2019/20 Indian Women's League (IWL) champions Gokulam Kerala FC. (Photo courtesy: AIFF Media)
The AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 – Pilot Tournament (West) is set for another milestone when the Jordan Football Association (JFA) hosts the upcoming edition from November 7 to 13, 2021.
Four women’s clubs will participate in the tournament including hosts Amman Club, FC Bunyodkor from Uzbekistan, Islamic Republic of Iran’s Shahrdari Sirjan and Gokulam Kerala FC from India.
As part of efforts to prepare for the impending launch of the game-changing AFC Women’s Champions League, the pilot editions demonstrate the AFC’s commitment and determination to strengthen the foundations for the development and professionalism of women’s football clubs in Asia.
The opening match at the Aqaba Development Corporate Stadium will see an exciting encounter between reigning Uzbekistan champions FC Bunyodkor and Shahrdari Sirjan, who clinched the domestic Women’s Football League for the first time.
Meanwhile, first-time Indian Women’s League winners Gokulam Kerala FC will face Amman Club, who recently clinched their fifth Jordan Women’s Football League title.
The four teams will compete in a round-robin league format over three match days – November 7, 10 and 13 – with the top team lifting the title of the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 – Pilot Tournament (West).
The AFC will also test the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Light concept in the tournament with the aim of creating more affordable VAR systems which can be used at all levels in football.
The first pilot of the AFC Women’s Club Championship was held in 2019 in Yongin, Korea Republic, and won by Nippon TV Beleza of Japan.
(AFC)