Football kids learn from Chelsea coaches

MANILA, Philippines - Some lucky kids are getting the training that Azkals mainstays Phil and James Younghusband got when they were kids – The Chelsea way.

Chelsea Football Club, one of the most popular clubs in the English Premier League, has sent five top notch trainers and instructors headed by Steve Winnett to teach the club’s brand of football not just to fortunate kids but also to some local coaches.

Winnett, who coaches Chelsea FC’s Boys College Academy as well as the Chelsea FC international development team for more than a decade now, was with Tom Bird, David Stewart, James Lambdon and Russell Banyard in their two-day sessions, which ended yesterday,  in the Chelsea Soccer School at the Tribeca field.

“We’re basically to teach the kids a thing or two but the bottomline is to let them enjoy the sport first before anything else,” said Winnett, who was also a former coach at the famous David Beckham academy in London before working at Chelsea.

The Younghusbands, who arrived just the day before from a successful friendly by the Azkals against Hong Kong (1-0), said they’re happy that they’re getting coaching help directly from Chelsea.

“It’s a joy to know that these kids are experiencing how we trained when we’re growing up, which was the Chelsea way,” said Phil.

“We would like to thank Adidas and Chelsea for making this event possible as well as the Chelsea coaches and trainers for helping us with our program,” said James.

Sixty kids, aged 10 to 15, coming from the elite program of the Loyola-Meralco Football School, participated in the clinics held in cooperation with the Chelsea Football Club Foundation, Adidas and the Younghusband Football Academy.

The five British coaches and trainers also gave a one-hour seminar to educate the kids’ parents on how best they can support their children.

Phil and James, certified Chelsea coaches, founded the Younghusband Football Academy, which operates the Chelsea FC Soccer School.