SVGFF launches Generation Amazing Development Programme

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) is going full steam ahead with the implementation of the Generation Amazing Programme, that is aimed at using Football as a conduit towards social transformation.

According to director of technical matters of the SVGFF, Theon Gordon, an assessment of the current position of the sport here led to his organisation tapping into the Generation Amazing Programme.

“ It came about from recognition as to where we are with club development and grassroots development, so from the technical department, we try to see how we can get programmes where we can get resources such as equipment, and knowledge, how we can get to work, so, we have tapped in to Generation Amazing to help us facilitate the procurement of equipment and the knowledge base in terms of the curriculum they have so that we can apply to our structure”, Gordon told SEARCHLIGHT.

Noting that the Amazing Programme is the stepping stone to wider intent, Gordon continued: “Later in this year, we will be adding FIFA For Schools…

“What we are trying to look at is Football for development for the Under-13s to see how we can use Football to change behaviours…Obviously, we are looking to how we can develop the players themselves in terms of the game itself.”

Gordon explained that this initiative has a long term aim.

“This is the beginning forever…this is putting in the framework from a St Vincent and the Grenadines perspective, and how we can make it sustainable for us,” he said.

All programmes, however, require the approval of the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Education, which are pivotal to their success.

Gordon said that both ministries have pledged their commitment to this process , but “ what we need to do now is create that Memorandum of Understanding, as well as iron out all the different policies”.

This is necessary as the programme targets several primary schools across the nation.

The Generation Amazing Programme is a collaborative effort by various entities, with Concacaf playing a lead role, along with Generation Amazing (GA); the Qatar Football Association (QFA); and the Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC).

And, as the SVGFF launched its programme last week, customer service representative for the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), Jennifer Roche was on island to meet with stakeholders and see first hand, the implementation of the programme.

Roche who was also present at a Grassroot Football Festival on Saturday, January 28, shared her organisation’s vision for the programme.

“This programme is heavily rooted in coaches’ education and capacity building and how we can empower coaches, teachers, volunteers in their communities, not only to teach children Football, but to teach them life skills through the game,” Roche commented.

Expanding on the programme, Roche said “At Concacaf we developed two units; thinking how do we create social citizens imparting life skills, and we have the safeguard and child protection”.

A recent release from the secretariat of the SVGFF about the programme states that “The key objective is to bring football education to communities where the young people have limited access to the sport”.