TTFF News - Dutch Coaching courses end up as win win for T&T football

Dutch coaching courses end up as win-win for T&T football

Issued by Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Media Officer, June 22, 2007

 

 

The recent coaching symposiums hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation in conjunction with the Royal Dutch Academy has been hailed as completely successful, signaling the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship between the TTFF and the KNVB academy.

 

That was how TTFF technical director Lincoln Phillips summed up the three symposiums which took place at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence and Marvin Lee Stadium last month.

 

The Royal Dutch Academy (KNVB) was chosen by the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation to work in conjunction with the T&T Technical Department in developing and improving the coaching methods of coaches working with individuals at all levels of participation.  Nico Labohm a KVNB Instructor out of Holland and Kenneth Juliens – KNVB Instructor from Surinam were the instructors for the course. Boris Punch serves as general manager and Muhammad Isa and Rajesh Lachoo were the local instructors while TTFF staff provided other services.

 

The big question, according to Phillips, was why the Dutch and not the Brazilians, the French or the English. The fact of the matter is that the Dutch method is tried and proven as one of the best in the world. For a small country, Holland has not only produced some of the best players in the world but also outstanding coaches as well.  On the world cup level, more Dutch coaches head up national Technical Staffs than any other nationality. In addition to their dominance in World Cup coaching, well over 100 Dutch coaches are plying their trade on the international circuit. Yes indeed, the choice of the KNVB to be our coaching development mentors did not occur by happenstance but by careful detailed research on the top football countries in the world.

 

The idea of the three 5 day symposiums came as a result of lengthy discussions between the Technical Director Phillips and the KNVB Technical Director Johan Van Geijn.

 

“It was felt that age-specific symposiums would be the best way to get a large number of coaches exposed to the Dutch method of coaching. At the end of the program (symposiums) the more experienced coaches were selected to attend the C License course in July 5-16, 2007,” Phillips explained to TTFF Media.

 

The general idea of the symposium was supported by the TTFF and special adviser Jack Warner.

 

Several local coaches participated and two well known names, Reynold Carrington and Jefferson George were selected to attend further coaching courses in Holland later this month and in August.

 

“The approach to the 3 symposiums was very professional and I must give credit to the TTFF and the Sports Company of T&T for their efforts in making this initiative a complete success. In addition, the Pro and Super League administrators, the Ministry of Education and directors of various football schools and academies were all supportive of the program from its inception. This collaborative effort by all the stakeholders in T&T football signals a positive step in football relations and coaching development….a win-win situation for T&T football! “ Phillips commented.

 

The curriculum of each symposium was tailor-made to address the deficiencies of football in Trinidad and Tobago: possession, penetration, speed of play, finishing and defending. 

 

“Several of the experienced coaches were very impressed with the new approach to coaching taught during the senior symposium and left the course with a burning desire to attend future courses conducted by the KNVB. The camaraderie among the candidates was so profound that several coaches have already began scheduling friendly games with their respective teams. In many ways the symposiums have kindled a new fire among the stakeholders in the football fraternity.”

 

Among the coaches who participated included Ron La Forest, Leonson Lewis, Dion La Foucade, Selris Figaro,Winston Phillips, Brian James,Brian Williams, Clayton Morris,Ian Clauzel, Jerren and Kathy-Ann Nixon, Michael Grayson,Kerry Jamerson,Derek King, Everald Cummings and Ralph Nelson among several others attached to Professional League and amateur clubs, coaching school and secondary schools.