“Absorb but pass on knowledge to all”

– CONCACAF’s Goalkeeper Instructor

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/CONCACAF-facilitated Goal Keeping Coaches Course officially opened on Wednesday and the resounding message uttered by CONCACAF’s Goalkeeper Instructor, Claine Anthony Plummer, was for the participants to spread what they will be taught to all stakeholders for the sport to grow.
The one-week course which is being held at the Guyana Fire Service Training Centre, Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, has attracted 19 participants from the member associations.
Plummer, who also conducted the course last year, explained that these courses help to bring awareness of how modern day goalkeeping is done given the progression of the sport.
“The goal keeping department has progressed as well and this programme will only help in closing that gap between top counties in the world who has access to these programme and countries such as these”, the instructor stated.

Likewise, acting President of the GFF, Brigadier (retired) Bruce Lovell disclosed the programme is another part of the Federation’s capacity building.
“As we seek to elevate the standard of football in Guyana it is important we provide the right climate for the persons who have to play the critical role for the elevation to be done,” Lovell addressed the gathering.
He added, “We view the coaches in all areas as every critical and an essential element in the process of elevating standard of football and that is how you have to see yourself as a coach”.
The acting President called for coaches to see themselves as leaders and must have character and competence. His concept of competence aligns with having inter-personal skills to relate their knowledge to others and two being technically equipped with modern concepts.
Looking ahead to the future, Lovell underscored the importance of having qualified coaches if football is to develop. He advocated that all academy training centres and hopefully clubs will have qualified coaches.