The 1st AFC Grassroots Conference was held for three days from 1 March in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

A total of over 100, including administrators from 41 national federations, grassroots directors of FIFA and UEFA and grassroots experts who serve in Asia, attended at the conference that was held for the first time in Asia.

It had discussions sessions at the conference, and some of the experts spoke about their own long-time grassroots activities. Andy ROXBURGH, the AFC technical director, made speech about “grassroots activities at the AFC”, while others like Willi HINK, the grassroots director for the Germany federation, and Tom BYER also made lectures.

Roxburgh insisted that grassroots contain all football outside the pro and elite levels. “Any star players would be grassroots players and it's only the by-products that top-level players are produced out it. The genuine goal for grassroots is to provide opportunities to play for all the people, regardless of their age, gender, cultures and levels and to involve as many people as possible”, he said. “By founding a firm base for grassroots, it will be key elements for the federations to have success in any aspect of football. It has a very big value to create dynamic grassroots environments in terms of athletically as well as health studies-wise, socially and educationally.” 

On the same day, the grassroots award recognised by the AFC president at the annual 2015 AFC Awards prior to the conference. The Brunei football association earned the aspiring award, while the Vietnam football association received the developing award. The JFA was given the inspiring award and kids director NAKAYAMA Masao, who's a panel member of the conference, was handed the memorial shield on behalf of the JFA.

Conference programme