Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

FEU

Roman Oliver’s passion for potential drives his journey to FEU


The UAAP has a rich history of foreign coaches who have significantly enhanced its various sports events.

From the esteemed ‘Master’ Kim Chul-Su and Tai Bundit to the strategic Tab Baldwin, the league’s member schools have sought international mentors to elevate their varsity programs and accelerate their players’ development.

In the current season, Far Eastern University is striving to reclaim its championship title in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament.

At the helm of this endeavor is Román Oliver, who recently led the Tamaraws to a decisive 3-0 victory over Adamson University.

This win, achieved last Sunday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium, marked Oliver’s debut match in charge of the Tams.

“It’s important to have the three points, but most importantly, I’m very happy about the way we achieved it,” said the 39-year-old coach from Barcelona, Spain.

“The image, especially in the first half, is exactly how we need to continue working. It’s not just about winning; we want people to enjoy watching our style of play. This is one of our objectives. Yes, we’re happy.”

Oliver began his coaching career in his hometown, working with youth teams for notable clubs such as FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol.

His career has taken him to Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and most recently Thailand.

The opportunity to work with FEU came through a call from long-time football program head Vince Santos.

UAAP-S87-Mens-Football-FEU-vs-AdU-Edgar-Aban-2 Roman Oliver's passion for potential drives his journey to FEU FEU Football News UAAP  - philippine sports news

(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team

Attracted by the prospect of joining one of the country’s most successful collegiate programs, Oliver packed his bags and moved to Manila just in time for Season 87.

#ReadMore  Rico Andes hattrick highlights Tamaraws rout of Soaring Falcons to nail first win

“Vince called me two months ago,” Oliver recalled. “He was interested in my involvement and proposed that I come here to help FEU for this UAAP season.

“I saw the potential in the project and the players’ performances from last season. Everything here is amazing—the people, the environment. I have only positive things to say and am thrilled to be here.”

Although FEU enjoyed a comfortable start to the season, the road ahead promises more challenging encounters.

The Tamaraws are determined to regain the title they lost in Season 86 to the eventual champion University of the Philippines.

For Oliver, there is still much work to be done. However, he remains motivated by the players’ willingness to go the extra mile.

“Even today, we improved in the last 10 minutes of the match,” he noted. “This is an area we need to address from last season and these pre-season matches. We are conceding too many goals in the final moments, and today, we lost some control in the last 20 minutes. We need to enhance our performance in these critical periods.”

Oliver also emphasized the need for better team cohesion and tactical knowledge.

“We need to improve how we play together. At times, we lost control, and there was too much distance between the players. Enhancing our tactical understanding will be crucial. However, given the hard work, attitude, and hunger of the team, I believe these improvements are entirely feasible.”

Written By

Lorenzo's a frustrated author who knows a thing or two about Football and Basketball. Went all green from Ortigas to Taft. Supports Liverpool FC, FC Bayern Munich and the Alaska Aces


You May Also Like

ADMU

Ateneo de Manila University flipped the switch in the second half to beat its fabled rival De La Salle University, 4-1, securing full points...

AdU

By: Nicole Parallag Rookie Joseph Garces powered University of the Philippines to its first victory in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Football Tournament,...

Basketball

Precious Momowei did all he could to extend University of the East’s winning streak in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament. This...

FEU

Far Eastern University dominated University of the East, securing a 4-0 victory to notch its second consecutive win in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate...

News

By: Christian David Ruiz National University’s Harlyn Serneche and Diza Berayo gave it their all in a finals rematch against Adamson University in the...

News

By: Czarina Agaton University of the East open hitter Christian Antonio played with resilience despite sustaining a minor injury during training. In their four-set...

Basketball

University of the East faced a major setback in its bid for a fourth straight win against Ateneo de Manila University, with Filipino-American gunner...

ADMU

University of the East continued its surge in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament, coming back from 10 points down in the...

Advertisement