Chelsea FC has big plans for its Philippine Football academy
"Football can be played anywhere" says Azkal winger James Younghusband. "When Phil and I were kids we used to play in our room with an old sock. We used the window as the goal. We broke our Mom's china once."
Fortunately the Philippine's young footballers will have a better venue to hone their skills, plus world-class coaching as well. The Chelsea Soccer School, affiliated with the storied English Premier League club, is ready to open up a Footballing Hogwarts right here in Metro Manila.
Last May 15 the Chelsea Soccer School Philippines bared their plans in the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. James and his brother Phil were in attendance as were Ian Woodroffe, the International Development Manager of Chelsea FC and Adrian New, Managing Director of Chelsea Asia Pacific. Vitto Lazatin, Sports Manager of TV5, was also on hand.
Both James and Phil spent many years in Chelsea's youth academy and played in the Blues' reserve squad.
The event also served as the graduation for the 80 children who participated in the Chelsea Soccer School's first summer program and the 140 kids who learned the game this summer at the Younghusband Football Academy program in Alabang. The YFA is now three years old and the plan is to have greater coordination between the two programs.
"There will be a permanent location for the Chelsea Soccer School here" said Mr. New. "We have Chelsea Soccer Schools in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Incheon Korea, and Jakarta and we believe that a permanent venue is crucial."
When asked about where the venue might be, Phil Younghusband was coy. "I can't disclose yet where it will be, but we are in close discussions."
The Chelsea center's artificial pitch won't be regulation-sized since it will be used for youth development. The field will, however, have one unique feature. It will be colored blue.
"Hindi kaya masakit sa mata?" I asked Phil. "Hindi, mas masarap tingnan," he answered with a smile.
Chelsea certainly aren't wasting their time on this project. Phil intimated that the field might be ready by the end of the year, but perhaps not in time for the next Chelsea Soccer School Philippines program in September.
The Chelsea Soccer School will boost the brothers' goal of upping the level of Football in the Philippines. "We want kids to have what we have, to play Football for a living" explained James. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."
But the Chelsea Soccer School Philippines won't just train players here. It will also be a springboard to take their game to the next level by playing other Chelsea School teams from Asia.
"Hopefully we'll have a competition between the other Chelsea Schools in the region" said Phil. "Players can only get better if the have the exposure of playing with bigger, stronger more experienced players."
The brothers also plan to reach out to the Football communities both in the South and the North of the Philippines. Through the Younghusband Football Academy they also aim to train P.E. teachers to teach the game better and even help improve competition management.
It was also revealed that Chelsea might play a match in the Philippines one day. Chelsea has recently played in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong. Next year the Blues will likely tour either the United States or Europe during the summer break. Might we expect a Chelsea match in Manila in 2014?
"Probably not, since most of our players will be playing in the World Cup" said Mr. New.
As part of the event, several football skill games were set up in the Mall of Asia Music Hall. After the press con Phil demonstrated the different games, like a target practice game into an inflatable goal, a drill that involves shooting into barrels on the ground, and an NBA-inspired all-around skills challenge that tests agility, shooting, and heading.
The school will be open to everyone, young and old. I ventured to ask Adrian New if even fans of Arsenal and Tottenham, Chelsea's bitterest local London rivals, are welcome.
Of course. And this is how we'll turn them into Chelsea fans."
