Phil Younghusband & company attend Chelsea coaching course in HK

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),” he added.

Golez, who is a goalkeeper for WFL side Super Bad, was brought in to be one of the first to 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 continued.

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.