Tacloban City - Last February I went to Tacloban City to conduct a Football Career Development Plan with the coaches of the Football for Life (F4L) project. The goal of the seminar was to show the coaches the opportunities for careers in Football, which is a growing sport in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia in general.
Many - if not all - of the coaches were hungry for information and were very much participative. We had one-on-one talks, which helped me understand their backgrounds better and how (and if) they see Football as not just a sport or a tool to achieve other social goals - as they do with F4L - but also as a stable career for them in the near future. I also observed some of their sessions and gave some tips on how to do drills and conduct their sessions. We also continued talking over e-mail after I left Tacloban to keep our Football plan alive.
Although not all are interested in pursuing a formal career in Football, what was evident is that for those who do want it, there is still a long way to go. Football needs more support from the government; it needs better-organized local and regional associations. Basic football information and material just do not get to those who want and need it. The FIFA money that comes in every year must be better spent for the development of the game where it is needed the most – the grassroots, local communities. It must be spent for the development of these football hungry coaches, for there is no game without people qualified to make it happen. A lot more Football information needs to go around to get everyone engaged.
Although not all are interested in pursuing a formal career in Football, what was evident is that for those who do want it, there is still a long way to go. Football needs more support from the government; it needs better-organized local and regional associations. Basic football information and material just do not get to those who want and need it. The FIFA money that comes in every year must be better spent for the development of the game where it is needed the most – the grassroots, local communities. It must be spent for the development of these football hungry coaches, for there is no game without people qualified to make it happen. A lot more Football information needs to go around to get everyone engaged.~
Jorge A. Barreto Goncalves