Team Crew members now FIFA certified coaches

The members of Team Crew may have been disappointed after being told that they would not be receiving a street football pitch and would have to settle for another prize;{{more}} but they have returned from a one-week FIFA certified coaching course in Trinidad and Tobago, saying that they are optimistic about the future of football here.

They returned last week and have had a lot to say about their experience.

Kenson Stoddard, coach of Team Crew, thanked the Guinness brand for giving the members of the team the opportunity.

“It was an experience; we have nine qualified coaches at the Under-16 level,” Stoddard said at a press briefing last Wednesday.

He further explained that they were now qualified to coach children between the ages of 8 and 16, “which is the developmental stage of football,” he said.

“We were exposed to a higher level of training. We were exposed to a number of tactical and technical approaches to the game; a different level of thinking and so it was very beneficial to the team,” Stoddard told members of the media.

He explained that, as a coach, he was placed at a different level.

“One where we could understand from a different perspective, not as a player, because as a coach we have tough decisions to make and so individuals were exposed to that sort of condition and environment where you are in charge of the team; so it was an excellent experience,” Stoddard said.

Player Paul Farrell said that there were already a number of players on Team Crew who were already coaching, but the opportunity that had now been given to them added some more qualifications to their coaching skills.

“As for the course itself, we were exposed to a higher level of learning in terms of delivering our sessions, planning and executing a proper coaching session.”

He spoke of the facilities, saying that they were also exposed to some first- class playing fields, adding that the exposure made them realize the importance of having a stadium-like facility in St Vincent.

“The experience was great; we learnt a lot and we represented St Vincent well,” Farrell said.

He added that they managed to make a lot of connections with other coaches from across the region.

“And from my perspective, we are excited to start doing more with the kids,” he said.

The team won the regional Guinness Street Football Challenge back in June 2012 and as part of the prize, were expected to be awarded a street football pitch worth US$25,000.

However, Team Crew and central government could not reach an agreement regarding a suitable site for the pitch.

Minister of Sport, Cecil McKie had offered a spot at Diamond, but Team Crew suggested that a piece of land at Sion Hill, or the village hard court be offered instead.

The stalemate dragged on and the team opted, in agreement with officials of the Guinness brand, to attend the coaching course instead.

Shafia London-Williams, regional commercial manager and Hairoun brand manager, said that they were disappointed that they were unable to give them what was promised, but added that she thought that the training was something that could not be taken away from them.

“We came up with an alternative for the team, especially seeing that they would have made us so proud – Guinness SVG and Guinness International decided that what better way to reward these players than to give them the opportunity to be able to transfer their skills to other players in the community and so we decided to have them participate in a FIFA certified trainers program in Trinidad and Tobago,” she said. (DD)