Kaieteur Sport raps GFF TD Claude Bolton

May 08, 2015 Sports

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Recently appointed Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Technical Director Claude Bolton is wasting no time in getting his plan for the technical development of the sport up and running. Work in this regard has already picked

up pace with Bolton on the job juts about four months.
Bolton recently gave Kaieteur Sport an update on progress so far. Following are the questions posed and the answers given.
Kaieteur Sport: In relation to the proposed Elite League, how are plans coming?
Claude Bolton: The GFF Competitions Committee has been focused on making certain that the Club Licensing application process is followed correctly, as outlined by CONCACAF. As you may know, Club Licensing will have a direct impact on the Elite League, as it will determine which Clubs will be eligible to apply to participate in the yet to be named Elite League.
The discussions with regard to the Elite League structure itself have been ongoing. The Competitions Committee determined that four main areas would guide them with regard to the selection of Clubs to participate in this tier I of Guyana Football, i.e.  (1) Acquisition of an Elite Club Licence; (2) Financial Sustainability; (3) Competitive Results/History; (4) Geographic Representation. The deadline to apply for entry is fast approaching, so, the Competitions Committee will have an opportunity to review the possible entrants and begin to finalize the new league’s structure.
Kaieteur Sport: You have made visits to the associations, how have these been going and what were the areas dealt with?
Claude Bolton: Yes, with the exception of Bartica, which I am scheduled to visit in mid-May, I have been able to visit all the Associations. I must say, I very much appreciated that each and every one of them was most welcoming. Executives were very open in their discussions and most willing to listen to our ideas for moving forward.
The purpose of the meetings with having the Technical arm of the GFF meet with the Associations was to introduce myself in person, give an outline of the Next Generation Project, to highlight the advent of Club Licensing, to visit some of the facilities utilized, and to somewhat better understand the challenges that each Association faces.
Kaieteur Sport: Club Licensing, how is this progressing and how important is this in the scheme of things going forward?
Claude Bolton: We have been fortunate to have CONCACAF guide us every step of the way.  In particular, Mr. Andres Portabella, who will be visiting us shortly to give even further oversight to the process.  The GFF has been meeting with the Clubs in the various Associations to review the application process and the criteria.  Most importantly, the GFF has articulated that we are here to help all Clubs meet the minimum criteria set by CONCACAF.  We can show them how to get there.  It is imperative for Guyana Football to get its football family in order with structures that are essential to good governance and growth.  Club Licensing pushes any Club to be accountable and counted.
Since participation in future CONCACAF Regional competitions is dependent on a Club having a Club License, we have woven that requirement into our Elite League Application as well.  As for Clubs that will be applying for the Elite League Club Licence, in order for them to be eligible to participate in the Elite League, the deadline is fast approaching.  We anticipate that only a handful of Clubs, at present, will all ready have their structure and finances in order.  However, all Clubs now have a beacon that will guide them to establish the best practices that can only raise the level of football in their Club and in our nation.
Kaieteur Sport: In terms of Youth and women development how is this progressing?
Claude Bolton: The Next Generation Project also outlines our plans for our Youth and Women’s Development programs. Earlier this year, over the course of a weekend, we conducted a Pilot Project in Lethem and surrounding areas that included two Grassroots Clinics, both girls and boys Youth Clinic, and incorporated a Coaching Clinic.
This also allowed us an opportunity to have our first GFF Mentored Coach join us; Vurlon Mills helped to guide the Rupununi youth through a series of activities while he was guided through the Principles of Youth Development.
That weekend was used as the basis for some of our Youth Programmes as we go forward. We are now in the process of identifying individuals that will take up the posts of Youth Development Officers for the GFF. These are the Coaches that will facilitate our Grassroots and Youth programmes throughout the country.
As for Women’s Development, we were very enthused by the support for the two Women’s Awareness Days that we hosed at Camp Ayangana. It provided proof that Women of all ages still share a deep love for the beautiful game. The success of these events was not merely found in the numbers that we had participate but the desire of all involved to have more. We have recently met with the Women’s Association to outline the launch of various Women’s Football initiatives which will kick off with a CONCACAF Women’s Football Day.
This event will be the starting point to empowering women in our sport. A Women’s Football Conference, a Women’s D League, and a long awaited return to Women’s international football. Women need to play now.
Inaugural “D” License Course
The Guyana Football Federation Inaugural “D” License Course recently concluded with encouraging feedback from the candidates. This historic course is evidence that the GFF has actualized its commitment to placing Coaching Development at the forefront of our Football Development.
Coaching candidates were guided through the Principles of Youth Development with an emphasis on the Under-6 – Under-12 age group. They were introduced to the philosophies that are the foundation for Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD).
There is much that goes into to planning such a course. We were able to learn from this initial offering how best to simplify the transfer of knowledge for both the coaching candidates and the players that they will be coaching.

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