by Charles Hizon
More than a hundred participants turned up to join the training session provided by the Younghusband academy, which was a lot more than what they’re expecting. A host of youth footballers, mixed boys and girls entered the pitch to train with two of the top football players in the country, the Younghusband brothers, Phil and James.
The goal of the academy is to teach the youth the basics of playing football, enhance their skills, as well as provide a place where they can play more often as Phil always says that “The more you play, the better you become as a footballer”.
Most participants are aged from 7 to 12 years old. Phil and James together with the academy coaches thought them the basics of playing football, from ball control, to juggling, to dribbling, to finishing.
It’s a 3-hour training session that aims to build on the youth’s football skills. The Younghusband Football Academy is one of the movements that promote grassroots development, which is what the country exactly needs.
Asked Phil on how the academy can promote football in the Philippines:
Phil: When we were in England we play 60-70 games a year and what we observed in the Philippines is that there’s not enough opportunities due to lack of fields and kids are only playing 10-20 times a year.
We want to give the kids more time to play, more exposure to playing football because we believe the more you play whether talented or not talented the more you play the better you become. So we’re trying to make opportunities for these kids as possible.
SCP: Are you guys (the Younghusband Academy) planning on expanding south or the other parts of the country?
Phil: Ideally in 10 years time we want training centers everywhere. We want the Younghusband academy to be spread around the Philippines . Right now we do it in Alabang, we do have summer clinic in Taguig, and we also have something in Ateneo.
Were trying to reach different parts of the Philippines, we train trainors in the north, then we went to Isabella, Lanao del Norte then to Palawan. Were trying to promote football everywhere as much as we can, and it’s important that we reach everyone.
The academy is a good place where young footballers can gain more experience in playing, enhance their skills, and at the least learn the basic skills needed in the game. With that we leave you with a note from James worth taking,
“If you’re a young kid playing football, don’t quit after one bad day. Its important to look forward to the next football practice or football game”.
Source: Soccer Central Philippines
