of the Afghanistan Football Federation Mr Keramuddin Karim said in his opening remarks: “This is a historic day for Afghanistan Football Federation as for the first time in our history we are organising workshops and seminars for the football administrators in Afghanistan. I cannot stress more on the importance of club licensing in the development of leagues and clubs, and it is for the AFF, provincial and club officials to understand the regulations and criteria and to implement them in a productive way.”
The workshops are part of the AFC’s push to raise the levels of administration and governance across their member association which in turn will contribute to a lifting of playing standards. Strong structures will encourage better performing teams at higher levels.
AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John said: “The workshops organised by the AFC for the benefit of football in Afghanistan show that the AFC is serious about lifting the level of football across the continent. We are proud to be the first to have been able to help Afghan football in this way.
“I would also like to extend my warm thanks to the Tajikistan Football Federation for hosting the event and exemplifying Asian football’s unity and solidarity: One Asia, One Goal.”
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