For a decade now, the annual celebration has remained a symbol of the Confederation’s unwavering support and dedication towards the enhancement and nurturing of grassroots football across our diverse Continent.
As underlined in our Vision and Mission, the AFC is resolute in its ambitions to ensure football remains the number one sport in Asia, and to enable the success of our national teams and clubs on the highest of stages. But to ensure this growth in a sustainable manner, we must never take our eyes off our very foundation – the grassroots.
But, as we all know, there is a larger purpose to developing football at the grassroots level than just creating a pipeline of future stars. It is just as much about encouraging maximum participation, instilling a love for the sport, and harnessing the power of football to create well-rounded individuals.
After all, while only a fraction of these youngsters will go on to pursue the sport professionally, the seeds of passion, discipline, and inclusivity that are sown at this stage, will shape the rest into responsible citizens and leaders of tomorrow.
And to that end, I must applaud the incredible amount of work that the various Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs) have undertaken to ensure that football remains accessible to all members of society, irrespective of their age, status, gender, and abilities.
Last year, with the shadow of the pandemic finally behind us, we witnessed several highly anticipated events staging much-awaited comebacks, including the AFC Grassroots Conference and the AFC Special Grassroots Awards, which returned after a hiatus of five years.
Meanwhile, as many as 39 MAs joined the AFC in celebrating the tenth edition of the AFC Grassroots Football Day through a myriad of fun-filled activities, putting smiles on the faces of thousands of children across the length and breadth of the Continent.
Moreover, it is gratifying to see as many as 40 MAs benefiting from the landmark AFC Grassroots Charter, signalling a reassuring sense of solidarity across Asia in recognising the importance of grassroots football development.
Furthermore, the AFC’s Technical Division has also remained determined to assist in facilitating a steady exchange of information, ideas, and possibilities to collaborate on projects that will ensure the enhancement of the sport in not just their respective regions, but across Asia, through multiple workshops and seminars.
I want to once again thank every individual, who more often than not is away from the spotlight for their tireless contributions, as we join hands to observe the 11th AFC Grassroots Football Day.
I wish you a happy and successful AFC Grassroots Football Day 2024.
Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa
AFC President