Golden Jaguars international and Fruta Conquerors talisman Vurlon Mills has officially retired from the national senior programme with the sole purpose of commencing a new chapter of his life within the professional coaching realm.
This was revealed by the dynamic midfield playmaker during an interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday. According to the stalwart of the national programme, “More or less I have officially retired from the national programme, I would think I had a fairly good career and …I am beginning a new chapter.”
He further added that he will continue to ply his trade locally, revealing, “I will be playing club football with Fruta Conquerors for now because I still enjoy the competitiveness of the game.”
Mills, 32, made his senior debut against the Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago in 2010 and has represented Guyana in several FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, as well as Caribbean and Gold Cup Qualifiers during his playing career which spanned 33 caps. The former San Juan Jabloteh player recorded 14 goals in Guyanese colours. His final match occurred in 2019 against the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica.
He further declared, “I firmly believe that I will be a better coach than player because I like to teach and develop players. I have the passion for youth development. I have no regrets about my decision. I would come back providing that I have the time and that schedule is not that busy in terms of my coaching career and the other projects that I am embarking on.”
Mills, who also has the portfolio of Technical Development of Officer (TDO), revealed that his primary focus is on the recently created Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA), a project which has grown following its birth in February 2018.
He added, “I want to focus on my coaching career and developing the VMFA which is a relatively new programme just over two years old. I want to spend time to build it and maintain the standard. I have been coaching for a number of years before I started the academy, but the focus is not permanently on it. I will dedicate my passion to this. I had garnered knowledge during my playing career at the various stages and I have become certified though the GFF with the CONCACAF ‘C’ and ‘D’ Pro Licenses which indicates my seriousness and intention of becoming a professional coach.”
Mills further disclosed that another objective is to become a pivotal member of the GFF national coaching grid. “I also want to be part of the national coaching grid, even though I could be selected as assistant coach to any local national team, the passion is the youth programmes, I love developing youth players. The GFF is happy with my decision to go into the coaching real as it is a natural progression”, he said.
Meanwhile Mills stated that the current Covid-19 pandemic is having a devastating effect on all and sundry, adding, “I urge everyone to take the necessary precautions and follow all the guidelines and regulations issued by the Ministry of Public Health and WHO. We each can play our part in helping to stop the spread of this virus which has unfortunately affected all parties and industries local or foreign.”
He revealed, “As a means of playing my part in the fight, I will soon be conducting virtual training sessions next week from my home for my players. This is to adhere to social distancing and the guidelines from the Ministry of Public Health and WHO.”
