Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
FIFA TDO commits to full support and guidance for Guyana
Satisfied GFF on the right path
By Franklin Wilson
FIFA Technical Development Officer (TDO) for the South East Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago’s Anton
Anton Corneal
Corneal says that Guyana can look forward to his and the world governing body’s unequivocal support as the nation continues to embark on a path towards building a solid technical foundation.
Speaking with Kaieteur Sport at the Pegasus Hotel whilst he was wrapping up his latest visit to Guyana yesterday, Corneal said that he has seen positive changes in the landscape of Guyana’s football over the past few months and has complimented the FIFA appointed Normalisation Committee chaired by Clinton Urling for doing a fine job so far.
“The Normalisation Committee is very vibrant and proactive trying to follow best practices and one is by hiring a Technical Director who as far as I have seen, understands Guyana’s football and some of the history so he knows exactly the direction they need to move forward.”
The experienced Corneal, a former Technical Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, posited that it is important to implement a programme that has longevity and proper progressions with young players all the way up to the senior teams while noting that the history of Guyana’s football stands on its own.
“You have done well sporadically; you’ve done well with your national senior teams. You’ve had times when your youth teams were very competitive in the Caribbean and sometimes at the CONCACAF level.”
Corneal is of the view that with such a background, Guyana needs the kind of technical structure that is being implemented through the Next Generation Project (four year) that was rolled out by Technical Director, Claude Bolton last month (April) in order to be competitive and a viable federation.
Given the vastness of Guyana and the cost to visit the far reaching areas, the Next Generation Project speaks to the implementation of the GFF District Alignment strategy.
The North West District will have four associations – Essequibo, Bartica, West Demerara and Georgetown. North East District comprise of Upper Demerara, East Bank, East Demerara and Berbice, while the South District has one association, Rupununi.
The district divisions would be used to deliver and monitor player and coaching development through the requisite programmes the GFF will offer through FIFA and CONCACAF.
“I know Mr. Bolton has already started to implement his plan and I’ve personally traveled with him to one of your outreach areas and seen the potential in some of those areas and I’m sure it is the same in some of the other areas. So hopefully he’s going to be able to grasp the attention of the people of those areas and give them the opportunity to develop the game in each area and not just in Georgetown.”
Corneal encouraged that the GFF needs to tap in to the various courses that are on offer to Member Associations (MAs) by FIFA each year.
“They ask the federations to apply for at least three to four courses, CONCACAF does the same also, so they {GFF} need to use that opportunity to get coaching courses here for youth, senior, club and grassroots coaches which is one of the more important programmes offered by FIFA. Grassroots targets coaches who are in charge of 6 to 12 year olds.”
Corneal said he has also urged the GFF to start implementing programmes in especially the far reaching areas not just the capital city and its close environs.
“You want to ensure that your arms are reaching the full country because you know the geographics of Guyana is a lot different to most of the other countries and that must always be taken into consideration.”
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