Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA) President Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover yesterday officially handed over the entity’s proposed national developmental programme to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) at the latter’s office in Section K Campbellville.
Dover, speaking to media operatives said that the new GFF dispensation has fulfilled its promise of inclusiveness as it recognizes the coaches as a fundamental cog in the pursuit of local development and as such the GFCA will continue to work closely the federation going forward in the interest of the game.
“In order to improve the standard of the sport we have to improve coaching so that we can create a level playing field amongst the teams. We have to match the other clubs and international teams in the CONCACAF region. This programme is based on documents as well as the collective knowledge of the local coaching fraternity” added Dover.
Questioned about the scope of the programme and the areas that will be targeted, GFCA General Secretary Sampson Gilbert stated that 22 general areas will be targeted commencing with the school and grassroots levels as a large concentration of the players exist at this level.
“Coaches’ development, futsal, beach football, talent scouting, player education, masters’ football, infrastructural development, administrative club and association level development inclusive of others will all fall under this holistic blueprint for development,” said Gilbert.
Asked about the funding required to institute such a grand manifesto and who will be responsible to ensure the programme’s implementation, GFF Vice President of Technical and Tactical Development Ivan Persaud said: “We are working on a mandate from CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA and funding will be available from these bodies. But before you can access the necessary funding, you have to ensure that programmes are in place. We also have to approach the government and business community with our structured programme as we are not the only stakeholders of the sport.
“While I am in charge of the technical program and have the final say, a collective approach will be taken and everyone is going to be involved,” he added.
Inquired about the realistic expectations of the national programme from a local and international perspective, Persaud opined… “We have to continue to play football at all levels locally and create a situation where players are constantly training. Internationally the aim is to focus and qualify some of our junior teams for the international events. However this doesn’t mean we will be negating the senior players. Currently we are very close in the U-17 and U-19 levels in CFU and if we start early while targeting the younger players, over the long period we can try and qualify for a senior tournament.”
In an invited comment GFF President Christopher Matthias stated:“I am extremely happy and satisfied at the collaborative effort of the GFCA. This initiative will engineer the national developmental programme for tactical and technical development as it was all inclusive and everyone was able to lend their voices to the creation of this national grid”.
In closing Matthias said that the GFF has proposed the concept of a National Cup which will feature 38 duly constituted clubs competing in a grand tournament. This competition is expected to commence during the month of August and conclude on May 4, 2014.
