In for the long ‘Hall’

Newly appointed Technical Director/Head Coach of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), Stewart John Hall is on a three-year contract, but he is mindful that unfavourable results at the senior level can see him getting the “flack”.{{more}}

Cognisant of what obtains in the modern football set up worldwide, Hall believes that his overall knowledge and experience of football would see him impacting positively on this country’s football programme.

Hall was introduced to the local press last Monday afternoon by the SVGFF at the Conference Room of Professional Secretarial Services.

The 52-year-old Hall, who hails from Birmingham City in England, said that he planned to create a brand of football that was distinctly Vincentian.

He outlined that each of the age units will be taught the same pattern of play that will ensure that continuity is attained in the transition process.

Hall disclosed, though, that his immediate task was to assess the standard of play and talent available at the senior national level, to get them ready for the World Cup Qualifiers against Canada in June.

Revealing that his knowledge of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ football was limited, Hall, fresh from a five month stint with the Indian Pro teams, said: “ If I have to spread the net, I would make sure that the eleven best players on the island are on the pitch”.

Bringing with him a long list of certification, Hall said that working with challenges was nothing new to him and welcomed the opportunity to work in countries like St. Vincent and the Grenadines with limited resources.

Hall is a UEFA Pro Licensed Coach and a UEFA A Licensed Coach. Hall was credited with the establishment of the National Youth Academy in Tanzania and the setting up of the Birmingham Youth Football Academy.

A holder of a FA Coach Educator’s Diploma and a FA A Licensing Coaching tutor, Hall, a former England Under-18 Assistant Coach, intends use his expertise to certify local coaches. He felt that if this is not done, he would “cheat” his tenure.

But it would not be the first occasion that he would be working in the Caribbean. Hall has previously worked with the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s Under-20 team, as well as that country’s Under-17 squad, and San Juan Jabloteh, a semi professional club there.

His forte is working with young players, having done work in Holland, Italy and Germany.

The former Birmingham City Reserve team, Kidderminster Harriers F.C, and Halesowen Town F.C Head Coach, planned to implement his “four corner model”.

Hall’s model involves Technical and Tactical work, Physical work, Mental Preparation, and Social Development.

President of the SVGFF Joseph Delves, who chaired the Press Conference, said that Hall’s appointment was purely developmental, as his executive is a developmental oriented.

Delves said that Hall’s choice was unanimous among the executive members, and he tipped the scale owing to his credentials working with youngsters. But the President did not go into details of Hall’s contract, but said it would be along similar provisions as the previous one. The last Technical Director Zoran Vranes was paid US $6000 per month, was provided with accommodation, a vehicle, a cellular phone, among other benefits.

An upbeat Hall said the he planned to work closely with the schools’ programme as well as oversee the development of the various age groups of players.

The new Technical Director/Head Coach was the successful applicant, after the Technical Committee of the SVGFF had shortlisted six candidates from the original sixteen persons who showed interest in the post.

Those who were finally interviewed were Vincentians Roger Gurley, Earl Paynter, Des Morris, Sammy Carrington and Argentinean Diego Andres Cruciano.

Hall replaces Serbia Montenegro born Vranes, whose three year tenure ended last October.

Hall follows the growing list of foreign hired Technical Directors and Head Coaches. Prior to Vranes’ entry in 2004, the English pair of Technical Director Cess Podd and Head Coach Adrian Shaw held the posts for one year.

Brazilian Jorge Ramos set the trail in 1992 and was followed by Jamaican/ American Lenny Taylor in 1995, then Trinidadian Bertille St. Clair in 1996.

Jim Conway, another coach of British descent, had a six month stint in 1999.Taylor had a second stint in 2000.