THE Barbados Football Association (BFA) continues to make strides in football development. This time it is in their promise to improve coaches’ development and football education.
Thirty youth coaches are participating in the CONCACAF D Licence Coaching Course this week which is being conducted by CONCACAF instructors Joe Supe of the United States and St Kitts and Nevis former national player Lenny Lake.
At the official opening ceremony held at the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) headquarters last Monday, CONCACAF director of coaching Jonathan Martinez praised the BFA for taking this essential step in their football development.
“I want to thank the Football Association for taking the initiative to host the course as it is not mandated,” (by FIFA/CONCACAF), he said.
Martinez emphasised the importance of coaching education and informed the coaches that the knowledge gained during the week is to impact meaningful change.
Senior BFA vice-president Captain Al Walcott shared Martinez’s sentiments and further mentioned that this was just one of the areas the association will be seeking to improve over the next two years.
“The BFA is looking forward to providing opportunities to develop the game on all fronts, especially at this time, on the development and conduct of our coaches”, stated Walcott.
He encouraged the participants to work hard towards success, so that all can see the fruits of their labour and aid football’s development.
Executive board member Adrian Donovan challenged the coaches to “get on board”, as the
BFA is charting a new path in football growth as mandated by the world governing body FIFA, and one such item on the check list being the certification of all registered coaches by 2016. (ROG)
