40 club administrators from across the globe are taking part in the second edition of the Diploma in Club Management in New York, which aims to provide club executives and former international players from all around the world with the latest practical know-how and insights from the industry, covering key areas related to successful club management.

The initiative in line with FIFA’s objective of sharing knowledge and creating a more balanced football ecosystem is headlined by football greats Carli Lloyd, Tim Cahill, Fernandinho, John Terry and Juan Mata.
Participants who are from all confederations have joined the 12-month program, which is taught by world-class experts and includes on-site and online modules on leadership and management, sporting strategy and youth academies, marketing and communication, club operations and stadium management, governance and legal matters, and finance.

Five executives from African clubs, including Ameenu Shardow of Dreams FC (Ghana), Salim Abdallah of Simba SC (Tanzania), Charles Chakatazya of Kabwe Warriors (Zambia), Fatou Binetou BA of Academie Generation Foot (Senegal) and Steven Mulindwa of Vipers SC (Uganda) are participating in the training.
“‘I count myself as extremely privileged to be taking this program. Football has evolved exponentially worldwide but it’s clear Africa is not reaping enough dividends from this explosion despite being a key contributor of the game,” Dreams FC Chief Executive Officer Ameenu Shardow highlighted.

“This in my opinion, is because we’ve not trained ourselves well enough to be part of the growth. There is clearly a knowledge gap, and we must double up our efforts in bridging this gap, hence my keen interest to take this program. I look to draw in all the needed information into first and foremost helping my club - Dreams FC - position itself well in achieving its goals and of course such a program also provides a unique opportunity to build contacts and the network needed in the evolving growth of football” Shardow stressed.

Another participant hoping to hone his skills is former Chelsea great John Terry. The former England captain worked as a deputy coach at Aston Villa from 2018-2021 but has since then returned to Chelsea to take up a more executive role. Terry will be linking up with former Australia and Everton forward Tim Cahill who is now a board member of Belgian outfit KAS Eupen. Cahill who played at three World cups and is his country’s all-time leading scorer is keen on garnering new skills at the forum.

“I’m excited to be a part of this prestigious diploma. It’s important for me to continue my education with executives that work in football globally and to share our experiences. Since retiring, I've always wanted to keep on learning, to continue my education and be ready for what comes next, and I believe that being part of the Club Management diploma will help me out significantly in that process.” Cahill concluded.