A high level FA delegation was in Kuala Lumpur this week as specially-invited guests of the AFC to formally present a Strategic Development Plan for Asian Football to Asian Football Confederation executives and its members.
The Plan, researched and produced by The FA's Football Division and supported by the International Relations team, drew on the skills and expertise of 15 staff from across all FA departments. The result was a series of recommendations for the development of Asian football from grass roots to elite player development, through to coach education.
"We were delighted to be given the opportunity to present an overview of our Strategic Plan in Kuala Lumpur with so many Associations present," said Assistant Technical Co-ordinator, Danielle Every, who made the presentation to Congress.
"The response from the AFC and the individual federations was particularly pleasing as they were, without exception, very positive and receptive to our recommendations."
Such was the interest in the plan that new AFC President, Mohammed Bin Hammam, thanking The FA for their ongoing support through the FA/AFC Technical Co-operation Agreement, announced in his first address to his confederation members that the AFC would be adopting some of the recommendations in 2003.
"The AFC Development Fund which focuses on 26 AFC member nations, will be suspended in 2003 to allow for an audit of the countries to take place and for a new Strategic Development Plan to be created for these 'Aid 26' countries."
This audit, a recommendation of The FA Plan, will be underpinned with the intention to identify development officers in the key areas including refereeing, coaching, administration, youth, marketing and women's football.
According to Every, "With the new development schemes the AFC will put in place in 2003 partly as a result of our findings, each association, and in particular the Aid 26 countries, will have a real practical opportunity to take football development to the next level, especially in relation to youth and grass roots football."
FA Chairman Geoff Thompson echoed this view, "The whole of The FA has been involved in creating this blueprint for Asian football development which will be incorporated into the AFC's plans to move football forward on the back of a first class World Cup."
The FA's co-operation with the AFC is built on a special relationship with Dato' Peter Velappan, its General Secretary, who was rewarded for 30 years service to the AFC at this week's Congress.
"It is good to see someone who has served football for that length of time still be so excited at the prospect of developing the grass roots throughout the whole confederation," continued Thompson.
"To quote Peter Velappan, the future is Asia, and The FA, particularly its International development Programme, look forward to playing an active role in this."
From Jane Bateman in Malaysia