For 118 years, Philippine football had a glaring hole at the top. Now, it’s finally being filled.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF), backed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), launched the country’s first-ever AFC Pro Diploma Coaching Course this week, enrolling 18 coaches — 13 Filipinos and five foreign nationals — in the highest coaching qualification offered by the Asian Football Confederation.

PFF Breaks a Century of Silence

The inaugural module opened July 22 and runs through July 26 at the PSC Media Room inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. It marks the first module of a year-long program spread across multiple residential sessions.

PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez didn’t hide how long the wait had been.

“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 called the course one of the Federation’s most significant investments in coaching education, framing it as essential to raising standards across every level of the sport. He credited the PSC’s push to professionalize coaching nationwide for making it possible.

Under veteran instructor and former national team head coach Stewart Hall, the course pushes participants through advanced training in leadership, tactical analysis, high-performance management, sports science integration and modern club management. The AFC Pro Diploma is reserved for coaches who already hold an AFC “A” Diploma and are actively working at the professional or elite level, and it demands rigorous theoretical and practical assessments alongside club management projects and international exposure.

PSC Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, who joined participants on the third day of the module, tied the program to a broader vision for Philippine sports.

“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.”

Coaches From Across the Country Chase History

The pioneering batch draws from professional clubs, regional football associations, universities, and PFF’s own technical departments, spanning Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and overseas organizations.

UST football director and PFF tutor Marjo Allado called it a milestone she hopes will inspire others. “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.”

Manila Digger head coach Kim Versales, who led his club to the reigning Philippines Football League title and an AFC Challenge League semifinal run, sees the ripple effect reaching the grassroots level. “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.”

For Cebu FC’s Tomasito Glenn Ramos, who guided his team to a historic ASEAN Club Championship stint last year, the course is the fulfillment of a long-held wish. “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.”

Central Luzon FA Technical Director Mark Anthony Francisco and PFF Mindanao Technical Development Officer Albert Ryan “Abing” Lim echoed that sense of responsibility, both framing the course as a turning point they hope multiplies in the years ahead.

With the first class now underway, the PFF says the goal is simple: better coaches, better players, and a national program no longer dependent on qualifications earned abroad.