PFA’s Rita Mankowska underscores the Player Development Program’s importance

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The PFA has recently released their 2024 annual Player Development Program (PDP) report highlighting their achievements in supporting players as they navigate their lives within the world of football.

In an interview with Soccerscene, Rita Mankowska, the PFA Head of Player Development, discusses the recent PDP report, coaching development, and much more.

What are the major feelings and thoughts about the recent report in the PFA?

Rita Mankowska: It’s always satisfying reflecting on what the program has achieved and how we have been able to support our members on a collective level, but also individually.

We now have over 1,000 members who can connect to the program, and everyone has different needs for our resources. So that’s a thousand different potential ways the PFA can support each individual, which keeps our team busy, but also gives us great satisfaction too.

The growth of the program is strategic as we’re always looking at new ways, we can enhance the PDP. But it is also a response to the increase in players seeking our services. So, our job is really to respond to and meet those demands, so that every player is supported. The players rated their satisfaction with the program at 97%, which is a good indication that we are meeting their needs.

How has the increase in membership impacted the PDP?

Rita Mankowska: The expansion in membership is due to two reasons: the re-inclusion of Central Coast Mariners in the A-League Women and the growth of our Past Players Program.

The program will increase again with the inclusion of Auckland FC, and we have recently appointed Kirsty Yallop as Auckland’s Player Development Manager to help support the players at the new A-League Men’s team for the forthcoming season.

An increase in membership ultimately results in a greater number of players accessing the Program’s resources, so we have had to ensure regular quality improvement initiatives to ensure the ongoing success of the program.

For the last five years we have added more support staff, we survey players frequently on the Programs they want us to invest in and means test programs to ensure that our core services are meeting the changing demands of our growing membership.

Do any of the results reflect a significant change in the footballing community and the PFA?

Rita Mankowska: A trend we are currently experiencing is the increase of Australian female footballers heading overseas for employment opportunities.  All overseas players have a PFA Player Development Manager; however, this trend led us to form a partnership with Sporting Chance Clinic UK to bolster our existing Mental Health Referral Network and provide additional coverage for members based overseas. Through Sporting Chance, players based in a different time zone can access mental health support.

Tell us about the rise in mental health and well-being support in the PDP what does that tell you about your work and the current climate?

Rita Mankowska: We have experienced a significant increase in the number of confidential counselling sessions accessed by our members over the last five years. While it’s hard to pinpoint the exact reasons behind this trend, it’s likely down to several factors including the de-stigmatisation of mental health in society, general word of mouth between members and a high level of promotion of the service from PFA staff.

Despite the increase, numbers are still in keeping with national averages for those suffering from and seeking assistance for mental health support.

Coaching development and workshops have been important in this PFA. Why has the PFA focused on this and what positive results come from this work?

Rita Mankowska: Over the last two years we have worked closely with Football Australia’s coach education team to try to reduce the barriers of entry for current and past players to develop into coaches.  Thankfully, our efforts have paid off as players have taken advantage of the reduced face-to-face contact hours in AFC Coaching courses, which recognise professional players’ prior knowledge of the game.

We had over 70 current and potential members registered across B and C Diploma courses and held a goalkeeper B Diploma in collaboration with Football Australia for the first time.

With players transitioning into professional coaching roles in growing numbers, we saw an important opportunity to facilitate and subsidise coaching licences.

With regards to skill development workshops, players welcomed the return of these following a hiatus during COVID, showing that face-to-face learning is still an important way to impart knowledge to our members.

How will these results in the recent PFA affect the future season and activity of the PFA?

Rita Mankowska: Moving forward, we will continue to strive to achieve our mission which is to support players with their careers, well-being and retirement via high-quality, evidence-based programs and services.

What are some of the goals the PFA are striving for now after the PDP report?

Rita Mankowska: We compile the annual PDP report for two core reasons; firstly, to ensure that we can demonstrate to the clubs and Football Australia the program’s impact, as the funding for the program comes via our collective agreements with the Leagues and governing body, and, secondly, so we can assess and refine the program. So, our immediate focus will be on assessing our programs and then enhancing them heading into a new A-Leagues season.

Rita Mankowska and the PFA’s hard work in this report identifies matters that hit home with footballers and showcases their drive to achieve more in the coming years, to the benefit of all.

To read more of the report, click here.

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Football South Australia renews partnership with Datacord as Community Football Commitment Deepens

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Image Credit: Football SA

Football South Australia has announced the renewal of its partnership with Datacord, continuing a relationship that has grown steadily since the South Australian print and document solutions provider first entered the football community as naming rights sponsor of the Collegiate Soccer League Division 1.

That initial agreement, which saw Datacord align with one of Adelaide’s most historic amateur competitions, marked the beginning of what has since developed into a broader commitment to South Australian football at every level. The renewed partnership extends Datacord’s involvement beyond the CSL and into the wider Football SA ecosystem, with clubs across the state now able to access exclusive offers and preferred pricing on photocopying, managed print services and tailored business solutions.

The practical value of that access should not be understated. Community football clubs operate on tight margins, relying heavily on volunteer administrators managing everything from registration paperwork to grant applications. Cost-effective print and document solutions reduce the operational burden on those volunteers, a small but meaningful contribution to the sustainability of clubs that form the backbone of the game in South Australia.

“George is a great supporter of sport in South Australia and we are delighted to have Datacord as a supporter of football,” said Football SA CEO Michael Carter. “Service is second to none and we highly recommend their services to the business community within the Football Family.”

