Courtesy: AFC.com


Praise and kudos for AFC Elite Education Seminar

Tuesday, 09 February 2010

KUALA LUMPUR: After four weeks of intensive learning by Asia’s leading football exponents, the curtain came down on the 2010 AFC Elite Education Seminar on Monday.

By all accounts, it was a successful event, which started on 10 January and featured a record 617 participants in various disciplines, comprising elite referees, coaches, sports medicine, disability football and goalkeeping, among others.

With notable names like Gérard Houllier, Prof Jens Bangsbo and Keith Hackett here to conduct the courses, AFC is hoping that the participants can take the knowledge they have acquired back to their home countries and use it to benefit Asian football.

As AFC Deputy General Secretary and Director of Education Hasan Al Sabah said: “I hope you see the objectives of the Education Seminar.

“It’s not just enough to hand over business cards. When you meet people here, invite them for coffee or go for dinner and continue to share ideas and exchange knowledge with each other.”

Indeed, the festival of knowledge allowed people from all over Asia, and the world, to come together for the sake of football. Here is what others had to say about the Seminar.

Gérard Houllier (France; FFF) - TSG and Coaching Instructor

“I am glad to be here to share my knowledge with all the participants. To achieve success, what you need the most is the right attitude.”

Prof Jens Bangsbo (Denmark; FIFA) - Conditioning Instructor

“This is a good move by AFC to further the participant’s knowledge. Directly or indirectly, it will help to develop Asian football.”

Keith Hackett (England; FIFA) - Elite Men Referees Instructor

“I must say that I am impressed by this Elite Education Seminar, the set-up, the participants, everything.

“The planning was detailed, the instructors all excellent and they are all good people. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here and I am very happy to share my experience with the participants.”

Ian Blanchard (England, The FA) - New Referee Assessors and Referee Assessors Instructor

“The partnership that exists between us and the largest confederation (AFC) is unique and functional.

“There is a desire to make an impact and I can honestly say that I believe, through the quality people that AFC have in place supporting their referees and with the help and support of ourselves, we are beginning to see an improvement in quality.”

José Venancio López (Spain; FIFA) - Futsal Instructor

“I am happy to share my experience with my fellow friends in Asia. I hope Asian futsal can blossom even further. There is no border in football, and futsal.”

Yasuhiro Matsuzaki (Japan; AFC, FIFA) - Futsal Referee and Futsal Referee Instructor

“With more and more seminars and courses like this, I believe that it will generate more interest among people to take up futsal refereeing.”

Keith Dalton (England; UEFA) - ACL workshop and LGC seminar Instructor

“I’d like to thank the AFC for the fantastic and rare opportunity to meet all my friends in Asia.

“It may have been only a short time but it was great to see that we share the same interest and passion for football and football development, which is great to take back to UEFA.”


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com