TTFF aims for 200 plus trained coaches by year end

This was stated by TTFF technical adviser Keith Look Loy at the closing ceremony of the inaugural TTFF “C” License course at the Ken Galt Hall, Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence on Saturday. A total of twenty four coaches including some former national players and coaches of local clubs and colleges received their certificates and will now be entered into a database for coaches under the TTFF as several other coaching courses and seminars come on stream in the future.

Pete De Jong and Etienne Silee of the Dutch KNVB (Dutch Coaching Academy) were present to oversee the one-week course which was delivered by six local instructors who had receive prior training from the Dutch specialists. Jamaal Shabazz was the event coordinator while Anton Corneal headed the group of local instructors.

“We plan to have six courses this year and with an average of 25 to 30 people then by end of year we would have trained 200 or more coaches, We will have ‘C’ and ‘B’ courses next year and also add goalkeeping courses this year . So in five years we would have had 1500 coaches and that is a lot for a small country like ours. With all of us working in the same way... imagine what the future could hold,” Look Loy said.

He spoke about the many influences in T&T in relation to football coaches attending courses   ranging from the English, Brazilian, German, American and Scottish.

“We have all of these influences and you cannot put a two groups of coaches in Trinidad and Tobago in the same room and have them agree on very much on how the game should be approach.”

Look Loy continued : “It’s going to take time and it’s the responsibility of everyone to make sure it’s successful. We have a tremendous opportunity to create an ever expanding group of well trained technicians.  This is a window that has to be jumped through to come under one vision. There must be a collective. We cannot be Dutch because we are not Dutch. There is a lot to be learnt from that but there are particularities here that we must adapt to that are realities.  In order to evolve and elaborate a collective approach and philosophy that suits us.”

Look Loy added that the TTFF was not at a point where it can change the direction of its football through proper coaching.

“We are at a point where we can change the direction of Trinidad and Tobago football. The events of the past two weeks in a sense are historic. Now we have a pool of trained people who can deliver courses. We had courses before but not necessarily delivered by trained personnel. Now we have instructors who have some level of training which will continue. Now we have the first of a series of runs in the ladder of coach education,” he said, adding that the TTFF will make every effort to ensure the coaching education program is sustained.

Former national team winger Leonson Lewis was among the group of 24 coaches being certified and he described it as an enriching one.

“I think all courses allow you to lean something more. The Dutch system is one that I like. They showed you in their vision how you can solve problems and simplify it,” Lewis told TTFF Media.

“You get more knowledge and an insight into what you can do when you go back to your players. It’s great for coaches here and it’s just a matter of broadening our knowledge. It’s about coaching coaches now so that we ourselves can have a bigger range so that we can continue to impart our knowledge. It’s important that the TTFF and we as coaches continue to build on something like this and gather all the experience and knowledge possible.”

List of local coaches graduating from inaugural TTFF ‘C’ License course
Derick Wilson, Dr Ryan Shim, Leonson Lewis, Dean Pacheco, Dexter Cyrus, Lincoln Augustus, Dunstan Williams, Kelshall Alexander, Sydney Baptiste, Alvin Chapman, Dexter Harris, Ian Antoine, Roger Smith, Marlon Minguell, Anthony Wickham, Marlon Phillips, Kathy Marcelle, Nigel DeSousa, Clyde Gill, Kevin Cadogan, Marlon Wylie, Raymond Alleyene, Jason Spence, James Baird.