Coach Macky's words
AUSTRALIAN football guru Graeme Mackinnon lauded Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Jonathan Guardo's moved to support the Cebu Center for Football Excellence.
Despite his return to his homeland two years ago, Mackinnon, who molded the Carmen National School boys into national stalwarts, has continued to monitor Cebu football regularly through contacts and the internet.
"I'm really pleased to read your article today that Jonathon Guardo will recommend that the CCSC support the move to establish the Cebu CFE. It was also pleasing to read that Jonathon has suggested that a team representing Cebu made up of players from the CFE could go to the International Children's Games in Bangkok next year," Mackinnon said in an e-mail to Sun.Star Cebu.
The Cebu CFE is one of 15 centers nationwide tasked to train a select group of kids who will be in the national team 10 years from now. The country aims to win its first gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in 2015.
The Cebu CFE will be under the tutelage of Mario Ceniza, Mackinnon's former player in the M. Lhuillier team that won the national title in the late 80s and his right hand man in molding the Carmen National School squad.
"I have spoken to Mario privately since he came back from Bago, and he is very excited about the CFE and the impact it could have on football in the future. As we have discussed previously, the future of football is in the youth and this idea, although not new, is a step in the right direction," Mackinnon wrote.
Mackinnon added that the CFE would recreate the Coca-Cola Training Centers, which helped discover a lot of talents in the past.
"When German coach Bernard Zgoll was in charge of Philippine football, he set up the Coca- Cola Training Centers. Unfortunately, with his demise from coaching came the demise of the Centers. Now there is yet another opportunity to begin a grassroots program that aims at the highest honor of representing the Philippines on the international stage," said Mackinnon.
"I know Mario will give the players who go there his undoubted coaching experience and technical support. It is good that the Cebu City Sports Commission will back him up."
Despite his return to his homeland two years ago, Mackinnon, who molded the Carmen National School boys into national stalwarts, has continued to monitor Cebu football regularly through contacts and the internet.
"I'm really pleased to read your article today that Jonathon Guardo will recommend that the CCSC support the move to establish the Cebu CFE. It was also pleasing to read that Jonathon has suggested that a team representing Cebu made up of players from the CFE could go to the International Children's Games in Bangkok next year," Mackinnon said in an e-mail to Sun.Star Cebu.
The Cebu CFE is one of 15 centers nationwide tasked to train a select group of kids who will be in the national team 10 years from now. The country aims to win its first gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in 2015.
The Cebu CFE will be under the tutelage of Mario Ceniza, Mackinnon's former player in the M. Lhuillier team that won the national title in the late 80s and his right hand man in molding the Carmen National School squad.
"I have spoken to Mario privately since he came back from Bago, and he is very excited about the CFE and the impact it could have on football in the future. As we have discussed previously, the future of football is in the youth and this idea, although not new, is a step in the right direction," Mackinnon wrote.
Mackinnon added that the CFE would recreate the Coca-Cola Training Centers, which helped discover a lot of talents in the past.
"When German coach Bernard Zgoll was in charge of Philippine football, he set up the Coca- Cola Training Centers. Unfortunately, with his demise from coaching came the demise of the Centers. Now there is yet another opportunity to begin a grassroots program that aims at the highest honor of representing the Philippines on the international stage," said Mackinnon.
"I know Mario will give the players who go there his undoubted coaching experience and technical support. It is good that the Cebu City Sports Commission will back him up."
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