Concacaf coaching instructor Lenny Lake says he was left highly impressed with the level of knowledge and potential displayed by the group of local coaches who participated in the recent Concacaf "D" License Coaching course hosted by the T&T Football Association (TTFA).
The objective of the course was to introduce coaches to the basics of coaching young players in a player-centred environment. Among the topics of the course were the role of the coach educator; Principles of Coaching; Principles of the Game; Age Appropriate Training; Session training; Physical Training; Small Sided Games; Goalkeeping; Health and Safety and Community Club Development. Lake, fellow instructor Andre Waugh and Concacaf Development manager Jonathan Martinez were in Trinidad last month to oversee the course at the TTFA offices at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain.
"I think I can say upfront that this set of coaches that participated in the course are very experienced and very knowledgeable about the game," Lake said.
"I'm so happy to have these coaches involved because they have so many different ideas about coaching and football that we can take to other parts of the region and see how we can develop the game some more even at the young ages of 6-12."
He said the TTFA had a proper group of coaches to utilise going forward.
"With a bunch like this the TTFA has in its power the opportunity for the set of coaches to change the direction of its football development," he said. "And there is a high interest in women's football development which is growing, Concacaf has implemented this programme so as to have coaches being trained early to develop the skills of players on and off the field. I am very impressed with what we saw here in T&T."
Hislop applauds the effort of Webb
Former T&T goalkeeper and ESPN pundit Shaka Hislop has stated that Concacaf has attained new heights under its president Jeffrey Webb.
It has been a period of dramatic transformation and reform for the confederation and produced a regional governing body that is virtually unrecognisable in comparison to what had gone before.
Under Webb's leadership, Concacaf has successfully implemented initiatives that provide credibility, accountability and transparency to the organisation. That focus on improvements off the field has also led to impressive performance on the field.
Webb was re-elected unopposed at the Concacaf Congress in the Bahamas last week. In his short but long three years in charge he has implemented new leadership, instituted fiscal controls, introduced committees to improve transparency, committed to more inclusive governance to empower its member organisations, built promising partnerships and promoted the values of equality, respect and integrity.
Concacaf had arguably the confederation's best ever showing at the last year's Fifa World Cup in Brazil, with USA, Mexico and Costa Rica exceeding their own expectations.
In an article on InsideWorldFootball.com last week Hislop said: "In the last three years, Concacaf has risen to heights previously unattainable. By garnering a confederation-first approach, the traditional powerhouses have helped to raise the level of all within the region. Webb has been a dynamic presence."
Concacaf's reform efforts have contributed to a stronger commercial future. In 2014, Concacaf unveiled its first ever official partner–Scotiabank–as well as new partnerships with the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), UEFA, the European Sports Security Association (ESSA) and the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES). Concacaf also reached an historic agreement with Conmebol to host the 2016 Centennial Cup America–the first time the event will be played outside of South America.
Inniss gets newCrystal Palace offer
English youth international defenderRyan Inniss has been offered a new extension to his contract by Crystal Palace. However, there also remains strong interest from Port Vale to sign the central defender to a long term contract with the player now on loan at the club.
Inniss is currently recovering from an ankle injury and Vale had lost all six games since he sustained the injury in a match against Coventry City on March 7. Prior to that, Vale had won four of the five games Inniss appeared in.
Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite said he would love to sign Inniss at Vale.
"The plans for Ryan are not over. Rob and I would like him in our squad and if I am able to negotiate something with Crystal Palace then hopefully he could be in our squad next year."
The 19-year-old Inniss has played for England at the Under-17 and U-21 level and is eligible to represent T&T. The big defender has already expressed an interest in playing for T&T, possibly in an upcoming friendly in June, although he has not counted out his chances of making the England first team. T&T head coach Stephen Hart will hold further talks with the player ahead of T&T's CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign.
Noreiga teams up withJohn at Football 7 Academy
Former El Dorado Secondary player Walt Noreiga is delighted to be back in Trinidad to serve as a local football coach again.
Noreiga is currently attached as a coach with the T&T Football 7 Academy alongside Stern John at the Henry Street Recreation Ground in Trincity. Noreiga is a former coach with Joe Public and also played with John at El Dorado Secondary during the 90s.
He now holds an English FA International Coaching License, as well as a Level 3/Level 2 Coaching Certificate in coaching/UEFA B and he also completed the UEFA A preparatory course, FA Emergency Aid and FA Safe guarding children courses.
"It's a real pleasure to be back in Trinidad and getting the opportunity to work with the T&T Football 7 Academy along with Stern," Noreiga said.
"I've been in England for the past few years getting my badges and getting valuable coaching experience and now I'm back here and grateful for the opportunity to work with the young ones. I think the concept of the Football 7 academy is a good one. We've had some good interest shown so far and the kids are very eager to be involved.
"What we as the coaches in this academy will be aiming to do is to get rid of some of the bad habits among our youth players and also prepare them to go on to either scholarships or pro football level and to ensure that if and when they make it onto the national level they have a decent technical level and understanding of the game. Overall we are here to serve the development of the game locally, " Noreiga said. Persons interested in joining the academy can call 488 7001 or 485 7001.
Yorke versus De La Joya at Icons golf tournament in Dubai
Former T&T captain Dwight Yorke will come up against Oscar De La Hoya as Team USA's lines up against The Rest of the World in the Icons Cup all-star golf tournament at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club this week.
The tournament got going yesterday as Yorke teamed up with Europe's 2016 Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke, Gabriel Batistuta, Robbie Fowler, Andriy Shevchenko, Fifa presidential candidate Luis Figo, former cricketrs Kapil Dev, Shane Warne and Brian Lara.
The Icons Cup is a three-day 13-a-side Ryder Cup-style celebrity golf tournament. The Icons Cup is in aid of Faith's Foundation, which raises funds in support of the Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice in Sheffield, UK, and SpecialEffect, an Oxfordshire-based charity that supplies technical equipment for disabled children to enjoy their leisure and game time.
Shaun Fuentes is the director of communications for the T&T Football Association � shaunfuentes@yahoo.com