THE Philippine Football Federation (PFF), with support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), has launched the country’s first Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Diploma Coaching Course.
The year-long program was launched last week at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila with 18 participants, including 13 Filipinos, from professional clubs, regional football associations, universities, and the PFF’s own technical departments.
The AFC Pro Diploma, the highest coaching qualification offered by the AFC, is open only to coaches who already possess an AFC ‘ A’ Diploma and are actively coaching at the professional or elite level.
The participants are 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 (UP Fighting Maroons), Dan Padernal (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 (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), Tetsuya Tsuchida (PFF Youth Development Head/Japan).
Former PFF technical director Stewart Hall is the lead instructor.
The course, which covers tactical analysis, club management and sports science, among others, is spread across multiple residential modules over nearly a year.
PSC Chairman Patrick ‘Pato’ Gregorio said investing in coaching is essential to raising the standard of sports.
‘I believe Filipinos can excel in football,’ Gregorio said. ‘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.’