Locals off to Brazil coaching course
ELEVEN Advanced Level Two coaches left the island yesterday to embark on a one-week coaching course from July 1-9 in Brazil.
The announcement was made by general secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Horace Reid, at the presentation of certificates for the first FIFA Women’s Coaching Course at the Federation’s offices yesterday.
The course will be conducted by the Traffic Football Academy on behalf of the JFF and will have lecturers from Sao Paolo University.
Reid noted that Trinidad and Tobago coach Jamaal Shabaaz, Grenada’s head coach Lester Smith and Guyana’s coach Wayne Dover will be among the participants.
The local contingent includes Andrew Price of Boys’ Town, Marcel Gayle of Waterhouse, Junior Francis of Reno, National Under-20 coach Andrew Edwards, Portmore’s Geoffrey Hewitt and Calvin Lewis, Nigel Stewart and Vassell Reynolds of Sporting Central Academy, Tivoli’s Alvin Shaw, David Price of Volvo FC and Harbour View’s Harold Thomas.
The JFF had extended an open invitation to all Premier League clubs and coaches with Advanced Level Two certification.
Reid revealed that the coaches will only be responsible for their airfare as all other expenses, which is estimated to be about $4 million, will be covered by the JFF.
“The coaches will pay for their air tickets, but the JFF will be responsible for accommodations, meals, ground transport and lecturers’ fees,” said the veteran administrator.
Reid was also upbeat about the trip, saying he believes it will produce remarkable results for the country’s football.
“I am very confident that they will return in another week… more equipped and with greater knowledge that will eventually benefit our football development,” he said.
He noted that the game is constantly evolving and it was important local football keeps abreast of the latest modifications in the game.
“This is a great opportunity for our coaches to improve on what they have learnt in the past,” Reid added.
The sessions will be conducted by experienced world-class presenters, most of whom are lecturers at Sao Paolo University.
The group will include technical director Professor Dr Walter Gama and former Jamaica technical director Reno Simoes.
Reid stated that this has been in the pipeline for some time and now that it has come to fruition, it is a major step in the developmental thrust that the JFF has undertaken.
While in Brazil, the coaches will deal with a wide range of topics such as football organisation and management, tactics, nutrition, player recruitment, development and transition to professional careers, physiology control, psychological aspects in football, football game skills and goalkeeping.
