In March of this year, I was named the Philippine Football Federation’s (PFF) Head of Youth Development. As soon as we assumed leadership, we initiated two initiatives, the Training Area of Development (TAD) and the Center of Excellence (COE), which are modeled after Japan’s training center system. We selected players between the end of April and the beginning of May, and we began operations in June. There was a lot of confusion at first because I had very little knowledge about the Philippines when I began the project, but as I have gained a deeper understanding of the current state of football in the Philippines, I am gradually making adjustments.
As far as my actual participation in the activities goes, I work directly with the players when needed, offer coaching staff training programs, and offer guidance on the field. The players, coaches, and staff are all incredibly nice and upbeat, and I am constantly picking up new skills from them. I am also learning a lot from them.
The Philippines is divided into three main regions: “Luzon,” home to the capital Manila; “Visayas,” the region that includes Cebu Island, a popular destination for Japanese travelers and study abroad students; and “Mindanao,” which is located near Indonesia in the southernmost point of the nation. This year, we began with three weekly COE sessions in Manila and one weekly TAD session in Cebu. We intend to open TADs in Davao and two other Mindanao locations next year, with the goal of eventually expanding the TAD network nationwide. By identifying, nurturing, and elevating skilled players and coaches from each region to the national squad through these two programs, we hope to improve Philippine football overall.
The Philippines is home to a diverse pool of athletes, ranging in size from larger, more physically fit players to smaller, more deft players with superb technique. Because each region’s players have unique qualities that work well in a variety of positions, the Philippines has a lot of football success potential.
Despite not being the most popular sport in the country right now, football appears to have gained popularity in the Philippines thanks to the performance of the Philippines Women’s National Team at the FIFA Women’s World CupTM this year.
I’ll keep working hard and making a positive impact on football in the Philippines by looking into the best approaches to increase the game’s appeal, foster the growth of young players, and enhance the quality of education for
