New role for Colum Curtis with the Philippine champions
New AFC Champions League challenge for Colum Curtis
UEFA Pro coach Colum Curtis has not been standing still after leaving his last club. He has been proactive securing further qualifications, educated himself within elite football environments and surrounded himself with top professionals globally in preparation for his next role.
After a successful first Head Coach spell at Cambodian side Visakha sourced by Jobs4football, UEFA Pro Licence coach Colum Curtis has taken his new role with Philippines Champions, Kaya FC.
Colum won Cambodian side Visakha first ever major silver ware when securing the Hun-Sen Cup and now he has set his sights firmly on replicating success in his new South East Asian home. Founded in 1996 his new club Kaya FC, is seen as one of the leading clubs in the Philippines having won League Title, numerous cup competitions and also competed in AFC Cup and AFC Champions League competitions. Expectations are always high when managing the Champions but Jobs4football have no doubt Colum Curtis will deliver.
“First and foremost, it’s great to be back on the pitch doing what I love but to do it at a club like Kaya FC that has been so keen and welcoming since our first conversation has been a bonus.”
Culturally the country has impressed and the support of the club off the pitch has been a key factor with Colum being able to settle quickly and get on with work with no interference which has been a far cry from previous roles,
“As a country, the Philippines is beautiful. Manila is fantastic, I live in a place called BGC that reminds me of a downtown area of a major city in the USA. I love the food, the people and the nurturing culture here. I have everything I need at my disposal and the club are very accommodating with anything else that I need.”
A huge lure to take the role with Kaya FC would have been the experience of Colum picking his wits against other top Head Coaches in the AFC Champions League competition, the premium club competition in Asia, However, in addition to that prestigious tournament, domestically targets have no doubt been set,
“Our target is to go as far as possible in the Copa Paulino Alcantara. I know how much it means to the people here and I would love to play a part in helping Kaya FC lift the trophy come November.
With regards, to the Champions League, it’s no secret we are minnows compared to the other clubs involved but we have belief that we can ruffle a few feathers. It’s down to my staff and I to come up with game plans that can disrupt the major clubs in the region.”
After speaking in detail to Colum, his enthusiasm is infectious and Kaya FC will certainly benefit from that as well as his excellent man management and hard working ethos. Choosing his next step in his career was an important one as any club had to match his own ambitious now and in future,
“I wouldn’t have come here if the club didn’t match my ambition to be successful in my spell, but they certainly are.
I have signed until January but with the uncertainty of the league in 2024 I hope our showings in the next few months will open eyes within the football world.”
His reign as Head Coach could not have got off to a better start with a 7-0 league victory in his first fixture last week. Colum stated,
“As a coach, I am very fortunate to have the players that I have at my disposal. Their application in training and eagerness to learn and implement the tactical concepts that I have put in place throughout the sessions have been fantastic. It’s been quite a change for them and to win our first game 7-0 in a Derby is a testament to the work that they have put in thus far.”
View the highlights of the 7-0 victory below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW_KGf3y7Ws
Everyone at Jobs4football would like to wish Colum Curtis good luck with his new challenge. There is no doubt he is one of the best up and coming Head Coaches in South East Asia and this experience will only be a catalyst for further success on and off the pitch.