The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has commenced the first stage of its Concacaf C License certification this month at the National Training, Providence.
This was disclosed by an official release from the entity.
According to the correspondence, the federation has accelerated its efforts to improve the quality of the local coaching fraternity with the ‘blended learning’ programme which was facilitated by Anton Corneal, Concacaf Coaching Educator and former Technical Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association.
The release stated that 14 coaches participated in the programme which featured online theoretical lessons and practical sessions at the Providence facility and was aided by notable tacticians such as U20 Men’s Team Head Coach Wayne Dover, Golden Jaguars Assistant Coach Charles Pollard, GFF Coach Education and Development Officer Lyndon France, GFF Goalkeeping Coach Eon DeViera and Head Coach for the domestic-based Lady Jags Akilah Castello.
GFF President Wayne Forde said, “I want to congratulate this group of coaches for stepping up and striving for this level of professional certification. In the coming years, as more men and women move through the continuous and incremental licensing process that is standard practice throughout the football world, the GFF will be able to meet all of its coaching needs through local talent, including national team appointments.”
He added, “We inherited a neglected environment for the professional advancement and training of our homegrown coaches but, with patience and investment, we are now making up for those lost years.”
Meanwhile, GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood said, “The GFF is committed to investing in the development of local coaches to drive improvements throughout football, from the grassroots level to senior national teams, and we are delighted to see such a strong appetite from our talented coaches to upskill and realise their own potential with the formal Concacaf structures of coaching qualifications.”
He went on, “Having more coaches at this level of certification means that our national coaching philosophy and pathway will be strengthened over the long-term, increasing the pool of talent we have available for the impactful delivery of our programmes, for national team duties and for technical opportunities within the GFF.”
Lady Jaguars assistant coach Castello said, “It’s a blessing to be able to access a course of this nature and it will definitely improve and strengthen my ability to teach the game of football. It also means that the Technical Director and the GFF see me as an asset to the development of this sport in Guyana.”
She added, “This course will provide information that would allow me to deliver coaching sessions targeting not only individuals but relationships between a bank of players. It’s definitely a step forward and I’m excited about this new growth in my career.”
Similarly, Georgetown Football Association Youth Development Officer and course participant Colin Nelson said, “This course means a lot to me because I aspire to make a difference in football as a coach-teacher and in the lives of the persons I intend to teach. I know that, for me to reach those heights, I need the knowledge and experience necessary to reach my full potential.”
Nelson noted, “This course is helping my development as a coach by arming me with the tools and knowledge necessary to lead and teach positively. It has also given me a platform to challenge myself mentally because of the amount of information and perspectives from the instructors and other coaches.”
“After inheriting an ecosystem of coaches with no valid qualifications in 2015, the Technical Department has since enabled the progress of an all-time high 61 coaches to ‘D’ license or ‘C’ license level, alongside three Guyanese Concacaf coaching instructors, as well as introduced a coaching philosophy and pathway to ensure a uniform approach to football development across the GFF’s nine regional associations. The number of coaches with ‘D’ license or ‘C’ license certification will increase to 75 as a result of the current course. Assistant Technical Director Bryan Joseph and GFF Coach Mentor Sampson Gilbert are working their way towards qualifying as Concacaf ‘B’ license coaches in 2022”, the release stated.
