MindanaoToday.com | PFF to help coaches secure AFC Licenses
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In a move to encourage and professionalize football coaches in the country, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is pushing coaches to earn licenses from the Asian Football Federation (AFC) or even the prerequisite course, the Philippine Youth Coaching Course (PYCC).
Newly appointed acting PFF Coaching Education Manager Ariston Carpio Bocalan of Baguio City announced that they will introduce the Hybrid approach this year to encourage the coaches to apply for licenses. “The Hybrid approach means participants can attend courses even while they are working or busy in their area. We will address the previous issue of the courses being too expensive for the coaches,” he said.
He added that coaches would spend their own money on travel, food, and hotels for weeks just to finish the courses. In the Hybrid approach according to Bocalan, the coaches can have lectures online and then proceed to complete the courses later through face-to-face on-site.
Bocalan explained that Hybrid approach, the coaches instead of doing the courses in one setting area, can do it in their clubs or schools.
“We want a realistic experience for the coaches where they use their own club, school, or team players for practicals. This is to their advantage and more realistic with a local tutor to observe to guide them. This would empower Regional Football Associations (RFA) coaches and encourage the RFA to produce local tutors all over the country.” he said.
Bocalan also said that the fees for the AFC C License coaches course have been retained to P8,000 and the AFC B License has been reduced from P20,000 to 15,000.
Bocalan just recently conducted the AFC C License in Lingayen, Pangasinan with local football official Leo Arnaiz hosting the course for free. Arnaiz shouldered the expenses for the field rental, dorm, transport, and food for the 7 instructors and 33 participating coaches from all over the country.
He also announced that licensing courses will be organized in Visayas and Mindanao and is encouraging unlicensed coaches to enroll.
PFF president John Gutierrez appointed coach Aniston Carpio Bocalan as acting PFF Coaching Education Manager just recently. The local football association CMORFA through President Mike Batiles organized the event and was sponsored by the Gingoog City government under Erick Canosa.
He recently conducted the Philippine Youth Coaching Course (PYCC) in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental for the local RFA coaches.
Bocalan is an AFC A License coach and was a varsity player of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) during his playing years. He was a member of the Ateneo UAAP champion team from 2003-2006.
He also has an AFC Futsal Level 2 license and a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA- B) football License which he took in Koblenz, Germany.
Aside from his football licenses, coach Bocalan was a BS Secondary Education graduate of Benguet State University (BSU), and has an MA in Physical Education also at BSU. He also has some MA Units in Communications with Ateneo.
Presently coach ‘Aris’ is the football and futsal varsity coach of the University of Cordilleras and at the same time works for the Department of Education as a teacher and coach. (jackbiantantambok@gmail.com)
###