Former captains receive scholarship
Three former Socceroos, including two Socceroos captains, and a former national women’s league player have been named today as the recipients of the inaugural Elite Coach Development Scholarships by Football Federation Australia (FFA).
“Today-s announcement is about building for the future,” said FFA CEO, Ben Buckley.
“On the one hand, we are delighted to announce the appointment of someone as credentialed and able as Jan Versleijen to head our national youth program which is vital to the long term success of Australian football.
“But on the other hand, we-re also investing in the future by announcing the recipients of our inaugural scholarships under the Elite Coach Development Program,” Buckley said.
Click here for Appointment of Jan Versleijen
Buckley and Techincal Director Rob Baan said that four people had been awarded scholarships valued at $25,000 each under the Elite Coach Development Program.
Paul Okon from Sydney, Alex Tobin of the Central Coast Mariners, Alistair Edwards and Nicola Williams (both of Perth) will take up their scholarships from 1 July.
The Elite Coach Development Program is a scholarship program for younger coaches who aspire to coach at the elite level - whether for an Institute, Women's National League, Hyundai A-League or national team coach position.
"FFA is committed to ongoing growth in the area of football development,” said FFA CEO, Ben Buckley.
“It-s a vital component of our National Football Development Plan, and these scholarships provide another level of implementation in this area.”
Baan added that the Elite Coach Development Program will provide the springboard for targeted Australian coaches to ultimately reach the top of the coaching profession.
“Paul Okon, Alex Tobin, Alistair Edwards and Nicola Williams are all very worthy recipients of these four inaugural scholarships,” Baan said.
“While their playing and professional careers have been very different, they each bring something unique to a potential coaching career and each demonstrate considerable thought for where the game is heading.
“They are typical of the coach of the future in Australia,” Baan concluded.
Baan will lead the program, with assistance from the National Coach Education Manager, Kelly Cross, and the FFA National Teams and Football Development Units.
Each recipient will have a program customised for their level of existing expertise, skills, interests and aspirations.
Paul Okon, 36, said that he was delighted to receive a scholarship.
“It has always been my ambition to get into coaching at the highest level possible,” Okon said.
“I have been playing football for more than 30 years, and have been fortunate to play in the first division in Belgium (Club Brugge), Italy (Lazio and Fiorentina) and England (Leeds and Middlesbrough) as well as here at home, and I would like to share this knowledge as well as gain more.
“The technical direction football is heading in Australia, with people like Rob Baan at the helm, is the right direction for us and I want to be part of it.
“We are seeing the effects of this expertise and I hope that the scholarship will give me greater access and a more thorough understanding of this football methodology and philosophy,” said Okon.
The scholarships are valid for up to three years.