Licensed for success

David Booth leads from the front during a recent Crown practice session

David Booth, who guided Phnom Penh Crown to the Metfone C-League championship title as well as the final of the AFC President's Cup last season, after more than twenty years coaching abroad, took advantage of some free time in November to join the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) A-level coaching course in Manila, Philippines. David already holds the English FA's Advanced Coaching license (equivalent to the UEFA A license), but the AFC A license is equally important for coaching in this region, so it meant David joined up with a group of 25 other coaches for the 27-day, intensive 148 hours minimum residential course. At this elite level, the course is designed to provide coaches with tactical and advanced technical requirements of teams and team management. Physiological and psychological needs of the players are included and the course members were examined on both practical and theoretical aspects of the game, finishing with a dissertation. David has now received confirmation that he passed the course and now has his AFC A license under his belt. His current focus is on preparing his new-look Crown squad for the upcoming Hun Sen Cup competition and the C-League which should follow on soon after.