KUALA LUMPUR－China's Shandong Luneng Taishan Football Academy and veteran coach Xu Genbao were on Tuesday honored for their contribution to youth soccer at the Asian Football Confederation's Youth Conference here on Tuesday.

Jinan-based Chinese Super League club Luneng claimed the Youth Academy of the Year Award at the three-day conference in the Malaysian capital.

The AFC said Luneng Football Academy is widely regarded as one of the most influential soccer training centers in China. Founded in 1999, the academy features 26 pitches and a national training center, reputed to be the only one of its kind in the country.

The academy has developed over 260 players who have gone on to feature in the top three tiers of Chinese soccer, and its teams have won dozens of national and international youth championships.

Saudi Arabia's Abdulwahab Alharbi was named the AFC's Youth Coach of the Year, with Tajikistan claiming the Youth League of the Year award.

Xu Genbao, a Chinese veteran coach and founder of Shanghai Genbao Football Training Base, was presented with a special merit award for his contribution to the youth game.

Xu's center is renowned as a cradle of China's elite talent, nurturing the likes of striker Wu Lei, who currently plies his trade in La Liga with Barcelona-based Espanyol.

AFC secretary-general Windsor John said that the governing body has underlined its ambition to ensure Asian teams and players succeed on the world stage, and that the best chance to realize those goals is to focus on investing in youth players.

"We are confident that the achievements of today's winners will inspire more coaches, leagues, and academies to strengthen their youth development structures, which will ultimately transform the landscape of elite youth development in Asia," he said.

Meanwhile, a 13-member panel led by AFC technical director Andy Roxburgh, a former manager of the Scotland national team, deliberated on a range of key topics focusing on developing young players in Asia.

Among the important issues highlighted included an update on the AFC Elite Youth Scheme and how it can be improved and promoted.

"The AFC's Elite Youth Scheme can be used as a promotional tool to further create awareness and encourage our members on the importance of nurturing young football talents," said Roxburgh.

Xinhua