November 12 – Taking place on the sidelines of the 3rd AFC Women’s Football Conference, the 2024 edition of the awards saw Japan’s Nozomi Hiroyama and Miyo Okamoto recognised as the Youth Coach of the Year (Male) and (Female) respectively while the Prince Takamado U-15 Regional League won the Youth League of the Year title.
Japan almost completed a clean sweep of awards, but were pipped in the academies section by Vietnam’s PVF Academy and China’s Suzhou Football Center.
Vietnam, who earlier in the day picked up the awards for the Best Grassroots Leader and Best Grassroots Project, added one more feather to their cap when the Hanoi-based PVF Academy was bestowed with the accolade of Youth Academy of the Year (Boys). Meanwhile, China PR’s Suzhou Football Center was awarded the Youth Academy of the Year (Girls).
Men’s youth coach of the year Hiroyama said: “The award is a huge honour and I want to thank everyone who has helped me in my career. No matter how long I continue serving as a coach, I will always be most proud of the players I am currently coaching. Watching them grow every day is my biggest achievement.”
Women’s youth coach of the year Miyo Okamoto added: “I am receiving this award on behalf of all coaches who have contributed towards furthering the women’s game. At the JFA, we are dedicated towards establishing a trinity for the development of women’s football. This includes the strengthening of various national teams, enhancing youth development and improving coaching courses”.
“I hope that I can continue to highlight the many ways football benefits us – from keeping us physically fit to expanding our minds and enriching our societies,” finished Okamoto.
“It is a matter of great pride that, following the renewal of our three-star membership—which already affirms us as one of the best academies in Asia—the AFC has further validated our efforts with this recognition,” said My Dung Nguyen, Deputy Director General at PVF Football Academy.
“We will keep enhancing our talent identification system, scouting the most promising players, and nurturing them to become professional players capable of competing both in Vietnam and abroad. Additionally, we will focus on strengthening our technical staff and fostering the development of more qualified coaches.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1732179017labto1732179017ofdlr1732179017owedi1732179017sni@g1732179017niwe.1732179017yrrah1732179017
