PFF Consultant takes a look at Cebu football

(This report by Cheska Geli came out on Sun.Star Cebu on Oct. 28)
GERMAN football expert Eckhard Krautzun said he has learned a lot about Cebu football from the three- day coaches� training he facilitated for Philippine Football Federation (PFF) at Sarrosa International Hotel.

The activity, which drew interest from coaches, parents, educators and players, included topics on youth coaching, training session and basic football tactics.

�I learned the need of the province and what can be improved,� said Krautzun.

Among the problems he noticed were the lack of fields, funds and equipment. He mentioned that clubs should get help from the government in constructing fields and artificial turfs.

�There�s good football when there�s a good field,� he added.

Krautzun will be in the country until the end of November to supervise the different grassroots programs of football associations around the country. His next visit will be in Davao, where he�ll conduct the same seminar.

He will be expected to present his final assessment to PFF after his last stop in Manila. He will then fly to back to Germany to file a report regarding his observation to the National Olympic Committee of Germany and Office of Foreign Affairs.

The German Football Association will decide on what kind of support it will give the country based on Krautzun�s report.
Germany had long been supporting the county in football development when they sent coaches to train locals and support programs.

Krautzen will pay a short visit to Jakarta to be the technical consultant of the Southeast Asian Games competing team.

Krautzen, who was the former coach of the men�s team that gave the country its best finish in the 1991 SEA Games, he said the team has a fair chance in their group but they need a lot of luck.

He said that between his time as head coach and now, the structure has already improved and the emergence of a national league, sponsors and public schools� program has also helped the sport.

As he culminated yesterday�s event with a lecture to members of the Little Azkals, he reminded them  to work on improvisation and creativity in the field.

�It will definitely help the team. We will add his inputs to our game plan with the addition of new drills to improve players decision-making,� said Little Azkals head coach Oliver Colina.

He had also given pointers on match analysis and observation to attendees.
�As a beginner kay daghan nakatun-an and we can use it to develop talents of children,� said Marlyn Go, a pre-school teacher of Lawaan Elementary School.