Football Asia arranged a fantastic UK tour for myself and the technical director of the Pakistan Football Federation to visit English Premier League clubs in order to get an insight into the inner workings of the game at the very highest level. The visit to the Crystal Palace Football Club training ground to observe training and engage in interaction with the current first team Head Coach, Roy Hodgson was very insightful. Football Asia also facilitated visits to clubs in the lower leagues which shows the extent of their networks in the UK. I will certainly be grateful for the wonderful opportunity and the warm hospitality that I experienced. The new knowledge gained will certainly benefit me as coach and the players I interact with on a daily basis. Football Asia representatives ensured I felt totally comfortable in England, I am looking forward to utilising their services again for my self and fellow coaches from Brazil and beyond.
Having operated in the Korean football market for several years working alongside club’s giants such as FC Seoul I was keen to broaden my horizons and learn from club models in the UK. Football Asia’s East Asia department organized all logistical aspects of my visit to watch top Premier League teams in live action as well as behind the scenes tours of elite training facilities to learn about the inner workings and day to day training. The visit was very productive and has become an annual visit to learn from clubs at all levels of the football Pyramid in the UK.
Over the last couple of years, I have been setting the foundations for my transition from playing to coaching. Whilst still playing I have restricted time frames to be able to travel. Football Asia were extremely flexible and accommodating to my travel schedules and were able to organise an incredible list of clubs for me to visit. I wanted to get a behind the scenes look at the medical and strength and conditioning departments from UK clubs operating at the highest level of the game. Football Asia went above and beyond as they organised four club visits with private tours from the head doctors / physiotherapists and Strength and Conditioning coaches. These club visits have been immensely beneficial to my personal development as I prepare for life after playing. The experiences of visiting Chelsea, Fulham, QPR were extremely educating, entertaining and inspiring.
Football Asia was instrumental in arranging a club visit of English Premier league Club Crystal Palace upon my visit to the UK to further enhance my knowledge in the sports medicine, injury, fitness and conditioning areas. The in depth look at the inner workings behind the scenes will benefit me hugely when I return to my club side Kitchee SC in Hong Kong. I am very fortunate Football Asia was able to facilitate such a wonderful experience that will hopefully benefit the future general of footballers and athletes in my native Hong Kong. I was so impressed by visit I will be recommending the services of Football Asia to the rest of my network in East Asia so we can share knowledge and best practice. I am already looking forward to my next visit to the UK.
Football Asia helped to facilitate my trip to the UK to learn more about the inner workings of the football industry in the UK. Spending time with the Watford U23 Head Coach, Harry Kewell, was very insightful indeed. I managed to take in some live games and had all visits to the top tourist places organized for me and my family well in advance. I returned to Malaysia with more knowledge which helped me in role at time as the CEO of Pahang FC. Despite moving away from the football industry I have maintained my ongoing relationship with Football Asia staff.
As an experienced coach with over 30 years of coaching under my belt, I was seeking ways to gain further insight into the development of young players. As the current head coach of Shahzan Muda FC in Malaysia, I believe learning never stops regardless of age. Football Asia organised all aspects of the unforgettable experience by arranging the hotels, airport pick-ups and drop-offs, day trips for the family, transport to club visits and even providing local sim cards to make it a very memorable trip. The visits to Premier League clubs Liverpool, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Fulham FC provided me with an opportunity to gather knowledge from experienced coaches – this will help me nurture the future generation of Malaysian talent. It was a brilliant trip for my Continued Professional Development and I will be recommending the service to fellow coaches in Malaysia.
Football Asia provided me with a wonderful experience in the UK. As the fitness coach of Pahang FC in the Malaysia Super League, it is my job to look for new ways and methods to improve the sports science area and physical attributes of the players. Football Asia meticulously arranged visits to Fulham, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Liverpool FC during my 10-day visit that gave me an invaluable insight into how players are catered for at the highest levels of the game. I left with outstanding memories, ideas and lots of new knowledge that I will be applying in my day-to-day work at Pahang to improve the players and raise the standards of the team. I would highly suggest the service to other clubs and support staff who are looking to take the next steps in acquiring knowledge and learning in the football environment.
Football Asia helped me to increase my knowledge of the football industry in the UK by arranging for me to watch games at all levels including the Premier League, Championship and League One. The purpose of my visit was in an educational capacity on behalf of my club, Chennaiyin Fc of the Indian Super League. I was also introduced to people who have coaching and managerial experience of the game at the highest level, who really went the extra mile when showing me around. I was fortunate enough to visit the Arsenal Academy to gain an invaluable insight into the development of the youngsters at the gunners. Football Asia certainly lived up to their growing reputation and provided me not only with fantastic memories but also with a new found outlook on how to develop young players which will be of huge benefit to the future generation of Chennaiyin Fc and ultimately the Indian National Football Team. I am already looking forward to visiting other top Premier League clubs next year upon my return to the UK.
