Dubai: Dubai Sports Council (DSC) organized the “Pro Football Coaches Workshop” at the Council’s premises with participation of coaches of the first teams of Dubai’s four clubs, who enjoy distinctive international experiences. They talked on very important matters in modern football. 

The workshop aimed to boost coaching levels of local assistant coaches and to provide them with unique opportunities to listen & talk to competent coaches of rich record in various matters regarding all details of football game.

The Pro Football Coaches Workshop was organized as part of DSC’s strategy in the aspect of boosting the levels of Emirati assistant coaches in football companies.

The Workshop took place at DSC’s premises in the presence of H.E. Saeed Hareb, the Secretary General of DSC / H.E. Naser Aman Al-Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of DSC / Mr. Ahmed Salem Al-Mahri, Director of Sports Development Dept. in DSC / national coaches who assume coaching tasks in first teams & reserve teams in Dubai clubs. The Workshop was addressed by Mr. Juan Antonio Pizzi, Al-Wasl Club’s coach / Mr. Goran Tomich, Al-Nasr Club’s Coach / Mr. Leonardo Jardim, Shabab Al-Ahly Club’s coach / Mr. Abdullah Misfer, Hatta Club’s coach. 

H.E. Saeed Hareb welcomed the attendees and stated: “We are pleased as coaches of the Dubai’s four clubs are gathered at DSC’s premises, where their motto is cooperation instead of competition, aiming to develop football system and provide local assistant coaches with fruitful experiences which contribute to boost their technical levels and enable them to benefit from useful thoughts & to enjoy remarkable future coaching career”.  

The first session was addressed by Mr. Juan Antonio Pizzi, who presented explanation on tactics of the play during possession or non-possession. He remarked: “I thank DSC for organizing this Workshop, the content of which is very important for coaches & assistant coaches, since it deals with football development in physical & tactic fields. Football is in a continuous progress, and accordingly it has become necessary for everybody in this field to be acquainted with latest developments to cope with all new updates”.

Mr. Juan Antonio reviewed the team's best tactical style and the positioning of each player in the field.  He explained that the player must be able to be present everywhere in the field, and the coach must develop his tactical plans in accordance with his team’s abilities and in a way that helps him to benefit from all his elements according to the competences of all players, so that they can possess the ball as long as possible. Players can be positioned in a proper way to attain the greatest impact as per the progress & changes of the match.

In the second session, Mr. Goran Tomich talked on the play in the last third area with focusing on the player (No. 9) or the striker, and he explained that success in matches depend on proper positioning of players. It is very important for players to use & cover all spaces in the field whether in defense or attack areas. If striker is well trained, his positioning will be very dangerous vs. competing team particularly with the proper help of assisting players from the two sides of the field. He mentioned that there are five types of strikers, pointing out that each team should possess one of them and referring that the coach builds his convenient plans & tactics for the entire team on the basis of this striker.  

In the third session, Mr. Leonardo Jardim spoke in three topics: these were: comprehensive football, players’ involvement in play building and moving without the ball. He referred that football differs from one country to another as per the nature of players, public & coaches who should create their plans in such way that conforms to these matters. It is impossible to copy a plan of teams playing in other leagues and therefore it is worth-mentioning that each team has its own style & circumstance which form the way of its success. Training sessions should cover all sides including tactics, techniques & strategy of play. Despite the importance of fitness element for all the team’s members, the organization & positioning of the team in the field represent crucial factor in the final result of the match.

In the fourth session, Mr. Abdullah Misfer talked on ways of exploiting counterattacks and free kicks to attain victories in matches. He explained the difference between building of an attack from defense area, a quick attack and counterattack. He expressed the importance of fast moving and exploiting of spaces to manage successful counterattack. He also talked on how defenders can oppose counterattacks of the other team through closing spaces, preventing passes, fast repositioning besides possibility of committing tactic fouls to halt the counterattack.