For Datacord Managing Director George Koutsoubis, the renewal reflects a genuine investment in the community rather than a transactional commercial arrangement. “It is important to support the local community, and Football South Australia is the perfect place to start spreading the word about Datacord and what we do for the South Australian community,” he said. “We are locally owned and operated, and I think it is a great partnership to be part of.”

Beyond the Pitch: Miyuki Kobayashi on the Real Challenges Facing Japan’s Women’s Game

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Image credit: JEF United

Last week, Soccerscene spoke to pioneer of women’s football in Japan, Miyuki Kobayashi, about the game’s development in Japan and the intersection between sporting and social change in the country.

 

Talent, quality and recent silverware

After Japan’s recent AFC Women’s Asian Cup victory in the final against Australia, the women’s national team solidified its standing as the No.1 team in Asia.

Throughout the last 15 years, Japan’s women’s national team has grown into a formidable opponent, boasting a World Cup trophy, an Olympic silver medal, as well as three AFC Women’s Asian Cups.

The talent is undeniable. The quality is unwavering. And the team shows no signs of slowing down.

But these victories and trophies on the world stage wouldn’t be possible without the leaders behind the scenes – none more so than Miyuki Kobayashi, former WE League Board Member and current JEF United Ladies Scout and Academy Chief.

 

Laying the foundations

Kobayashi has led the charge for women’s football in Japan, promoting not only a sport which values success, but one which empowers female footballers across the nation.

“At university, not many girls were playing and we didn’t have an official team. I went to the US and the environment was so different,” Kobayashi explained.

“That opened my eyes – women can play. That’s how I started the women’s soccer league when I came back: to make an environment for girls to play.”

Thus, accessibility and opportunity became driving factors behind Kobayashi’s work, not only for those on the pitch, but for those in the dugout.

“I got involved at the JFA (Japanese Football Association) to promote women’s football. We wanted to create the opportunity for women to be coaches.”

“They are coached by men all the time, so even when the top players leave the football world, they never think to be involved.”

Furthermore, as a former coach of JEF United Ladies Youth and General Manager, Kobayashi was intent on employing as many female coaches as possible. It was not merely a personel change, but a challenge to widespread social attitudes.

“When I started to employ female coaches, the girls’ parents asked why the coach wasn’t a man. But gradually, we started to make it equal – they didn’t talk about the gender, but about the quality of the coach.”

 

The mission to empower

In 2011, the same year Japan’s women won the World Cup, the domestic league was yet to become professional. Known as the Nadeshiko League, players would work during the day and train in the evenings.

The transition from an amateur to the current professional league required time, resilience and a change in perspective.

“The sports world in Japan is more traditional – it is dominated by men,” said Kobayashi.

“If you want to make the environment even, or (want) more women to come into the (football) world, you can change the mind of the players.”

Since 2021, the WE League has embodied a sense of growth and positive change for the women’s game. In name and nature, it looks to empower players, coaches and all involved in the industry.

“I was in charge of mission achievement for women’s empowerment. We wanted to educate the players, to inspire girls and women who watch the game.”

However, the drive to empower women in football was not without backlash and challenges.

“Some people don’t like that word: ’empowerment’. It’s too strong for them. Some women really appreciate it, but it’s not easy to change the mind of society through football,” Kobayashi admitted.

 

Growing and attracting talent

Although WE League clubs are accelerating youth development and expanding pathways across U15, U18 and first team football, Kobayashi acknowledged that the overall product must improve to bring foreign players to Japan and entice homegrown talent to stay.

“Most of the national team players go to Europe or North America. I don’t say it’s a problem, but from a young age, girls who can play in the WE League want to go abroad,” Kobayashi outlined.

Indeed, when looking at the starting XI in last month’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup final, only one player – Hana Takahashi – plays in the WE League.

But the key to attracting domestic and international players to the WE League, is aligning financial investment and industry attitudes.

“The reason why women’s football has developed in European countries is the social thinking – you have to be equal and have the same opportunities as men in football. The Japanese way of thinking, especially in the football world, is not that at all,” Kobayashi continued.

“When I speak to people at Spanish clubs, women’s football is not a charity, but an investment.”

“We have assets. We have good, young players, but we’re exporting them, so we need to import too.”

Indeed, Spain is a perfect example of what can happen when investment becomes intentional, not optional. Back-to-back UEFA Women’s Nations League titles, 90% television viewership increase since 2016, and record-breaking crowd numbers reflect what can happen when the industry aligns in vision and commitment.

Japan has the players to compete against any nation in the world. Purposeful investment, combined with its overall quality of players and style, could transform the WE League into a true, global powerhouse.

 

The vision for the future

Moving forward, Kobayashi hopes that girls progressing through JEF United’s academies develop confidence and resilience, whether as players or people.

“We want to make the girls – even if they aren’t in JEF United – continue playing football and continue to be leaders,” Kobayashi said.

“Some of them have a dream to be a coach or a leader off the field too, so that’s one of the attributes we want to develop.”

This resilience, reflected by the club’s ‘never give up’ philosophy, is testament to the vision of empowerment championed by Kobayashi across the women’s game.

Even in the face of social obstacles and a lack of financial investment, perseverance and hard work is at the bedrock of women’s football in Japan. It is not just that these values exist, but that they are consistently manifested on and off the pitch, which can show future generations that football is a sport for all – men and women alike.

 

Final thoughts

There is no limit to what the WE League and the national team can achieve if given the resources it deserves. All the ingredients are there: individual quality, a distinct playing style, football philosophy and ambitions to grow.

By following the example of industry leaders like Kobayashi, women’s football in Japan can hopefully continue to make waves of impact – in the sporting landscape and society as a whole.

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