CFA eyes hosting Asian license coaching course

THE Cebu Football Association (CFA) may one day host an Asian Football Confederation A-level license coaching course if it continues to host coach licensing courses.

According to Philippine Football Federation (PFF) technical director Jose Ariston Caslib, the CFA is the only FA aside Manila which is very active in holding coaching courses.

The PFF plans to host nine AFC C license courses, which is a 14-day course next year to address the lack of licensed coaches especially in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Caslib said three slots will once again be given to Visayas with one to be hosted by CFA.

He said that if the CFA constantly does this, it will get a chance to host an AFC A license course in four years time. But first it must hold one C license course in 2012 and a B level course in 2013.

And in line with PFF’s plans to focus on Philippine football’s grassroots development, Caslib said that for 2012, the PFF plans to offer six grassroots courses to each of the 33 FAs with a minimum of 50 participants per course for a total production of 300 grassroots coaches by the end of the year.

Since this is part of an 8-year plan, by 2019, each FA will be able to produce 2,400 grassroots coaches. And with 33 FAs all in all, the PFF is looking at 79,200 grassroots coaches by 2019.

The grassroots course is open to teachers, parents or anybody interested in the sport.

Earlier this month, the PFF has presented its grassroots program proposal to all FAs which is patterned after the FIFA grassroots courses.

“This is the first time that FIFA had given four and PFF is the only beneficiary of four grassroots courses among all other FIFA members and it is showing the FIFA that we can move forward in football,” Caslib said.

The PFF, Caslib said, is offering many football programs such as the goalkeeping course for all its FAs to avail if requested.

These programs are linked to the plan of having a strong national team by 2017 or 2019 that can play in the world championships.

He said they are just waiting for the approval of their 8-year plan or after the PFF election next month before looking for funds which could come from either the FIFA, AFC or countries like Germany and Japan.