BRACO, Trelawny — The Regional Instructor’s Goalkeeping Course put on by FIFA last week has been described as informative by participants drawn from 19 CONCACAF nations, including Jamaica.

“It is our duty as coaches now to go back to our respective territories and pass on the knowledge that we have garnered here, so that goalkeeping, not only in Jamaica, but in the region, can continue to develop,” national senior goalkeeping coach Warren Barrett told the Jamaica Observer. “Hopefully, the region can continue to produce a lot more top goalkeepers in the not too distance future,” he added.

Among the other coaches who participated in the week-long seminar were Reggae Boyz technical director Walter Gama and goalkeeping coach Armando Bracali — both Brazilians.

Meanwhile, Barrett said instructors Alexander Vencel and Paul Grafer “basically went through everything. There was nothing that was missing”.

“We thoroughly enjoyed it. We’re in much better standing as goalkeeping coaches. A lot of information has been imparted over the past five days,” Barrett said.

“We now know the correct way to, for example, put our sessions together; whether for a day, week, or a month’s preparation. So it was very beneficial and a real eye-opener and I must say thanks to FIFA for having this seminar in Jamaica,” Barrett added.

Vencel is a retired Slovak goalkeeper, having played for Czechoslovakia, and Grafer is a former goalkeeper at the MLS level in the United States, having played for Colorado Rapids and Metro Stars.

Meanwhile Grafer, during his address at the closing ceremony, implored coaches to impart to their colleagues the knowledge gathered from the training sessions, which formed a part of a continuing effort by FIFA to assist in the development of the technical competence of instructors at the CONCACAF level.

“Two of the themes have been adopting and solving problems. So I encourage you to go back to your respective nations to disseminate. Share with your colleagues and share with all the people in your community who love goalkeeping,” Grafer implored.

Meanwhile, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) executive member Linnel McLean, who is also chairman of the Western Confederation, thanked FIFA, on behalf of the JFF, for staging the course on local shores.

“We’re particularly pleased that FIFA chose Jamaica to have this seminar because we got the opportunity to showcase our organisational ability, which everybody is appreciative of at this time,” said McLean, who is also president of the Trelawny Football Association.

“When we have seminars like that, particularly for us here in Trelawny, it gives us an opportunity to participate because there is always the need for persons for training purposes. So we get a chance to input those individuals,” he added. Participating countries were Jamaica, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago; USA, and US Virgin Islands.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/FIFA-goalkeeping-course-gets-high-marks_11464239#ixzz1uwtD6WLN