May karagdagan na naman sa bagong yugto ng propesyonalisasyon ng football coaching sa bansa sa paglulunsad ng unang AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Pro Diploma Coaching Course, sa pangunguna ng Philippine Football Federation.
Ito ay isang mahalagang hakbang sa paghubog ng mga elite coach ng football.
Labingwalo, kabilang ang 13 Pilipino, ang nag-enrol.
Ang unang module ay ginanap mula Hulyo 22 hanggang 26 sa Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Media Room sa loob ng Rizal Memorial Sports Complex sa Maynila.
Ang kurso ay binuo ng ilang residential modules na isasagawa sa loob ng halos isang taon at ito ang pinakamataas na coaching qualification na inaalok ng AFC.
Sa ilalim ng paggabay ng beteranong instructor at dating head coach ng pambansang koponan na si Stewart Hall, inihahanda ng programa ang mga coach para sa mga propesyonal na club at pambansang koponan sa pamamagitan ng mas mataas na antas ng edukasyon sa leadership, tactical analysis, high-performance management, sports science integration, at modernong pamamahala ng football club.
Pinagsasama ng unang batch ng programa ang mga coach at technical leaders mula sa mga propesyonal na club, regional football associations, mga unibersidad, at technical departments ng PFF, na nagpapakita ng pambansang pagkakaisa sa pagpapataas ng antas ng coaching.
Nakibahagi sina PFF president John Anthony Gutierrez at PSC Chairm Patrick Gregorio sa ikatlong araw ng unang module noong Hulyo 24, bilang pagpapakita ng kahalagahan ng makasaysayang programang ito para sa football ng Pilipinas.
“For more than a century since the Philippine Football Federation was established in 1907, we have never hosted an AFC Pro Diploma Coaching Course,” ani Gutierrez. “We have only produced two Filipino pro licensed coaches and they both had to earn their qualifications abroad. Today, we finally change that.”
Ani Gutierrez, ang programa ay isa sa pinakamahalagang pamumuhunan ng PFF sa coaching education at iginiit na ang pagpapataas ng antas ng mga coach ang pundasyon ng pag-unlad ng football sa Pilipinas.
“In line with the PSC’s initiative to professionalize coaching across all sports, the PFF is proud to finally bring the AFC Pro Diploma to the Philippines. We hope this is only the first of many,” ani Gutierrez.
Ang AFC Pro Diploma ay para lamang sa mga bihasang coach na mayroon nang AFC “A” fiploma at kasalukuyang nagtuturo sa propesyonal o elite level.
Daraan ang mga kalahok sa mahihigpit na theoretical at practical assessments, mga proyekto sa club management, at international exposure na idinisenyo upang ihanda sila sa mataas na antas ng coaching sa football sa Asya.
Binubuo ang kauna-unahang AFC Pro Diploma Coaching Course ng 18 kalahok na kumakatawan sa Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, at mga football association (FA) o football club (FC) sa ibang bansa.
Sila ay sina John Carmona (Negros Occidental RFA), Albert Ryan Lim (PFF Mindanao technical director/Davao), Aris Bocalan (PFF coaching education coordinator/Cordillera), Bob Salvacion (PFF grassroots development head), Randolfo Paolo Clarino (University of the Philippines o UP Fighting Maroons), Dan Padernal (National Captial Region o NCRFA), David Javellana (NCRFA), Erniest Nieras (Stallion Laguna), Tomasito Glenn Ramos (Cebu FC/CRFA), John Martin Ferrer (Cebu RFA), Kim Versales (Manila Digger/Masbate), Marjo Allado (University of Santo Tomas or UST Growling Tigers), Mark Anthony Francisco (Central Luzon FA), Moon Hong (South Korea/Maharlika FC), Bobae Park (South Korea/Kaya FC), Stuart Kelly (Football Australia), Taketomo Suzuki (Japan/Tuloy FC), at Tetsuya Tsuchida (PFF Youth Development head/Japan).
Para kay UST football director at PFF tutor na si Marjo Allado, ang diploma course ay magsisilbing inspirasyon sa mas maraming Pilipinong coach na hangarin ang pinakamataas na coaching qualification.
“It is a great honor to represent UST and the UAAP football community,” ani Allado.
“As more Filipino coaches earn the AFC Pro Diploma, we can help improve football not only in the professional game but also in the provinces.”
Inilarawan ni Versales ang programa bilang pagkakataon upang gawing mas moderno ang coaching sa buong bansa.
“This helps all coaches move Philippine football forward,” ani Versales. “The knowledge we gain here will not stay with us — we can share it with coaches and young players throughout the grassroots football community.”
Ayon kay Ramos, na nagdala sa kanyang koponan sa makasaysayang kampanya sa ASEAN Club Championship noong nakaraang taon, matagal nang pinapangarap ng mga Pilipinong coach ang kurso.
“This is our dream,” ani Ramos. “The more Pro Diploma coaches we produce, the more quality players we can develop for our clubs and national teams. Everything we learn here will eventually benefit football throughout the Philippines.”
Binigyang-diin naman ni Francisco na itataas ng programa ang antas ng coaching sa bansa upang makasabay sa pandaigdigang pamantayan.
“It is both an honor and a big responsibility to be part of the first course,” ani Francisco. “Football continues to evolve, and coaches must continue learning. This [course] will create more opportunities for Filipino coaches here and abroad while strengthening the professional game.”
Naniniwala si Gregorio na mahalagang mamuhunan sa coaching upang makalikha ng mas mahuhusay na manlalaro at mas matatag na pambansang koponan.
“I believe Filipinos can excel in football,” ani Gregorio. “But we have to invest. We have to become more serious and continue building partnerships with FIFA and the PFF. Once we have football fields all over the country, we also need good coaches, good referees and technical officials. Everything starts with the coach.”