Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a clinic for female footballers delivered by the CommBank Young Matildas players and coaching staff in Hanoi on June 4, 2023.
Led by Head Coach Leah Blayney and captain Jessika Nash, the CommBank Young Matildas put on a session for young female players from Hanoi University, Hanoi FC and the United Nations International School with the support of UNICEF staff. The clinic was conducted the day after the U20 Women’s National Team recorded a 5-0 win over Lebanon in their opening Group A match of the 2024 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Round 2 Qualifiers currently being held in Vietnam.
Prime Minister Albanese, whose visit to Vietnam occurred during the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam, took time to speak to the media at the conclusion of the clinic. He spoke about the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, and the links between team sports and international relations.
The event was also attended by the Vietnam Football Federation, including the Head Coach of the Vietnam Women’s National Football Team, Mr. Mai Duc Chung, and the Vietnam Women’s National Football Team, and acted as a send-off for the team ahead of their European camp before they travel to New Zealand for their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 group stage matches.
Football Australia Head of Delegation and General Manager National Teams James Duvcevski, along with General Manager Strategic Projects & International Partnerships Kieran Lilley also joined the Head Coach of the Vietnam Women’s National Football Team Mai Duc Chung and several Vietnamese Women’s National Football Team players as football’s representatives at a dinner at Vietnam’s Government Headquarters, hosted by Prime Minister Phanh Minh Chinh, in honour of Prime Minister Albanese’s visit.
The Prime Minister was inspired by the opportunities sports diplomacy presents in international sports such as football:
“Wherever you are in the world, sport brings people together. By playing on the same field, abiding by the same rules, and competing in a spirit of mutual respect. What team sport does and shows is the way we want international relations to work as well. Working behind that common interest, with common rules and mutual respect”.
James Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Football Australia, reinforced the role Australian football can play in sports diplomacy globally.
"Sports, especially global ones like football, possess an extraordinary power. They transcend borders, cultures, and languages. A single match can bridge gaps, create understanding, forge common bonds and establish long-lasting and genuine people-to-people connections. It is the essence of sports diplomacy, and football is unique amongst the Australian sporting landscape as the most global amongst all other Australian codes."
For Football Australia, this activity continues work conducted over the past three weeks in seven AFC Member Associations, in partnership with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, promoting opportunities for women and girls to play football and delivering activity under the International Pillar of Football Australia’s Legacy ’23 plan.
