SVGFF gloving goal- keeping department

Concerned with the state of goal keeping here, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) has embarked on bettering that aspect of the sport.{{more}}

A three day CONCACAF workshop held from last Thursday to Saturday at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, was one of the means to prop up local goalkeepers as well as coaches.

The course had Costa Rican born Claine Plummer as the main facilitator.

The brainchild of technical director of the SVGFF Keith Ollivierre, who informed SEARCHLIGHT that the course was “two years in the making.”

Speaking about the genesis of the course, Ollivierre stated, “In our assessment of the overall game, we have noticed that goalkeeping is one of the weak areas and we hardly have good goalkeepers coming through.”

Ollivierre disclosed that the course was two years in the making and they were only now able to access it.

As part of the process of strengthening the thrust, committee member of the SVGFF John Hinds will be assisting assigned national goalkeeper coach Kevin Richardson.

Hinds, a former national goalkeeper, acknowledged that no longer are goal keepers readily available.

“We no longer get them (goalkeepers) like picking them off a tree… At one time St Vincent and the Grenadines had good goalkeepers… But the present crop of goalkeepers need to be more technical and fit into the modern day way of the game,” Hinds proffered.

Hinds analysed that goal keepers today need “more foot” involvement in the game, as all 11 players are now required.

“Today’s goalkeepers are first in attack and last in defending,” Hinds touted.

Richardson said that his department will have to step up its effort and use some of the persons who benefitted from the course to advance the techniques in the various communities.

“We normally have our Saturday mornings Grassroots goalkeeping sessions, but will have to step it up… With the school tournament coming up, we will have to go into the schools and have sessions with the goal-keepers,” Richardson proposed.(RT)