Lau was filled with pride when she received news on her appointment as one of four female match commissioners for the Asian Qualifiers – the first-time females were appointed to take charge of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Joint Qualifiers.

“I’ve been in charge of other men’s competitions like the AFC Champions League and I was also involved in the FIFA World Cup in Russia as a security officer, so the experience has equipped me to take up this challenge,” she said.

“Expectations are higher when you are the match commissioner for the Asian Qualifiers, but the teams are very co-operative and supportive. But everything went smoothly, and I really cherish the experience.”

Kashuba enjoyed a notable playing career for Kyrgyz Republic and after hanging up her boots, she is now striving to make a difference in the sport as the women’s football manager in her country.

Respected by her peers and looked up to by young female footballers, Kashuba rose through the ranks by representing her national team in the U-16 and U-19 women’s competitions before playing at the club level in Kyrgyz Republic.

She looks back fondly at how she started playing football and the memories serve as a reminder of how important her current position is.

Turambekar emerged from humble beginnings in a small village in Kolhapur, India but her rapid rise in the sport has truly been commendable. Determined to chase her dreams, the diminutive Turambekar reflects on the challenges she faced as a child and how it has inspired her to promote the sport at the grassroots level.

“My parents are farmers and I had no sports background. I used to help my parents on the farm but at the same time, I developed an interest in sports. In high school, I noticed that girls were playing football and that’s when I started to enjoy playing the sport.

“I come from a conventional family and it was very stressful to work on a farm and do house chores while focusing on my studies. So, football helped me forget everything,” said the physical education graduate.

The video, the latest from the series to be shared via AFC's social media channels, highlights the work of Ms. Pelden, who serves as an example of the important role played by women in football throughout the Continent.

In the video, filmed at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Pelden said: "To break the stereotype, one must stand out. I am not a footballer but I am part of football because I work in it.

"I am the only girl working alongside six men but I am still doing it because I love my job. It actually makes me feel empowered."

Pelden's appearance is the latest installment in a series of features which has been viewed in excess of a quarter of a million times, and featured a diverse range of women trailblazers ranging from Asia's elite female players to technical and administrative staff, all of whom have defied the odds to reach the top of their profession.

These inspiring women play key roles, not only in their current positions, but in encouraging girls across Asia to see football as a viable career option.

In addition to Ms. Pelden's achievements, the involvement of women in Bhutanese football is also growing on the pitch, with the women's national team having participated in the past four editions of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women's Championship.

In the newly released video, the latest in a campaign which shines the spotlight on inspiring women working in Asian football, Taheri reveals the sacrifices she made in order to reach the top of her field.

The former international midfielder said: "When I was a player, I was struggling, because I wanted to have a national team and I wanted to play games. I couldn't have that opportunity when I was playing. That was only a dream. To achieve my dream, I had to move."

Since its launch on March 8, the AFC's “It's My Game series” has been viewed over a quarter of a million times, and featured women trendsetters ranging from world class international players to technical staff and administrators, all of whom have overcome obstacles to pursue careers in football.

 

Showcasing the various career paths available for women in football, Sapna Rani talks passionately about her devotion and hard work to enter and stay in the game:

“I started as a volunteer and then became the first female referee in Delhi," said Rani. "With a lot of training I got slip disk, but I didn’t want to leave football. It was a dream for me to work for the AIFF and now I am the Women’s Football Manager.”

The “It’s My Game” campaign celebrates women’s contribution to Asian football and emphasises their varied roles within the game, illustrating football as a career choice for women and girls.

The day sees AFC’s Member Associations unite again in support of women’s football and the AFC Women’s Football Day, coinciding also with International Women’s Day. A record number of participants, 23,000, are involved this year, with the total number of girls and women taking part in the activities doubling from last year’s 12,700.