In a glittering evening of recognition and celebration, the Central Asian Football Association was once again honored as the AFC Regional Association of the Year at the prestigious AFC Annual Awards Seoul 2023. Held at the magnificent Grand Peace Palace within Kyung Hee University, the 28th edition of this iconic event celebrated the relentless efforts of AFC’s Member and Regional Associations in advancing football across Asia.
This marks the second consecutive year that CAFA has claimed this award, a remarkable achievement for the youngest AFC Regional Association. Established to represent and elevate football in Central Asia, CAFA’s success is rooted in the unwavering unity and dedication of its six Member Associations, who work together to promote the game across all levels.
CAFA President Rustam Emomali expressed his gratitude and pride, saying: “It feels great to win the award two years in a row; it is an excellent recognition of our efforts. The reason behind CAFA’s success is the unity among all the MAs in furthering football in our region. Next year marks ten years since CAFA’s establishment, and we have big plans. I am excited about all that is in store in the future. It’s going to be a good year.”
Since the AFC Awards were introduced in 1994, this event has symbolized dedication to the growth and standards of football. As the recipient of the AFC Enhance Programme, CAFA has continually demonstrated a commitment to upholding the highest standards of governance and ethical practice. Its clean external audit from the AFC independent auditors further underscores CAFA’s dedication to best practices in financial management.
The primary strength of CAFA lies in its unified approach and focus on growing its regional competitions systematically across all age groups. This development strategy not only strengthens the region’s footballing foundation but also enhances CAFA’s leadership role in the AFC’s RA Governance Grading system, marking it as a model of good governance and integrity.
AFC Annual Awards Seoul 2023 Roll of Honour Highlights:
- AFC Diamond of Asia: Gianni Infantino
- AFC Asian Cup Host Appreciation Award: Qatar Football Association
- AFC President’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Contribution: Saudi Arabian Football Federation
- AFC Member Association of the Year:
- Platinum: Japan Football Association
- Diamond: The Football Association of Thailand
- Gold: All Nepal Football Association
- Ruby: Lao Football Federation
- AFC Regional Association of the Year: Central Asian Football Association
- AFC Coach of the Year (Women): Park Youn-jeong (Korea Republic)
- AFC Coach of the Year (Men): Go Oiwa (Japan U23)
- AFC Futsal Player of the Year: Saeid Ahmad Abbasi (Iran)
- AFC Women’s Player of the Year: Kiko Seike (Japan)
- AFC Player of the Year: Akram Afif (Qatar)
CAFA’s achievements stand as a proud example of the strength that unity brings to Central Asian football. This award is not only a recognition of past accomplishments but also a promise of more remarkable milestones as CAFA looks forward to its ten-year anniversary and an even brighter future for football in Central Asia.
