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Jeonbuk State, in collaboration with the Jeonbuk State Office of Education and Jeonbuk Physicl Education Middle & High School, is continuing international exchange and friendship through sports by delivering sports equipment donated by students to youth in three African nations. On the 5th, the State and the Office of Education held a send-off ceremony at Jeonbuk Sports Middle & High School for the project titled “Re; Play Together, Jeonbuk Sports Friendship Gifts,” shipping the items to Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Namibia. The theme, ‘Re; Play Together,’ signifies resuming games (Re; Play) that had been halted due to a shortage of soccer balls and sports gear, this time together with Jeonbuk.

This initiative goes beyond mere material support; it aims to practice solidarity and friendship across borders through sports and to expand the foundation for exchange among future generations. In particular, sharing equipment that students actually used spreads the value of sharing while extending Jeonbuk’s international sports diplomacy into schools and the local community. The project originated from visits last year by officials from Zimbabwe and Namibia, with whom Jeonbuk has maintained international sports exchanges. During their visit to Jeonbuk Sports Middle & High School, they requested support for sports equipment. Students readily agreed to contribute, leading to a broader international exchange program supported by the State, the Office of Education, and the school. The donated items total 616 pieces across 12 sports, including soccer, taekwondo, shooting, archery, swimming, etc. —comprising both gear previously used by students and new items collected for this project. The equipment will be delivered to the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and National Olympic Committees of each country via Zimbabwean diplomatic missions and international shipping. It will then be distributed to young athletes and youth active in organizations such as the Kirsty Coventry Academy in Zimbabwe, the Waitaka Taekwondo Club in Kenya, and the MTC Hopsol Youth Soccer League in Namibia.

Kim Jong-phil, Director General of Jeonbuk State’s 2036 Summer Olympics Bid Department, stated: “I hope the precious sports items that nurtured the dreams of our Jeonbuk students will serve as a new source of hope for African youth. Moving forward, we will continue to promote international exchange through sports, guided by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) core values of inclusion and solidarity.” Im Young-gun, Director of Arts, Physical Ed & Health Division at the Jeonbuk State Office of Education, said, “It was a meaningful opportunity for our students to put into practice the spirit of sportsmanship through sharing and caring while developing a global perspective. We hope that the students’ small but heartfelt gesture will be warmly received by young people in Africa.”

Meanwhile, Jeonbuk State has been steadily expanding its international sports network by dispatching a Taekwondo demonstration team to the World Taekwondo U-21 Championship in Kenya, participating in the World Union of Olympic Cities General Assembly, and broadening sports exchanges with African nations. Starting with the “Sports Friendship Gift” pilot project, Jeonbuk State plans to consider expanding the countries and sports covered by the initiative, while also promoting the hosting of international sporting events and exchange programs inviting young athletes from overseas, with the goal of developing Jeonbuk into a specialized international sports city.

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Shaikh Salman hails Central Coast Mariners in fitting AFC Cup™ finale

AIPS ASIA News:

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has congratulated Central Coast Mariners on securing their first-ever AFC Cup™ title after the Australian side defeated Lebanon’s Al Ahed 1-0 in a thrilling Final at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Stadium in Muscat, Oman on Sunday.

As the Mariners hoisted the AFC Cup™ trophy for the last time, Sunday’s victory marked the end of an era for Asian club football with the 20-year-old competition setting the path for the new and improved revamped three-tier club competition structure later this year.

“Central Coast Mariners’ triumph is a testament to the team’s hard work, resilience, and unwavering spirit throughout this edition of the AFC Cup™,” said Shaikh Salman. “The match showcased the true passion of Asian club football with skill, determination and sportsmanship captivating audiences across the Continent.

“I convey my heartiest congratulations to the players, the technical and backroom staff members, Football Australia and of course the fans on their remarkable achievement in joining the roll of AFC Cup™ honours.

“We must also praise Al Ahed FC for their competitive spirit throughout the campaign and their inspiring performance in what will be remembered as an outstanding final chapter to one of the success stories of Asian club football.”

The AFC President also paid tribute to the role of the AFC Cup™ in providing an unrivalled competitive Continental platform and exposure for Member Associations and Participating Clubs to raise their standards over the years.

“Since its inception two decades ago, the AFC Cup™ has embodied the spirit of competition, unity and aspiration of the AFC’s Member Associations and their clubs.

“The AFC Cup™ has played a vital role in strengthening the landscape of Asian club football and while we now bid farewell, we acknowledge the solid foundations laid by the competition and all the clubs whose standards have been uplifted throughout the 19 editions, paving the way for a more vibrant club competition structure later this year,” added Shaikh Salman.

“The new club competitions will see more prize money, incentives and global exposure on offer, elevating the level of Asian football and enhancing its overall commercial appeal, and represent a transformative step in line with the AFC’s Vision and Mission. Indeed, Asian club football is well poised to be under greater spotlight in the years to come.”

Syria’s Al Jaish lifted the trophy in the inaugural 2004 edition, whilst Kuwaiti clubs have been the most successful with four titles. Teams from Iraq and Jordan have won the trophy on three occasions, while Bahraini, and Syrian clubs have sealed the coveted crown twice.

The Mariners, Uzbek club FC Nasaf (2011) and Malaysian outfit Johor Darul Ta’zim (2015) are the only three teams from outside West Asia to have clinched the title.

