02 Nov Guam garners two prestigious continental awards at AFC event
[November 1, 2023 – Harmon, Guam] Guam Football Association featured as one of the biggest winners at the AFC Annual Awards Doha 2022, garnering two prestigious continental awards at the gala event held Tuesday evening at the Qatar National Convention Centre’s Al Mayassa Theatre.
Guam Football Association was shortlisted in two categories – AFC Member Association of the Year (Ruby) and AFC President’s Recognition Award for Grassroots Football (Silver) – and won both categories.
“I am very proud and honored to accept not only one, but two prestigious awards from AFC on behalf of GFA,” said Valentino San Gil, GFA President, who attended the event and received the category trophies for GFA. “This success is all due to the hard work and collaborative efforts by the GFA Member Clubs, Executives, Committee members, partners and sponsors, players, coaches, officials, staff, and volunteers in continuing to raise the level of football in Guam, while providing opportunities for all in the community to enjoy the sport.
“I am very pleased that Guam Football Association has been internationally recognized and our achievements over the past year have not gone unnoticed. Moving forward, we still have so much more to achieve in all areas of our football development,” San Gil added.
San Gil was joined by GFA Vice President George Lai, GFA Executive Committee Member and Chairman of the GFA Grassroots and Social Responsibility Committee Duane Pahl, and GFA General Secretary Joe Cepeda in Doha.
Three other AFC Member Associations – Uzbekistan Football Association, Lebanese Football Association, and Hong Kong-China Football Association – also won Member Association of the Year awards in the Platinum, Diamond, and Gold categories, respectively. Each category is based on the Member Association’s FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, with Platinum – the highest level – featuring the top 12 AFC Member Associations. Diamond is reserved for countries ranked 13th to 24th in Asia and countries ranked 25th to 36th are in the Gold category. Ruby, the fourth category, includes Member Associations ranked 37th to 46th in Asia plus the Northern Mariana Islands.
AFC considered several areas in its final selection of awardees for the Member Association of the Year awards: National Team and club achievements in FIFA and AFC competitions, hosting of regional and international competitions and events, hosting of AFC competitions, and good governance. Additional areas for consideration were noteworthy initiatives in grassroots and social responsibility, special programs, and football-related seminars.
The AFC President’s Recognition Award for Grassroots Football is divided into three categories – Gold, Silver, and Bronze – based on the Member Association’s membership in the AFC Grassroots Charter. In Tuesday evening’s event, Guam prevailed in the Silver category, rising above the Philippines Football Federation and Football Association of Thailand.
A full listing of award winners and nominees are on the AFC Web site: https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/afc_annual_awards/nominees_list.html
Guam’s two awards received this year add to the AFC Member Association of the Year award earned by GFA in 2019 in the Aspiring Category, as well as a separate AFC Social Responsibility Member Association of the Year award also earned in 2019.
The two trophies from this year’s event will be showcased during the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League.
Winners of the three categories of the AFC President’s Recognition Award for Grassroots Football (holding trophies) pose for a group photo with FIFA Council and AFC Executive Committee members at the AFC Annual Awards Doha 2022 event Tuesday evening at the Qatar National Convention Centre’s Al Mayassa Theatre. Australia won the Gold category, Guam won the Silver category and India won the Bronze category. In the photo are, from left to right, FIFA Council and AFC Executive Committee member Mariano Araneta, Jr. of the Philippines, Football Australia CEO James Johnson, FIFA Council and AFC Executive Committee member Datuk Haji Hamidin Bin Haji Mohd Amin of Malaysia, Guam Football Association President Valentino San Gil, FIFA Council and AFC Executive Committee member Yasser H. Almisehal of Saudi Arabia, and All India Football Federation President Kalyan Chaubey. Photo courtesy of Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
Guam Football Association President Valentino San Gil, right, accepts the trophy for the AFC Member Association of the Year (Ruby) from AFC Vice President (South Zone) and AFC Executive Committee member Ugen Tsechup from Bhutan at the AFC Annual Awards Doha 2022 event Tuesday evening at the Qatar National Convention Centre’s Al Mayassa Theatre. Photo courtesy of Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
Winners in all categories of the AFC Annual Awards Doha 2022 pose for a group photo with AFC President H.E. Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain (center, in white) Tuesday evening at the Qatar National Convention Centre’s Al Mayassa Theatre. Guam Football Association Vice President George Lai, far right with two trophies, joined the group photo at the conclusion of the gala event. Photo courtesy of Asian Football Confederation (AFC)