Football expert here to help PFF

MANILA, Philippines - German football expert Thomas Roy is in town to help the Philippine Football Federation strengthen its grassroots and develop future Azkals.

Roy, manager for the German youth soccer development system and with vast experience in development projects in cooperation with the FIFA and other football bodies, has been tapped by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) to provide technical assistance to the PFF.

The 45-year-old Roy will provide his services for an initial period of two years in the “Youth Football Technical Development Assistance Program” under the Memorandum of Agreement between the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine government, through the Philippine Sports Commission, the DOSB and the PFF.

“Coach Roy will be assisting us in developing our youth system and enhancing our grassroots which is a very important component of football development in the country,” PFF president Nonong Araneta said during yesterday’s launch.

Munich-born Roy served as selection team coach for the Bavarian Football Association and for Germany’s U21 and U13 boys team and U18 and U15 girls teams.  Prior to his stint in the Phl, Roy got involved in short-term development projects in Belgium, Switzerland, Honduras, Uruguay, Mozambique, Iraq and Uganda in cooperation with FIFA, UEFA, AFC and DFB.

“Probably later, he’ll guide coaches as far as talent identification for future players of the national team is concerned because he’s been involved with selection process in Germany for long as far as youth teams in Germany and Bavaria is concerned,” Araneta said.

Roy has actually started going through various grassroots/youth programs in the country in the last three months, visiting Cebu, Bacolod and Mindoro. He has also observed the Phl U16 and U16 sides in their tournaments in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta as well as the Azkals  in their campaign in the Peace Cup in Bacolod.

“I got a lot of impressions. Yes, there’s a base of playing football (in the Philippines) but we have to improve this very, very much,” said Roy.

He stressed the importance of keeping kids from ages 6-16 interested in the game in this endeavor.

“In the age group of 6-12, it is very important to show them that there’s (a sport like) football that they can learn, that they can have fun playing. At age of 12-above, there’s a tendency for their interest tends to wane, so it’s very, very important for them to get to compete, to experience having to win games,” Roy said.