Hypolite – SVGFF’s not the only one responsible for Football development

For many years, football fans across St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have been criticizing the poor performance of the national team.{{more}}

In most cases, blame for the situation is placed squarely at the feet of the SVG Football Federation (SVGFF). However, General Secretary of the SVGFF Ian Hypolite has come to the defence of his organization, saying “It is not only the football Federation that is responsible for Football development.”

“We do play an integral part in the process, but we haven’t had primary school football in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the past 6 years,” Hypolite explained.

This, according to the General Secretary, is the starting stage for the development of footballers.

“For example, Cornelius “Outlaw” Huggins is a product of primary school football championships, and if we don’t have all the elements functioning, then we’ll be retarded in our developmental processes,” he stated.

Huggins is presently the assistant coach of the national team and also the oldest player on the team, at the age of 36.

Hypolite, who made his comments at a press briefing last week, went on to explain that the Federation is continuing with its grassroots football.

“This is not related to the development of structured coaching, but there are zones which we are going to rename as academies. Three coaches will be attached to these academies,” he noted.

All of these plans, according to the General Secretary, will come into play following the completion of the technical centre at Brighton which is scheduled to be on track by February 2012.

“We are in a developing process and I do hope that everything stays on stream,” said Hypolite.(AA)