The Philippine Football Federation (PFF), with support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), has launched the country’s first-ever AFC Pro Diploma Coaching Course, marking a major step in the professionalization of football coaching in the Philippines.
Eighteen coaches 13 Filipinos and five foreign nationals are enrolled in the year-long program, the highest coaching qualification offered by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The inaugural module ran from July 22 to 26 at the PSC Media Room inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
Under the guidance of veteran instructor and former national team head coach Stewart Hall, the course covers advanced leadership, tactical analysis, high-performance management, sports science integration, and modern club management. It is designed for experienced coaches who already hold an AFC ‘A’ Diploma and are working at the professional or elite level.
PFF president John Anthony Gutierrez and PSC chairman Patrick 'Pato' Gregorio visited the participants on July 24. Gutierrez called the program one of the federation’s most significant investments in coaching education.
“For more than a century since the Philippine Football Federation was established in 1907, we have never hosted an AFC Pro Diploma Coaching Course", Gutierrez said. “We have only produced two Filipino pro licensed coaches, and they both had to earn their qualifications abroad. Today, we finally change that".
He added that raising coaching standards is essential to improving every level of Philippine football and thanked the PSC for its support. “In line with the PSC’s initiative to professionalize coaching across all sports, the PFF is proud to finally bring the AFC Pro Diploma to the Philippines. We hope this is only the first of many".
Gregorio reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to football development, stressing that investment in coaches is critical to producing better players and stronger national teams.
“I believe Filipinos can excel in football", Gregorio said. “But we have to invest. We have to become more serious and continue building partnerships with FIFA and the PFF. Once we have football fields all over the country, we also need good coaches, good referees and technical officials. Everything starts with the coach".
The pioneering batch includes coaches and technical leaders from professional clubs, regional football associations, universities, and the PFF’s technical departments. Participants come from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and overseas organizations.
University of Santo Tomas football director and PFF tutor Marjo Allado said the course will inspire more Filipino coaches to pursue the highest qualification. Manila Digger head coach Kim Versales, whose team is the reigning Philippines Football League champion, noted that the knowledge gained will be shared with grassroots coaches and young players. Dynamic Herb Cebu FC head coach Tomasito Glenn Ramos called the arrival of the course our dream, while Central Luzon Football Association Technical Director Mark Anthony Francisco described it as both an honor and a responsibility.
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The AFC Pro Diploma requires rigorous theoretical and practical assessments, club management projects, and international exposure. By producing more locally trained Pro Diploma coaches, the PFF aims to raise standards across professional clubs, regional associations, and the national teams.
The full list of participants includes coaches from Negros Occidental, Davao, Cordillera, NCR, Cebu, Masbate, UST, Central Luzon, and foreign coaches from South Korea, Australia, and Japan.
