The AFC ‘C’ Certificate Coaching Course kicked off the 2010 AFC U-13 Girls Festial of Football in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday, according to the AFC's official website.

Teams and officials from Japan, Korea Republic, Myanmar, Philippines, Guam, Chinese Taipei and Vietnam are participating in this Festival.

Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Deputy General Secretary Nguyen Huu Bang outlined VFF’s efforts to focus on grassroots and youth development and also promised to make the Festival a success.

"It is a great honour for VFF to host this Festival for the third time. I would like to thank AFC for their trust in us.

"VFF is now paying more and more attention to grassroots and youth development activities in the country. We promise to give you the best facilities for the Festival," he said.

AFC Women's Department Development Officer Tran Thi Lan Huong stressed the importance of the Festival’s spirit.

"The AFC U-13 Girls Festival of Football is a pure educational programme. I would like the participants to enjoy the courses and matches ahead. I hope all the participating coaches and referees will gain a chance to further their education in the Project Future programme,” she said.

FIFA Technical Consultant Monika Staab, who is assigned by FIFA to study women's football development in Vietnam, said: "I can see that women's football is developing rapidly in Asia. This shows that more and more MAs are paying attention to women's football, especially on grassroots and youth development.

“I hope all of you will get to know the latest coaching methods from the courses.

"The AFC has initiated a great idea in this Festival as it will also serve as invaluable exposure for youngsters all over Asia."

VFF Deputy Director of Women's football Department Nguyen Trong Thao and AFC Coaching Instructor Robert Lim were also present on the occasion.

The Ho Chi Minh City's Festival is the last of two Festivals for U-13 girls this year. After the Colombo event, held from March 4 to 17 for the West and Central Asia zone, the East Asia and ASEAN's festival is held here from Sunday to July 3. The Festivals last year were for U-14 girls.

The Festivals are an important part of AFC’s overall development programme. It provides early teens with the chance to compete against their peers at the national level in a friendly atmosphere.

The Festivals are also where the AFC identifies talented coaches and referees for the Project Future programme, where they are given further education.