Courtesy AFC

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Shaikh Salman hails Central Coast Mariners in fitting AFC Cup™ finale

AIPS ASIA News:

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has congratulated Central Coast Mariners on securing their first-ever AFC Cup™ title after the Australian side defeated Lebanon’s Al Ahed 1-0 in a thrilling Final at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Stadium in Muscat, Oman on Sunday.

As the Mariners hoisted the AFC Cup™ trophy for the last time, Sunday’s victory marked the end of an era for Asian club football with the 20-year-old competition setting the path for the new and improved revamped three-tier club competition structure later this year.

“Central Coast Mariners’ triumph is a testament to the team’s hard work, resilience, and unwavering spirit throughout this edition of the AFC Cup™,” said Shaikh Salman. “The match showcased the true passion of Asian club football with skill, determination and sportsmanship captivating audiences across the Continent.

“I convey my heartiest congratulations to the players, the technical and backroom staff members, Football Australia and of course the fans on their remarkable achievement in joining the roll of AFC Cup™ honours.

“We must also praise Al Ahed FC for their competitive spirit throughout the campaign and their inspiring performance in what will be remembered as an outstanding final chapter to one of the success stories of Asian club football.”

The AFC President also paid tribute to the role of the AFC Cup™ in providing an unrivalled competitive Continental platform and exposure for Member Associations and Participating Clubs to raise their standards over the years.

“Since its inception two decades ago, the AFC Cup™ has embodied the spirit of competition, unity and aspiration of the AFC’s Member Associations and their clubs.

“The AFC Cup™ has played a vital role in strengthening the landscape of Asian club football and while we now bid farewell, we acknowledge the solid foundations laid by the competition and all the clubs whose standards have been uplifted throughout the 19 editions, paving the way for a more vibrant club competition structure later this year,” added Shaikh Salman.

“The new club competitions will see more prize money, incentives and global exposure on offer, elevating the level of Asian football and enhancing its overall commercial appeal, and represent a transformative step in line with the AFC’s Vision and Mission. Indeed, Asian club football is well poised to be under greater spotlight in the years to come.”

Syria’s Al Jaish lifted the trophy in the inaugural 2004 edition, whilst Kuwaiti clubs have been the most successful with four titles. Teams from Iraq and Jordan have won the trophy on three occasions, while Bahraini, and Syrian clubs have sealed the coveted crown twice.

The Mariners, Uzbek club FC Nasaf (2011) and Malaysian outfit Johor Darul Ta’zim (2015) are the only three teams from outside West Asia to have clinched the title.

Courtesy AFC

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Jeonbuk State, in collaboration with the Jeonbuk State Office of Education and Jeonbuk Physicl Education Middle & High School, is continuing international exchange and friendship through sports by delivering sports equipment donated by students to youth in three African nations. On the 5th, the State and the Office of Education held a send-off ceremony at Jeonbuk Sports Middle & High School for the project titled “Re; Play Together, Jeonbuk Sports Friendship Gifts,” shipping the items to Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Namibia. The theme, ‘Re; Play Together,’ signifies resuming games (Re; Play) that had been halted due to a shortage of soccer balls and sports gear, this time together with Jeonbuk.

This initiative goes beyond mere material support; it aims to practice solidarity and friendship across borders through sports and to expand the foundation for exchange among future generations. In particular, sharing equipment that students actually used spreads the value of sharing while extending Jeonbuk’s international sports diplomacy into schools and the local community. The project originated from visits last year by officials from Zimbabwe and Namibia, with whom Jeonbuk has maintained international sports exchanges. During their visit to Jeonbuk Sports Middle & High School, they requested support for sports equipment. Students readily agreed to contribute, leading to a broader international exchange program supported by the State, the Office of Education, and the school. The donated items total 616 pieces across 12 sports, including soccer, taekwondo, shooting, archery, swimming, etc. —comprising both gear previously used by students and new items collected for this project. The equipment will be delivered to the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and National Olympic Committees of each country via Zimbabwean diplomatic missions and international shipping. It will then be distributed to young athletes and youth active in organizations such as the Kirsty Coventry Academy in Zimbabwe, the Waitaka Taekwondo Club in Kenya, and the MTC Hopsol Youth Soccer League in Namibia.

Kim Jong-phil, Director General of Jeonbuk State’s 2036 Summer Olympics Bid Department, stated: “I hope the precious sports items that nurtured the dreams of our Jeonbuk students will serve as a new source of hope for African youth. Moving forward, we will continue to promote international exchange through sports, guided by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) core values of inclusion and solidarity.” Im Young-gun, Director of Arts, Physical Ed & Health Division at the Jeonbuk State Office of Education, said, “It was a meaningful opportunity for our students to put into practice the spirit of sportsmanship through sharing and caring while developing a global perspective. We hope that the students’ small but heartfelt gesture will be warmly received by young people in Africa.”

Meanwhile, Jeonbuk State has been steadily expanding its international sports network by dispatching a Taekwondo demonstration team to the World Taekwondo U-21 Championship in Kenya, participating in the World Union of Olympic Cities General Assembly, and broadening sports exchanges with African nations. Starting with the “Sports Friendship Gift” pilot project, Jeonbuk State plans to consider expanding the countries and sports covered by the initiative, while also promoting the hosting of international sporting events and exchange programs inviting young athletes from overseas, with the goal of developing Jeonbuk into a specialized international sports city.

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