The Philippine Football Federation (PFF), with support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has reached another milestone in the professionalization of football coaching with the launch of the country’s first-ever AFC Pro Diploma Coaching Course, marking a new era in the development of elite coaches for Philippine football, with 18 coaches–13 Filipino and five foreign nationals–enrolled.
The inaugural module of the year-long program opened on July 22 and runs until July 26 at the PSC Media Room inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
The course is spread across multiple residential modules over nearly a year and represents the highest coaching qualification offered by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Under the mentorship of veteran instructor and former national team head coach Stewart Hall, it prepares coaches for professional clubs and national teams through advanced education in leadership, tactical analysis, high-performance management, sports science integration, and modern club management.
PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez and PSC Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio joined the participants during the third day of the opening module on July 24, underscoring the importance of the landmark program to Philippine football.
“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.”
Gutierrez described the course as one of the Federation’s most significant investments in coaching education, emphasizing that raising the standard of coaches is fundamental to improving every level of Philippine football.
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.
The AFC Pro Diploma is reserved for experienced coaches who already possess an AFC ‘A’ Diploma and are actively coaching at the professional or elite level. Participants undergo rigorous theoretical and practical assessments, club management projects, and international exposure designed to prepare them for the demands of coaching at the highest levels of Asian football.
Gregorio reaffirmed the PSC’s commitment to supporting football’s continued growth, stressing that investment in coaching is essential 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.”
Drawing from his experience in strengthening Philippine archery through the hiring of a world-class professional coach this year, Gregorio highlighted the transformative role coaches play in athlete development.
“That is why I believe in this program,” he added.
If you teach athletes the right way, they will succeed. I fully support Philippine football because I know we can become much better with great coaches leading the way.
The pioneering batch brings together coaches and technical leaders from professional clubs, regional football associations, universities, and the PFF’s own technical departments, reflecting a nationwide commitment to raising coaching standards.
Among the participants is University of Santo Tomas (UST) football director and PFF tutor Marjo Allado, who said the opportunity will inspire more Filipino coaches to pursue the highest coaching qualification.
“It is a great honor to represent UST and the UAAP football community,” Allado said.
As more Filipino coaches earn the AFC Pro Diploma, we can help improve football not only in the professional game but also in the provinces.
Reigning Philippines Football League champion and AFC Challenge League semifinalist Manila Digger head coach Kim Versales described the program as an opportunity to modernize coaching throughout the country.
“This helps all coaches move Philippine football forward,” Versales said.
The knowledge we gain here will not stay with us—we can share it with coaches and young players throughout the grassroots football community.
Dynamic Herb Cebu FC head coach Tomasito Glenn Ramos, who coached his team to a historic ASEAN Club Championship stint last year, called the arrival of the course a long-awaited dream for Filipino coaches.
“This is our dream,” Ramos said.
The more Pro Diploma coaches we produce, the more quality players we can develop for our clubs and national teams. Everything we learn here will eventually benefit football throughout the Philippines.
Central Luzon Football Association Technical Director and PFF tutor Mark Anthony Francisco emphasized that the program raises the country’s coaching standards to meet international demands.
“It is both an honor and a big responsibility to be part of the first course,” Francisco said.
Football continues to evolve, and coaches must continue learning. This [course] will create more opportunities for Filipino coaches here and abroad while strengthening the professional game.
PFF Mindanao Technical Development Officer Albert Ryan “Abing” Lim likewise viewed the course as a significant step toward the Federation’s long-term vision. Lim said:
It has always been a dream for Filipino coaches to have the Pro Diploma here in the Philippines. As we produce more Pro Diploma coaches, we will also produce more quality players who can represent our national teams in the future.
The inaugural AFC Pro Diploma Coaching Course consists of 18 participants representing Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and overseas football organizations. They are:
- John Carmona (Negros Occidental RFA)
- Albert Ryan Lim (PFF Mindanao Technical Director/Davao)
- Aris Bocalan (PFF Coaching Education Coordinator/Cordillera)
- Bob Salvacion (PFF Grassroots Development Head)
- Randolfo Paolo Clarino (UP Fighting Maroons)
- Dan Padernal (NCRFA)
- David Javellana (NCRFA)
- Erniest Nieras (Stallion Laguna)
- Tomasito Glenn Ramos (Cebu FC/CRFA)
- John Martin Ferrer (Cebu RFA)
- Kim Versales (Manila Digger/Masbate)
- Marjo Allado (UST Growling Tigers)
- Mark Anthony Francisco (Central Luzon FA)
- Moon Hong (South Korea/Maharlika FC)
- Bobae Park (South Korea/Kaya FC)
- Stuart Kelly (Football Australia)
- Taketomo Suzuki (Japan/Tuloy FC)
- Tetsuya Tsuchida (PFF Youth Development Head/Japan)
With the country’s first AFC Pro Diploma Coaching Course now underway, PFF continues to strengthen the development of highly qualified Filipino coaches who will elevate clubs, regional football associations, and national teams, ensuring that football development is driven not only by better facilities and competitions, but also by world-class coaching expertise.
