Foundation laid by OFC coaches

AUCKLAND: The foundation of the OFC "Indigenous" Talented Coaches Scheme has been laid with the closing of the first Senior License Coaching Course in Auckland, New Zealand on 12 December.

The course involving elite coaches from OFC's member island nations was a resounding success and this was re-iterated by both participants and FA coaching instructor, Alan Gillett, at the closing dinner.

Mr Gillett thanked the participants for their enthusiasm and hard work during the ten days of intensive learning - theoretical and practical - which culminated with satisfying results in the final exam. He also took time out to thank OFC administrators in particular OFC Development Manager, Tai Nicholas and General Secretary Josephine King for their support.

Speaking on behalf of the coaches, Solomon Islands Football Federation technical director, Eddie Ngava, thanked Mr Gillett and the Football Association (England) for their assistance. He also thanked the OFC for its initiative in developing elite coaches to higher levels of accreditation through the inaugural scheme which is set to be implemented over the next two years. Coaches taking part in the first course will be followed up and monitored from 2004 onwards through additional courses.

"The last ten days was a learning experience and quite intense and we now have a better picture of the task that lays ahead for us coaches when we return to our own countries," Ngava remarked.

Tongan assistant national coach Kilifi Uele, who is still a national representative, was also impressed with the quality of the course work and felt he was ready to commit himself fully to developing himself as a coach once his playing career winds down.

"It was a good experience also to meet with other coaches from around the islands and we were able to exchange ideas and assist one another during the course," he said.

OFC honorary president, Charles Dempsey, met again with the coaches at the end to strengthen the message he had delivered at the opening by emphasising the importance of their role in the national associations and the responsibility they had to impart the knowledge gained from the course to other coaches in their countries.