AFC Awards 2024: A Night of Triumph for VFF!
Well, folks, it seems the football gods were smiling down on the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) at the 10th Annual AFC Awards Ceremony held in chic Seoul, South Korea, on March 29, 2023. And who could blame them? VFF managed to snag a bronze medal in the highly coveted AFC Chairman’s Awards for Community Youth Soccer category. Who knew bronze could look so good next to all that gold and silver?
President Tran Quoc Tuan graciously accepted the AFC President’s Award for Community Youth Football. Photo: AFC
With a total of 2024 awards dished out to commend outstanding individuals and organizations in Asian football from 2023 to 2023 (talk about a time warp!), the VFF representatives strutted their stuff like peacocks at the awards ceremony. Chairman Tran Quoc Tuan and Secretary General Duong Nghiep Khoi were there to collect all the accolades. You almost expected a red carpet to roll out just for them!
It’s not just about collecting shiny trophies; the VFF has been super busy getting its hands dirty (or grass-stained) with amazing community football development projects. They’ve partnered with FIFA to deploy football joy to 1,000 schools across — wait for it — 63 provinces nationwide! That’s right, ladies and gents, you heard correctly. Soccer isn’t just a sport; it’s a full-blown community movement! And let’s talk numbers: approximately 3,000 individuals have been involved in the annual Vietnam-Norway Cup. Join us as we do some quick math… that’s a lot of happy feet!
But the accolades didn’t stop there! We’ve got a high-flying award-train here: before this win, Vietnam Football was already wrapping up the AFC Special Award in categories like Children’s Athletic Soccer and Youth Soccer. And jump ahead! The Community Football Project, dubbed FFAV, pocketed the Asia’s Best Movement Project award. That’s a lot of bling for the budget!
“What about the leaders?” I hear you ask. Relax! Mr. Nguyen Hoang Phuong, a key member of the VFF Movement Football Committee, bagged the Export Movement Football Asia Best Leader Award. Who says you can’t have it all? Right, ladies?
Now, let’s not leave out the prestigious nods from the AFC to our football pals. Qatar Football received a round of applause for their efforts leading into the 2023 Asian Cup, while Go Oiwa of Japan snagged Coach of the Year for his splendid work. And then, of course, there’s Son Heung-min — that charismatic forward swept up the title of Asia’s best international male player in 2024. If only there were an award for the best hairdo, right?
Last but certainly not least, let’s give a shoutout to the best female athletes of Asia: Kiko Seike from Japan and Akram Afif from Qatar. I bet they gave quite the performance out there, and let’s face it, kept the audience guessing in the style stakes too!
Lucuan
At the 10th Annual Awards Ceremony of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC Annual Awards 2024), which took place in the vibrant city of Seoul, South Korea, on the evening of March 29, 2023, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) proudly achieved a bronze ranking in the prestigious AFC Chairman’s Awards for the Community Youth Soccer category, showcasing their commitment to fostering grassroots football.
President Tran Quoc Tuan received the AFC President’s Award for Community Youth Football on behalf of the VFF. Photo: AFC
The AFC Annual Awards ceremony highlighted a broad spectrum of achievements, with 2024 awards honoring individuals and organizations for their exceptional contributions to Asian football. VFF representatives in attendance included the esteemed Chairman Tran Quoc Tuan and the diligent Secretary General Duong Nghiep Khoi, both dedicated advocates for the growth of football in Vietnam.
VFF has been at the forefront of community football development initiatives, particularly through collaboration on FIFA’s school football project, which has been implemented in 63 schools across 1,000 provinces and cities nationwide. The collaboration with the Norwegian Football Federation continues to thrive through the FFAV Community Football Project, expanding its impact to over 15 provinces and cities. This initiative has directly engaged approximately 3,000 participants over five years, including 4,000 primary and secondary school students, with an impressive 50% female participation rate.
