Ufuk Talay: “Never compromise your beliefs on the way the game should be played”

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“Be strong in your beliefs. Don’t compromise on your playing style and philosophy and the principles of how you want to play, whether your winning 5-0 or losing 5-0. You might tweak a few a few things but never compromise on any beliefs on the way the game should be played.” Ufuk Talay’s ‘One Piece of Wisdom’.

Season 4, Episode 4 of the Football Coaching Life with Gary Cole is an engaging and open conversation with Ufuk Talay, the manager of Wellington Phoenix’s A-League Men’s side.

Ufuk fell in love with the game through his father who encouraged him to develop his skills. His dad used the SBS TV show ‘Captain Socceroo’ to find new skills for Ufuk to master! Those were the days!

After debuting for Marconi and winning a championship in the NSL, Ufuk signed for the large Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray coached by Liverpool legend Graeme Souness. We discuss the passion of the incredible derbies with Fenerbahçe and his almost 10 years playing in Turkey.

He had the opportunity to serve an apprenticeship on his coaching journey at Sydney United, the AIS and the Joeys before taking on Head Coaching roles with the Joeys and the Australian U20 teams. Ufuk then served as an Assistant with Steve Corica at Sydney FC before taking on the Manager position at Wellington Phoenix, where his team consistently plays attractive and successful football.

Ufuk talks openly about his coaching journey, his learnings from Ange Postecoglou, developing young Kiwi footballers and the challenge of Australian junior coaches with so many players not getting enough game time.

Please join us in sharing Ufuk Talay’s Football Coaching Life.

Listen to the podcast or watch on FCA’s YouTube via the link here.

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More than 220 coaches attend Football South Australia’s second NOVA Youth Club Championship workshop

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Image Credit: FQ

Football South Australia drew more than 220 coaches to its second NOVA Youth Club Championship Coaches Workshop in late May, underlining the scale of engagement clubs are generating through the state’s restructured youth competition framework.

The online session was facilitated by Football SA Technical Director Michael Cooper, who also serves as Junior Matildas Head Coach. Cooper shared observations from the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup and Australia’s qualification for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, giving club-level coaches a window into the demands and standards of elite international football.

The presenter line-up extended that international lens further. Lachlan Tosh and Cristiano Dos Santos spoke to their experiences in national tournament environments, while legendary Australian coach Tom Sermanni addressed the fundamentals of youth coaching. Colin Sanctuary from the University of Newcastle examined coaching language and its direct influence on player learning.

Themes running across the session included the primacy of long-term player development over short-term results, with presenters consistently emphasising technique, ball mastery, individual improvement, and decision-making under pressure. Coaches were encouraged to expose players to varied styles of play, facilitate practice outside organised training, and help young players retain possession longer in match conditions.

Post-session feedback pointed to strong practical value, with coaches singling out clear communication, relationship-building, and age-appropriate feedback as key takeaways.

The workshop series sits within the broader transition from the Youth Premier League to the Club Championship model, which ties coaching participation to championship points for clubs and CPD credits toward individual coaching diplomas. Six workshops are scheduled across the season, with four still to come.

Premier League backs grassroots football in Singapore

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Image credit: Premier League

The NEXTGEN coach programme saw past legends and current coaches unite to deliver an activity intent on supporting grassroots football through high quality and inclusive coaching.

 

Creating new leaders

To reach the top in elite football requires tactical education, personal guidance and consistent support throughout the development journey.

Coaches therefore take on a great deal of responsibility for players seeking a top-flight dream.

Yet even for those who never make it to the top, there is always one coach who stands out. Not necessarily for the silverware achieved or results on the pitch, but for the way they helped build a person off the pitch to play better on it.

The Premier League’s NEXTGEN Coach programme in Singapore aims to equip coaches with the skills and knowledge to do exactly that: creating welcoming environments which nurture confidence and a love for the game.

“This will hugely benefit local coaches, providing them with expert training and skills that will cascade into the communities they coach in,” said Premier League Director of Community, Nick Perchard, via media release.

“After opening the League’s first international office in Singapore more than seven years ago, we are now building on our commitment to the country with a structured coach development programme.”

 

What does the programme include?

The programme initially saw Premier League coaches deliver training sessions to coaches from StarHub – the League’s broadcast partner in Singapore who engage with local community football.

Furthermore, the training was consolidated through stakeholder engagement events and talks from 150 students at the Institute of Technical Education about their careers in the game.

In total, the programme saw 30 coaches take part – all from diverse backgrounds selected by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to maximise community reach and positively impact as many young individuals as possible.

“Youth development is a key priority for FAS, and it starts at the grassroots level,” explained FAS General Secretary, Badri Ghent via media release.

“Coaches play a central role in shaping not just how young players learn the game, but how they experience it, building confidence, character and a lifelong connection to football.”

Through high quality programmes like NEXTGEN, grassroots football can grow to ensure future coaches and players are confident in themselves and their future roles in the game.

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