FIFA WOMEN’S SEMINAR LAUNCHED IN HO CHI MINH CITY

The seminar is being attended by participants from 15 countries including hosts Vietnam.

The other countries represented here are Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Guam, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor Leste.

This is the first time this seminar is being held since Manila two years ago.

Present at the launch were Mr Jurg Nepfer, FIFA Head of Course Programmes, AFF Vice-President, Pengiran Matusin Matasan, Mr Doung Vu Lam, Vice-President of the Vietnam Football Federation and Mayrilian Cruz
Blanco, FIFA Women’s Football Development Manager.

And also David Borja, FIFA Development Manager Asia, Windsor John, FIFA Development Office KL, Monika Staab, FIFA Women’s Football Consultant and Dato Yap Nyim Keong, Women’s Football Consultant DOKL.

In his opening speech, Mr Lam said that it was with the assistance of FIFA that women’s football had experienced significant progress in the region.

“We need FIFA’s continued help and hopefully from this seminar a creative roadmap can be developed to help us advance further,” he said.

Pengiran Matusin that the AFF was grateful to FIFA and the FIFA Development Office for organising the seminar in Ho Chi Minh City.

Said Pengiran: “Two years ago this seminar was in Manila and we at AFF are fortunate that it is being held in this region again.”

Nepfer meanwhile said that women’s football had tremendous potential and this included the marketing possibilities for the game.

“Today there are four major women’s football competitions in the world. The World Cup, Under20, Under-17 and Olympics. Besides these tournaments, there are other important women’s events organised by the confederations.

“Through these competitions, Member Associations would be compelled to develop women’s football. Also, the Under-20 and Under-17 tournaments, would require MAs to work on youth football,” Nepfer explained.

In his brief address, Mr Le Duc Phung said that Ho Chi Minh was an important city for women’s football.

“In order to further speed up the game here, we need more professional assistance. I would like to thank FIFA for bringing this event here,” he said.

Also launched at the same ceremony today was the FIFA Women’s Football Coaching Course which will take place after the two-day seminar which ends tomorrow.

The coaching course will be held at the Thanh Long Sports Complex from Oct 22-26.

A total of 14 countries have sent their representatives to take part in the coaching course which will be conducted by FIFA Instructor Monika Staab and Dato Yap Nyim Keong, Women’s Football Consultant DOKL.