Some forty individuals including teachers and club coaches from the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation benefited from an E License coaching course put on by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation on the weekend at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya.
The two-day exercise which ended on Sunday was overseen by TTFF Technical Director Lincoln Phillips and coach Muhammad Isa and was initiated by TTFF Special Advisor Jack Warner who ensured that his promise made some weeks ago at a presentation to the Penal/Debe Corporation was fulfilled.
The exercise was carried out in an attempt to allow teachers and coaches affiliated with schools and clubs in that Penal/Debe area to widen their knowledge of football and subsequently pass it on the upcoming youngsters, even those who were not die-hard football lovers.
The participants ranged from teachers to principals of schools such as the Hermitage Presbyterian Primary School to St Benedict’s College and they were all afforded the chance to enjoy accommodation at the Le Sportel Inn at the Centre of Excellence courtesy of Warner as they took part in the course which was also aimed at increasing the awareness of football, particularly on a national level, among the people of the Penal/Debe Area. There are intentions to spread this to other parts of the country.
“It really was a wonderful exercise for these people. They are the ones we have to get closer with and it’s happening. They are the ones who will go back and get the younger generation more interested in football and a better and healthier way of doing things both on and off the field. Mr Warner and the TTFF deserve all the credit for having these type of courses and it is something that we intend to continue throughout the country,” Phillips told TTFF Media.
Isa explained that the E License did not mean that those who received it were now coaches. They could however now move on to the D License certified course.
“This is like a driving license and now you have to learn more about it. It’s just like teaching, you have to get more involved so you can gather the experience This course is really to get you motivated to do more,” Isa said.
Every participant was then allowed to voice their opinion on the course during a question and answer segment. Some concerns were raised over insufficient time and facilities being made available by the Ministry of Education for the development of football and a sometimes favour towards cricket in the particular area which Phillips promised to look further into. The participants also saluted the success of the “Soca Warriors” saying that their qualification for the 2006 World Cup has been a major influence among their students and even adults like themselves.
“There are people now who want to be like the players. They all want to be more involved in football. They see hope with this achievement,” participant, former Moruga Composite coach and qualified referee from Barrackpore Krishna Ramkissoon added.
Gemma Ramadoo, principal of the Hermitage Presbyterian School, openly said: “Can you imagine that on the day of the game between Trinidad and Tobago and Bahrain when everyone, all the students and teachers were all getting ready to watch the game on a television set up in the school that our school supervisors sent an urgent notice for all teachers to attend a meeting on the day. And then when we got there, we had only to find out that it was called to discuss the Sesame Street Show in the country and the distribution of tickets. We were all so upset and I made sure to let my supervisor know how I felt about that.”
Ramadoo also gave closing remarks on behalf of the participants, adding “This course was second to none. It was intensive we learned more about the game, had practical experiences. It taught us about developing self esteem and this was made possible by none other than Jack Warner a man who we have admired silently for many years.”