Prior to this latest recognition, Vietnamese football had previously garnered accolades such as the AFC Special Award in the Children’s Athletic Soccer Category as well as the Youth Soccer Category. The Community Football Project in Vietnam (FFAV) was also honored with Asia’s Best Movement Project award. Furthermore, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Phuong, a prominent member of the VFF Movement Football Committee and project director for “Community Football of Vietnam FFAV,” was awarded the Export Movement Football Asia Best Leader Award. At the AFC Special Awards for Youth Football, the PVF Youth Soccer Training Center earned the prestigious title of Youth Academy of the Year.
Recognizing VFF’s significant efforts to foster change in Vietnamese football from the grassroots level, the organization was honored with the AFC Chairman’s Citation in the Community Youth Soccer category. This recognition serves as a motivating force for VFF to continue enhancing their strategies for the sustainable growth of Vietnamese football in the modern era, positively contributing to the broader development of football on both continental and global stages.
Also at the ceremony, AFC acknowledged several notable achievements from other national federations. The Qatar Football Federation expressed gratitude towards Saudi Arabia, the host nation of the 2023 Asian Cup, which received commendation from the AFC President for its unwavering efforts in promoting the development of Asian football.
In the individual awards category, Coach Go Oiwa, the head coach of the U2024 Japan National Team, bagged the coveted Coach of the Year award after leading his team to triumph in the 2023 Asian U23 Championship. The title of Asia’s best international male player in 2024 went to Son Heung-min, while Australia’s Carpenter was recognized as the best international women’s player. Noteworthy female athletes honored included Kiko Seike from Japan and Akram Afif from Qatar, both distinguished figures in their respective sports.
Lucuan
**Interview with Tran Quoc Tuan, President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF)**
**Editor:** Good evening, Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan. Congratulations on the recognition at the 10th Annual AFC Awards Ceremony! How does it feel to receive the bronze medal in the AFC Chairman’s Awards for Community Youth Soccer?
**Tran Quoc Tuan:** Thank you! It’s an incredible honor for the VFF. Receiving this award reflects the hard work and dedication of our team and our community initiatives. It shows that our commitment to developing youth soccer in Vietnam is being recognized on such a prestigious platform.
**Editor:** The VFF has been involved in various community development projects. Can you share more about your partnership with FIFA and how it has impacted grassroots football in Vietnam?
**Tran Quoc Tuan:** Absolutely! Our partnership with FIFA has allowed us to implement football programs in 1,000 schools across 63 provinces. We’ve seen significant participation, especially among young girls. This initiative isn’t just about playing soccer; it’s about building teamwork, discipline, and community spirit.
**Editor:** That sounds fantastic! You’ve also received multiple accolades, including the AFC Special Award in several categories. How do these achievements shape the future of football in Vietnam?
**Tran Quoc Tuan:** These awards motivate us to strive for excellence. They highlight our success and help us gain visibility, attracting more support for our initiatives. Our goal is to continue expanding our programs and reach even more young players across the country.
**Editor:** Mr. Nguyen Hoang Phuong was recognized as Asia’s Best Leader in Export Movement Football. How important is leadership in driving these initiatives?
**Tran Quoc Tuan:** Leadership is crucial. Leaders set the vision and inspire teams to reach those goals. Mr. Phuong’s recognition is a testament to his hard work and strategic vision. Strong leaders will continue to be essential as we work towards elevating Vietnamese football on the international stage.
**Editor:** looking ahead, what are the VFF’s main objectives for the next year?
**Tran Quoc Tuan:** We aim to deepen our community outreach, enhance training programs for coaches, and increase youth engagement in football. We also want to explore more international collaborations to further boost our football development initiatives. Our aim is to build a sustainable football culture in Vietnam.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Mr. Tuan. We look forward to seeing how VFF continues to triumph in the world of football!
**Tran Quoc Tuan:** Thank you for having me! It’s an exciting time for Vietnamese football.
