NEWLY-APPOINTED Philippine Football Federation technical director Josep Ferre of Spain has a soft spot for grassroots development and hopes to widen the base of young football players so the country can reach greater heights in the beautiful game.
“For the pyramid to go high, expanding and enlarging the foundation of our young players is important. Look, the small nation of Uruguay, yet millions of their kids play the game and they have won World Cups,” Ferre noted during the PFF press conference yesterday where his appointment was announced.
“With his background, coach Pep (Ferre’s nickname) will play a pivotal in our football grassroots sports development for our young children playing football the proper way, the Filipino way,” said PFF director for football Vince Santos.
“Coach Pep has youth on his side, the values, character and educational experience that make him suitable to be our technical director,” echoed PFF deputy secretary general Kevin Goco.
“As a technical director, I am focused on developing football in the country so that we will have greater number of young players in the game. We want to make a proper place and environment for these children,” Ferre said. “They have the potential and they deserve the chance to play football in a safe and nice atmosphere, the right environment for the long term.”
A holder of a degree in Physical Activity and Sports Science at the INEFC Universitat de Barcelona and a Sport Master in Football Coaches Schole of CENAFE Madrid, the Spanish mentor will also have a talent identification process as part of his program.
He said this would be a challenge considering the country is a huge archipelago and they will have a lot of ground to cover. Ferre said this is where local coaches in the countryside would be able to enter the picture.
