Caribbean Sports Network

JUST four days before the kick off of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago, FIFA and CONCACAF yesterday held a Women’s Football Regional Coaching Course at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya The course which started yesterday will conclude on September 10 while the final of the tournament will be played on September 25.

This course is part of a long- term project seeking to link development activities with youth tournaments and to give the opportunity to the national football associations of the Caribbean region to benefit from the U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, CONCACAF President Jack Warner urged his membership to increase the funding allocated to women’s programmes and development initiatives.

“We must transform our views on women’s football, we must see it not as a secondary part of our football programme, but we must see it as an essential component. The time has come for us to ensure that the funding given to women’s football is on parity with our male programmes,” said Warner.

“My passion for this beautiful game remains undaunted. The future of football is feminine. We must inject life into that statement. I want to encourage all members of this confederation to strengthen their women’s programmes.

“We must have leagues, competitions and development programmes orchestrated to improve the quality of the women’s game. It is only when we as administrators show our commitment to the women’s game that change will come , we must use courses such as the one being launched today as instruments of change .

“ I know the complaints all too well but we cannot reverse time and start a new beginning, but we can start today and make a new ending. Let us all use the opportunities afforded to us to transform the women’s game in the region,” Warner said.

The 27 participants from 12 Caribbean countries will be trained by Anna Signeul from Sweden and Andrea Rodebaugh of Mexico. The focus will be on theoretical lessons (history and trends of women’s football, the role of the coach, game analysis and preparation) as well as on practical sessions (individual technical skills, the difference between technical and tactical skills). In addition, several matches of the upcoming competition will be observed and analysed.

Commenting on the event FIFA President Sepp Blatter stated, “I am really happy that this course is taking place during one of FIFA’s women’s tournaments, and the opportunity to witness the talented female players of the future during the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010 will certainly give the participants first-hand experience for their future work as coaches.”

“The greatest beneficiaries will be the girls and women as hopefully this course will create new possibilities for them to play and enjoy the game,” Blatter said.

The project started last year in November with an initial course with the same coaches. The idea is to follow up on their education and keep them working with the associations and national teams.