Football guru calls for new style of play

MANILA, Philippines - German guru Eckhard Krautzun, in the Philippines to evaluate the state of football, batted for a change in style of play for the Filipino booters hoping to reap success on the international level.

“The Philippine style should have the ball on the ground and combination plays. We have quick and agile players. Passing should be a priority first,” Krautzun said in a press conference also attended by Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta and Azkals coach Michael Weiss.

Krautzun toured Iloilo, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod and Metro Manila for the past seven weeks to assess the situation, preparatory to an eight-year grassroots program planned by the PFF with German Football Association (DFB).

 “The style of play that I saw, from the UFL to the players in the provinces, they all played long, high balls. And it reminded me of the 1980s; we called that kick and rush style,” added Krautzun, a familiar face, having steered Phl XI to its best finish in the Southeast Asian Games, fourth place in 1991.

The 2011 SEAG team displayed the very style that need correction, observed Krautzun.

Phl coach Michael Weiss admitted to the “failure” of the U-23 Azkals in recent SEA Games in Indonesia, where they placed deadlast in Group B with a single win to show in five outings.

“Countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand are cut above the rest. We are not yet in the level and it’s a reality that is very harsh,” said Weiss.

“We have to acknowledge that, move forward and start preparing for the next SEA Games.”

As Phl licks its wound from the SEAG debacle, the PFF puts into motion an ambitious grassroots project involving future Chieffy Caligdongs, Ian Aranetas, and Phil Younghusbands, patterned after the youth prorgam of Germany.

“We will start implementing this program next year. We will develop the grassroots level, center the program on developing the youth and our target is to be Asian qualifier for the 2019 Under-17 World Cup,” said Araneta.

“We know it’s a lofty ambition but we have to start somewhere. I believe with the support of the DFB, we will have a very chance of reaching that goal,” he added.

For this to succeed, though, it is imperative to address the apparent lack of equipment and football fields in the Philippines.

“No doubt, compared to 20 years ago when I was here, football is on a right track; there’s more interest from the public, parents and media,” said Krautzun, a Fifa-licensed instructor who also had stints with the national team of Tunisia.

“But the biggest problem is the number of fields and basic equipment. In some areas namely in Davao, there are 1.3 million people there and only one football field. It’s really a disaster,” he said.