German consultant to Pinoys: Develop a 'PHL style of football'

Visiting veteran German coach Eckhard Krautzun advised Filipino football leaders, players, coaches and parents to "develop a Philippine style of football" suited to the height and agility of homegrown players.

 

Krautzun said in a news conference Thursday that Filipino football ought to be played more on the ground, with priority on passing, emphasis on tactics, including "triangular play" and less of the high, long balls more suited to taller players.

 

"More dribbling, shooting, passing, heading, and controling," is the appropriate emphasis, according to the German coach who helped China "build its national team."

 

He gave the highlights of his evaluation of the grassroots football in the Philippines after a seven-week cross-country tour that took him to Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Metro Manila.

 

Krautzun, a mentor of current men's national team coach Michael Weiss, said the Philippines has the potential to join the ranks of the best in Asia, but the "biggest problem is the lack of fooball fields and equipment."

 

He lamented that in Davao, for example, there is only one field. Incidentally, ongoing in Davao is a football camp organized by Real Madrid and Fundacion Mapfre.

 

"Construct more fields," Krautzun said. "It can be a small field but there must be a field." 

 

He, Weiss, and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano 'Nonong' Araneta would rather that the fields have artificial turf so practices, football festivals and matches can be conducted rain or shine, all year 'round.

 

Weiss shared that in Japan, where the Azkals have training camps hosted by the Japan Football Association (JFA), there are 20 to 25 artificial pitches on the way to the camp in Gotemba.

 

In a previous interview with GMA News Online, PFF president Araneta said there will be an artificial pitch at the ULTRA football field hopefully by June next year.This project will have FIFA funding of $500,000 and the consultants who will help make it happen will be visiting Metro Manila by late November.

 

Araneta revealed during the news conference that FIFA officials and experts will come in January or February next year to launch its grassroots program for Philippines.

 

He said FIFA assistance will be in the form of equipment and will complement the already ongoing programs sponsored by the JFA and the German Football Association.

 

Japan funds PFF football festivals while Germany provides technical experts like Krautzun and Weiss.

 

Coaches' education, international exposure

 

Krautzun recommended to the PFF that Filipino coaches undergo intensive training and continuous  updating so they can be more effective mentors to the future of Philippine football.

 

He said he met "many enthusiastic coaches" but among them are mentors who, in his evaluation, have to develop more passion and deeper interest in football, including spending time to watch on cable TV or videos international football games.

 

Krautzun urged Araneta and PFF general secretary Ramon Manuel to forge with Germany at the soonest possible time the memorandum of understanding that will implement his recommendations on grassroots football.

 

Azkals as idols of the Filipino youth

 

"The Azkals should get all the support. Filipino youth need idols to emulate," Krautzun stressed. "The future of the country is the youth. I can only appeal that sponsors support this program."

 

He also noted that the visit of this year's Major League Soccer (MLS) champions, the LA Galaxy, will help inspire young Filipinos to get more interested in football.

 

Krautzun noted that in the football camps he witnessed, the younger the players were, the more easily they learn the proper ways of playing football.

 

"The younger players learned quickly. In the shortest time, they learned and they improved," the veteran coach said.

 

In response to a question from a parent of young football players, Krautzun said young football players ought to also develop their individual style and skills through continual practice.

 

"The boy should go on his own and train for himself...go for individual play...learn to play with his feet and the brain," the visiting coach advised.

 

"The brain is the third leg," Krautzun emphasized. — RSJ, GMA News