AFC Academic Centre of Excellence - ACE

🎓 Meet our ACMP Guest Lecturer – Dr. Craig Duncan

Dr. Craig Duncan is a globally recognised Human Strategist and Performance Director who has consulted with numerous countries to design systems that deliver elite results. His expertise spans across borders and cultures, having advised national federations, professional clubs, and organisations in Australia, Japan, Iran, North America, Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia.

As a Performance Director, Dr. Duncan specialises in the design of high-performance environments. He goes beyond traditional metrics to address the complex human dynamics of leadership, supporting organisations in balancing high performance with sustainable well-being. His experience includes major international competitions such as the AFC Asian Cup, FIFA World Cup, and the Olympic Games, where he has played a key role in preparing teams for elite performance.

Beyond sport, Dr. Duncan applies his “Human Systems” approach to corporate and military sectors, working with leaders to bridge the gap between ambition and capability. He holds a PhD in Sport Science and a Master’s in Leadership, and is an author and academic focused on self-leadership and system design.

We’re delighted to have him share his expertise with our ACMP participants.

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This marks a strong wrap-up on an inspiring 4 days in Ashgabat 🇹🇲

We successfully delivered the first three modules of our 12-module journey in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, covering Social and Environmental Sustainability, Social Responsibility and Child Safeguarding, and Human Resources Management, enriched by a valuable guest lecture on Infrastructure and Pitch Maintenance.

A big thank you to all participants from Turkmenistan for engagement and contributions. We look forward to seeing you in June!

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Day 3 of the ACFAM Hybrid Programme in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 🇹🇲 focuses on Human Resources Management (HRM).

Participants are exploring HRM workflows, recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, and employee engagement — key elements in leading the people system in football.

Through interactive discussions and shared experiences, participants are strengthening their ability to build effective teams and drive success within their organisations.

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Day 2 of the AFC Certificate in Football Administration and Management (ACFAM) Hybrid Programme is in full swing here in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 🇹🇲

Our participants are continuing to explore key topics in social sustainability and child safeguarding.

Engaging discussions and meaningful knowledge exchange are helping shape the future of football leadership across the region.

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AFC expands ACFAM with hybrid format in Turkmenistan 🇹🇲

29 participants 👥
12 modules 📚
1 mission: developing the next generation of football leaders across Asia ⚽🌏

In Ashgabat, participants from the Football Federation of Turkmenistan, along with clubs and leagues, have begun their journey through the AFC Certificate in Football Administration and Management (ACFAM) Hybrid Programme.

Covering key areas such as Football Governance, Social and Environmental Sustainability 🌱, Financial Management 💰, Strategic Management 📊, Income Generation, Media and Communications 📣, Event Management 🎟️, Operational Management, Human Resource Management, Child Safeguarding and Social Responsibility, Sports Law ⚖️, and Principles of Leadership, the programme is designed to build strong foundations in modern football administration.

The ACFAM Hybrid Programme, concluding in August, blends online learning 💻 with interactive in-person sessions 🤝, creating a dynamic and collaborative learning experience.

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Kicking off AEWFP Edition 2 ⚽✨

A new group of passionate leaders and change-makers have begun their journey in the AFC Empowering Women in Football Programme (AEWFP).

This edition brings together 33 participants from 5 global regions on a shared learning journey to strengthen leadership capacity, exchange best practices, and drive meaningful impact across the women’s football ecosystem.

Over the coming months, participants will learn, connect, and grow through interactive modules focused on leadership, gender equity, and innovation in the game.

The future of football is inclusive and it starts here.

🔗 Read more: https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/member_associations.html/news/pioneering-afc-empowering-women-in-football-programme-to-commence-second-edition

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Ready to elevate your leadership in football? ⚽🚀

Applications are now open for the 4th Edition of the AFC Certificate in Football Leadership (ACFL).

This six-month online programme is designed to strengthen leadership capabilities across the Asian football community. Through a dynamic learning journey, participants will explore key leadership principles, the development of football organisations, and the growing importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) in the game.

Delivered through a blended learning approach, the programme combines the AFC’s virtual Learning Management System with live interactive sessions - creating an engaging and practical learning experience for decision-makers and professionals in football.

Why join the ACFL?
⚽ Strengthen leadership skills for football organisations
🌏 Connect with professionals across the Asian football community
📚 Explore leadership, organisational development, ESG & project management
💡 Learn through interactive sessions and collaborative learning
💻 Flexible online format designed for working professionals

Take the next step in shaping the future of football leadership.

🔗 Apply Now - https://www.afcacademy.com/afc-certificate-in-football-leadership

🎓 Meet our ACMP Lecturer – Darlene Harrison

Darlene Harrison brings over 25 years of experience in high-performance sport across New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, with expertise in coaching, leadership, strategy, talent development and workforce profiling.

She has held senior executive roles at the Australian Institute of Sport, where she led initiatives to strengthen the capability and capacity of the high-performance system workforce. This included designing and delivering customised leadership and learning programmes for CEOs, High Performance Directors, Sports Science and Sports Medicine practitioners, and elite coaches. Darlene also served as Head of Coaching at UK Sport and has worked across six Summer and six Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games cycles.

Currently an independent consultant, Darlene works with National Sporting Organisations, Member Associations, educational institutions and government agencies. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the International Council for Coaching Excellence and advisory groups including AusCycling and Australian Taekwondo.

We’re delighted to have her share her global experience and leadership insights with our ACMP participants.

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🎓 Meet our ACMP Lecturer - Mr. Yazeen Buhari

Yazeen Buhari brings close to two decades of experience in the sports industry, with a strong focus on governance, administration, organisational development, and strategic planning across both team and individual sports.
He previously served as General Secretary of the Football Association of Singapore for over seven years, where he led governance and organisational development at the national level. During this time, he also oversaw the Singapore Premier League through a major rebranding and a period of strengthened commercial growth, improving the league’s long-term sustainability.

Yazeen has worked extensively with organisations undergoing reform and transition, helping to strengthen governance frameworks, improve systems and processes, and build readiness for the future. In addition to consulting for FIFA and supporting Member Associations, he is also a former FIFA referee, bringing valuable on field insight to complement his leadership experience.

We’re excited to have him share his experience and approach with our ACMP participants.

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👨🏻‍🏫 We are pleased to welcome Professor Tony Collins as our ACMP guest lecturer.

In this session, Professor Collins will explore the origins of football, the development of clubs, cups, and leagues, and examine what history can teach us about the future of the game in the 21st century.

Professor Collins is an Emeritus Professor of History at De Montfort University and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Sports Humanities. He is the author of several influential books, including Sport in Capitalist Society (2013), The Oval World: A Global History of Rugby (2015), and How Football Began (2018).

He also served as a lead consultant for BBC Radio’s 30-part series Sport and the British and was a Visiting Professor at Beijing Sport University in 2018.

We look forward to an insightful and engaging session with one of the leading scholars in sports history.

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