GFCA hands over historic Development Plan to GFF

May 22, 2013 Sports

The Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA) created history yesterday when it presented a National Development Plan to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) during a simple presentation ceremony which was conducted, at the Federation’s Head Office, Dadanawa Street, Campbellville.
In attendance at the occasion were President of the GFCA, Wayne Dover, and Secretary Sampson Gilbert who presented the document to Vice-president of the GFF, Ivan Persaud.

President of the Guyana Football Coaches Association, Wayne Dover hands over the document to GFF Vice-President Ivan Persaud in the presence of GFCA Secretary Sampson Gilbert yesterday.

Gilbert said it is indeed historic that the Coaches Association, which was dormant for a while, can prepare and submit a plan on the way forward to the governing body. The “draft plan”, he said, will chart the way forward for the immediate, short and long term development of football in Guyana.
“This is indeed a momentous occasion: the presentation of the coaches’ association national development plan. We were in collaboration with all the stakeholders in football required to present a plan that would actually reflect the development of football in the long term, dividing it into shot, medium and obviously, projecting into a long term,” Gilbert outlined.
He added, “We at the coaches association used various references to have this plan put together and we embraced documents and plans that were done and proven successful internationally over a period of time. We thought it wise to involve not only the technical aspect of development, but even what may be needed holistically from an administrative perspective how it would integrate with the whole level of development technically, using the pillars of development in football: tactically, socially, psychologically.”
Gilbert stated that the document is open to modifications and or additions from the hierarchy of the GFF that may be necessary for the development process to take place within the projected period of nine years.
Quizzed on where the GFCA will acquire funds to execute the plans mentioned in the document, Gilbert guided the question to Persaud, who disclosed that the local governing body is working on a mandate set out by CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA, who had promised funding following deliberations that included GFF President Christopher Matthias with the CONCACAF Top Brass at the Congress that was held in Panama earlier this year.
He revealed that they were assured that increased funding could become available for football development, once the respective affiliates can derive a proper plan.
“But before you can access this funding you have to have programmes in place and that is why we’re going this route. To make sure that we create a programme that could be shown to CFU and CONCACAF, the reason why we need money and we can tell them how much we need and when we need this money…and at what stage we are in our development programme,” Persaud pointed out.
He also stated that the GFF executive have already met with President Donald Ramotar and Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, who both expressed government’s support for the development of the game.
According to Persaud, the two officials had pledged their support for a programme that is not disorganized, [but] something that is planned and structured, adding that that is exactly what they are doing, following the mandate.
President of the GFCA, Wayne Dover, who is also the senior national coach, said the coaches are happy that the new executive body of the GFF recognises the role they play in the development of football.
“Because never before in the history of football in Guyana the coaches have been called upon to play such a role in terms of development, so we’re going to ensure we work closely with the Football Federation to make this a reality in terms of the implement of the plans put forward here,” Dover declared.
Among the plans of the GFCA is to tackle football development in the schools and communities, as well as zoom in on talent spotting and selection, beach football and futsal, coaches development and education, academy for skilled players, international friendlies, ground and infrastructural development and the setting up of a database for coaches among others.