Newly appointed Head Coordinator of Technical Programmes for the T&T Football Association Jamaal Shabazz said he's looking forward to executing his duties in ensuring that the technical development programmes are put on by the association beginning, come 2017.
His appointment was announced at a TTFA press conference on Wednesday. Shabazz served as coach of Guyana in three separate stints over a 10-year period and is a former T&T national senior women's team coach. He also served a assistant coach of the T&T men's team.
In explaining his role, Shabazz said: "My role is not really as an active coach but it is to coordinate projects and programmes initiated by the technical director and the TTFA and get it up and running; and also to see if I can cut through the red tape and bureaucracy. For instance we need to get the women's programme up and running. We have started by appointing Carolina Morace and it's now to get the programme on the move."
Shabazz will also oversee the TTFA's Elite Youth Development Programme. "I will be focusing on the elite youth development programme sponsored by NLCB, overseeing it and ensuring it is managed properly. I will also be involved in coaches' education and setting up courses and ensuring they are run properly throughout the length and breath of the country. The intention is to help develop our coaches and provide opportunities, not just on courses, but to enable them to travel overseas and spend time with a clubs. We have spoken about this in past administrations and now my job is to walk the talk," he added.
Shabazz also intends to engage more football stalwarts in the country who were not being utilised sufficiently. "We also intend to engage a lot more with these persons. There are lots of football minds in T&T that are being under-utilised in football and they have so much to offer based on their experience. The Corneal family comes up, persons like Keith Look Loy and Everald "Gally" Cummings and others. There are so many people who have made their mark and can contribute and we can find some niche for them to be able to contribute."
"We are also going to consider the young and upcoming coaches. And we have the next generation of coaches who need opportunity after they have given yeomen service in local football at the club and school level. This type of engagement could provide some employment opportunities as well."
Shabazz said one of his projects also is to set up a programme for the Under 17 team to prepare for the next Under 20 World Cup qualification under Russell Latapy.
"One of the projects on my agenda is to kickstart Latapy's Under 17 team to have it become the next Under 20 team and Russell has already initiated plans for them to start (training) in January. There may have been players he may have missed when he just came into the programme, but certainly he is now going to start the new under 20 team which will be under 18s for 2017 and he will have two years with that team and there will be some longevity there."
Meanwhile Shabazz will also serve as a Technical Adviser in the TTFA. "Part of my responsibility is to advise people in the TTFA and those who have technical responsibilities, coaching the national teams. For instance Carolina (Morace) is coming to T&T as a very experienced coach in the world but will little knowledge of this country. I have had 20 years experience in women's football and I would be able to advise her and say things like 'Don't go down that road Carolina, there are some bad dogs on that road."