More coaches chase D licence certification

More local football coaches are in pursuit of a D licence coaching certificate.

Four days of intense work towards this end took place at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, from last Thursday to Sunday, conducted by Lenny Lake and Ces Podd, both Kittian-born.{{more}}

Last week’s course was the second such course to be procured by the executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation for 2014.

In May, 31 of the 42 who attended the first course of its kind on the island were successful.

However, this time around, a total of 34 coaches registered and attended the first day.

But as the days went by, participation dwindled significantly, and when SEARCHLIGHT visited on Sunday, just about 20 of the coaches were on hand.

This, after many had secured their gear and other paraphernalia for the four-day exercise.

Despite the drop-off in attendance, first vice-president of the SVGFF Kenton Ollivierre said that accessing such courses is part of the total development package his organization has for the sport here.

“The SVGFF saw it necessary to embark on a second such course, based on the overwhelmingly long list of applicants we received from the first course… Our aim is to have qualified coaches in every club, school and the community on a whole…. While we are not at the desired stage of success with this specific programme, I am delighted with the progress that has been made over the past few months,” Ollivierre said.

Ollivierre added, “The coaches who were successful will now have to go out into the field to practise what they have learnt, so we can look forward to a step-up programme in the not too distant future.”

As part of the D licence programme, unsuccessful coaches have a re-sit in the area in which they did not attain the required level of proficiency.(RT)