Michael Moriarty, The FA’s adviser seconded for the last 7 months to the Afghan Football Federation to take on the mantle of Head of Administration and Finance, held discussions in mid-March with a visiting delegation from FIFA, including Urs Zanitti, Head of FIFA’s Goal Project.

Construction of a new pitch and headquarters for the Federation will begin later in the year which, on completion, will alleviate the problem of the Federation always having to rely on the National Olympic Committee’s permission to use the national Ghazi Stadium for all football events.

The FA’s Head of Refereeing, John Baker and English coach, Terry Casey also travelled to Kabul in March to deliver two 5-day courses for some 50 coaches, ex-players and referees from around the country, funded by FIFA’s Financial Assistance Programme,

"The participants are very anxious to re-establish themselves as referees on the national and international stage. There is plenty of enthusiasm and a great desire to learn and the positive response and participation in the practical activities had to be seen to be believed," commented John Baker.

Other activity planned includes an Afghan youth team’s participation in the 25th Dallas Cup in April, as well as other courses to be held later in the year. DFB Technical Adviser, Holger Obermann assisted in the delivery of various coaching initiatives, whilst Michael Moriarty has written a Football Development Strategy for the Federation.

The FA also donated a container load of kit, footballs and equipment to the Afghan FF, which will be officially donated by HM Ambassador Rosalind Marsden to the AFF President Abdul Alim Kohistani in the coming weeks.

Michael Moriarty will also begin training of administrative staff to run the Federation in accordance with the FIFA Statues.