Phil
Younghusband & company attend Chelsea coaching course in HK
by rick olivares
Even before the Philippine National
Team began its assault up the FIFA rankings, Phil Younghusband was already
taking his football coaching seriously.
If you ask the national team’s all-time
leading goal scorer if he would be interested in one day coaching the team,
he’d say yes. He’d be in a unique position to handle the team as he was there
when there was nothing all the way to where they are today, seeded as the best
in Southeast Asia.
But that’s for another day.
In the meantime, with the UFL on break, Younghusband and his colleagues in the
Chelsea Soccer School Philippines are in Hong Kong from July 27 to August 1, attending
a Coaching Course for coaches of Asian Soccer Schools in HK headed by Steve
Winnett, Chelsea International Technical Officer and Dave Stewart. Chelsea FC
Coaches in HK are running the course for the schools in HK Philippines,
Thailand, and Korea.
Aside from Younghusband, also in
attendance are Din Cabrera and Joma Clemente (from the Chelsea Ladies) and JC
Golez (goal keeper coach).
“It's a good opportunity for me to
learn the science of coaching the CFC way and the creative based on the needs
of the Filipino Youth,” bared Younghusband.
”Cathy (Nazareno, CSS-Manila’s
Managing Director) decided to send Din and Joma as a way of opening
opportunities for female coaches. They are the first among the dozen coaches we
had sent thus far, who are women. Both are regular players of the CFCSSPH
Ladies Team (who won runner up to the recently concluded PFF Ladies Cup only on
penalties).”
Golez, who is a goalkeeper for WFL side
Super Bad was brought in to be one of the first who will be trained
specifically for goal keeping coaching in the Philippines.
Younghusband first earned his coaching
badge while he was still playing for Chelsea’s youth teams back in England. “Learning
both sides – from the coaching and playing standpoint – will give you a unique
perspective,” said Phil when the Chelsea Soccer School in Manila first opened.
Yet in spite of having earned his
coaching license, Younghusband believes that one must continue to attending coaching
courses as “the game is constantly evolving so there are always new ideas, new
ways of coaching and different coaching styles.”
“What may have worked five years ago
may not necessarily work now but something that didn't work 10 years ago may
work now. So it's important to be open and to find new ways to teach the game,”
he added.
Regarding the state of
football coaching in the Philippines, Phil thinks it is difficult to gauge the
level where the country stands. “It's difficult to gauge how far we have come
in terms of coaching because we don't know what to compare it to. The level of
coaching like anywhere can always be improved. No one is perfect but like
anything, the more time our coaches spend time coaching, the better they become
at it. It's important our coaches put in the hours and are always wanting and
eager to learn. There is still a long way to go but it's important we expose
the coaches to the highest possible level of football and highest level of
coaching as long and as often as possible.”
Summed up the national team
striker, “The Chelsea Soccer School is different from the soccer camps we have
seen come in from abroad. As much as we try & bring in coaches from
England, Chelsea FC Soccer School is building its school from within the
Philippines to make the program long term rather than short term. We all
understand the coaches from England can't always be here so it's important the
coaches from the Philippines are able to take on the club’s philosophy and help
it grow on a long-term basis here in the Philippines. That's why our local
coaches are regularly attending coaching courses run by coaches from the club
in England.”
Chelsea’s Steve Winnett will conduct a
special camp for the Filipino youth and adults on Aug 5, 7, 8, and 9 at the
Blue Pitch in Circuit Makati.
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