Quality teachers are likely to produce quality students − Coach Sampson Gilbert

Coach Sampson Gilbert is very appreciative of the recent opportunities local football coaches have been afforded to better their skills, since there is a trickle-down effect of positivity.
In the past few weeks, not only have some football coaches been given the equipment to steer young players as part of a renewed Academy Training Center (ATC) programme, but others have benefited from an online introductory course for the job.

These initiatives, according to Fruta Conquerors Coach Sampson Gilbert, will do a great lot, not only for the coaches and players, but also for the future of Guyana’s football.
“I’m very excited about this return to football project, and, more importantly, this notion of giving equipment to actually empower the coaches and the development process across the country,” the Coach shared.
Highlighting the aforementioned trickle-down effect, Gilbert opined, “I think that the whole aspect of coaches’ education and coaches’ development is part of this whole project. We know that as long as you have quality teachers, you’re likely to have quality students, and the result is quality development for our country’s football.”
Continuing in a comment invited by Guyana Times Sport about the recent happenings in football, Gilbert expressed his appreciation for the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) willingness to start training at the grassroots level.
This, he noted, is an important step in the development of the sport.
The long-time Fruta Conquerors Coach explained, “I’m very elated. This is where it is, at the grassroots level is where it starts. Actually, grassroots is not just youth; grassroots is total involvement at every age group, even the differently-abled. Grassroots is comprehensive.
“So, having equipment helps us to involve everyone in the game, and, more importantly, the young players, who through their stages of development they’re able to acquire their necessary skill to go into well developed and skilled senior players that could actually represent the country and make us happy,” Gilbert further commented.
Aside from the coaches and players, referees and match officials have also been on the receiving end of training and education recently. The GFF handed over the Academy Training Center (ATC) programme to the Regional Member Associations (RMAs) last month, and many coaches have been tasked with running sessions in the ATC programme.