Anju Turambekar appointed AFC Youth Panel Member to represent Singapore

Anju Turambekar became the first Indian woman to hold such a position representing another Asian country.

Anju Turambekar, a trailblazer in the field of football development has been appointed as the AFC Youth Panel Member to represent Singapore. Hailing from village Bekanal, Kolhapur district, Anju is a former football player, has previously served on the AFC Grassroots Panel for four consecutive years representing India and now set to represent the AFC Youth Panel, making her a valuable addition to the Panel.

She has worked extensively for various Asian countries to develop Grassroots football. Previously held the position of Head of Grassroots Development at the All India Football Federation, notably, she played a pivotal role in establishing Grassroots football in India training numerous coaches and instructors over six years and also contributing to winning some AFC Grassroots awards for India.

The AFC has selected 15 Panel members from different parts of Asia to work towards the advancement of youth football development. The AFC Youth Panel is responsible for elite youth football development activities, including the AFC Elite Youth Scheme.

During the initial phase of her career, she dedicated six years to serving the NGO called Magic Bus, where she worked tirelessly to support children from marginalized communities. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the youngest AFC ‘A’ license Coach in India and also served as Asia’s only Female Technical Director of a men’s club, namely Dempo Sports Club. Anju’s contributions extend beyond her roles in these organizations, as she has also served as the Technical Head for the FIFA U17 World Cup held in India in 2017.

Her leadership skills, strong work ethics, professionalism, mentoring abilities, educational contributions, and prominent presence in the industry have made a significant impact. Recently, she was honored with the Zee Marathi Unch Maza Zoka award for her remarkable achievements in the field of sports. Despite her demanding responsibilities in the football industry, Anju has also established the AT Foundation and AdapT Football Academy, aiming to empower children from rural areas by teaching them life skills through football.

In a statement, Turambekar expressed her gratitude to the AFC for the opportunity to be part of such a prestigious panel. She emphasized her dedication to making a positive impact on football and ensuring that she fulfils her role effectively. Turambekar also extended her thanks to the Football Association of Singapore and the National Youth Sports Institute for their support in enabling her to make a significant contribution to football at the highest level in Asia.

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