“Women’s football is the better football.” This was the sentiment of Fifa vice-president, Jack Warner yesterday, as he gave the feature address at the conclusion of the Coaching Course for Coaches in Women’s Football held at the Mandela Hall, Centre of Excellence, Macoya.
The course is a part of the TTFF’s Legacy programme for the Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup which will be held in T&T next year from September 5 to 25.
In his address to the coaches who participated in the week-long course, facilitated by former national coaches and players in their respective countries, April Heinrichs (USA) and Andrea Rodebaugh (Mexico), Warner gave the assurance that the women’s game will always have his support.
He lamented the fact, however, that even with the completion of the course or many more like it, the legacy will be a waste, if the relevant stakeholders who are in positions to instill change don’t know the plight of the regional football federations where the women’s game is concerned and do their part to change it.
“We should invite the Heads of Governments to these Legacy Programmes,” said Warner, as he went on to explain that most of the people sitting in the room, where not in positions to implement what they have learnt during the week in their countries.
“In many countries, women’s football is a bad word. For a legacy programme to make sense, it calls for much more, than coaches in a course for a week.” The TTFF special advisor urged, the participants, to return to their countries and ensure that women’s football is in the pail of Fifa competitions.
Earlier in the day, the course ended on a fun note, with a football festival, which saw young members of the Joe Public, Coaching Clinic take part in four versus four matches at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
Caribbean coaches from twelve islands, including those from Jamaica, Cuba and T&T which took part in the recently concluded Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) Final Round Qualifying tournament were exposed to various coaching techniques by Henriches and Rodebaugh.
The course included sessions on systems in defence and attack, goalkeeping, Talent identification and youth development, Psychological skills training and physical training among other topics.