SVGFF focussing on youths in 2017 – Ollivierre

The opening of the Under-11 and Under-15 components of the National Football Club Championships is part of the development plan of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF).

This was communicated to SEARCHLIGHT by technical director of the SVGFF Keith Ollivierre, at last Saturday’s commencement of the divisions at the Campden Park Playing Field.

“Our focus this year is on youth development and youth football … We believe that the more players are exposed, it will give us a view of the talent,” Ollivierre outlined.

“Also, the two divisions are forms of evaluation for the grassroots programme and to see what is being done by coaches,” Ollivierre proffered.

He stated that both divisions are preparatory phases for potential age group national teams.

“Next year there will be the Under-15 females and Under-15 males… We are already in the process of training some Under-15 guys, so the Under-11 and Under-15 competitions will give the coaches a bigger market that sees more players,” the national football technical director said.

Ollivierre said that this process is decisive, as what occurs at the national senior level is sometimes unsatisfactory.

“We hear a lot of what product we get at the national senior level and I always say that the players at that level are a reflection of what we get from the clubs,” he added.

Ollivierre, in laying down the process, advised that the hosting of the coaches education courses are part of the overall development plans being rolled out by the SVGFF.

“The coaching education is geared towards changing the whole persona of the way we do things, so that the product will be better in years to come,” Ollivierre advanced.

Fifteen teams are registered in the Under-11 division and in the Under-15, another 17.

Apart from these divisions, the SVGFF National Club Championships has an Under-19, First Division, Female Division and a Senior Men’s Division.