Phillips: Benefits to come from goalkeeping course.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).[/size]
Technical Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation and FIFA instructor Lincoln Phillips believes that the twenty-three candidates who took part in last weekend’s goalkeeping diploma course stand to benefit tremendously after being exposed to the many facets involved in that area of the game.
The course, staged by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, was aimed mainly at training locals who are aspiring to become goalkeeper coaches but according to Phillips, it also showed that there are individuals who can still make it as players because of the right attitude and ability they possess at the current stage of their careers.
“They were all amazed to discover the many facets involved in goalkeeping,” Phillips told TTFF Media. “That was the biggest revelation among the candidates and part of the course involved them having to grade any goalkeeper of their choice, observing them carefully, pointing out their mistakes and recommending corrections and then submit a report back to the TTFF,” Phillips explained. That analysis is part of the ongoing diploma course and the candidates also have to compile their own book with different sections depicting everything that was worked on and subsequently submit to the TTFF within a one-month period before certificates are presented.
Prior to the course, letters of invitation were sent out the all Pro League and Super League clubs as well as the six regional associations but Phillips said it is possible that another course of its kind could be conducted for other interested persons.
The instructors working alongside Phillips included Michael Maurice, Michael McComie and Ross Russell, all former national goalies. T&T World Cup goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, in the country for a few days, also heard about the event and passed through on Sunday to offer his advice. Among the candidates were former W Connection goalie Jefferson George and former national custodian Brian James. Phillips described the local duo as still having a future in the game. “They have the class to make it at a high level.”
“It’s a plus when a goalkeeper coach has been a past player as a goalie because it allows him to see the game from a different perspective. It’s the same for any coach and that is what we are trying to encourage as part of our development program,” Phillips said.
“If there is the need for another course, then we will do it. The TTFF is a service organization. We are here to serve the needs of the people.”
Phillips added that having conducted FIFA courses as one of its instructors in 1996 and 2001, he was now pleased to serve from a local standpoint.
“When the first goalkeeping course was done at the Centre of Excellence in 1996, the mission there was to bring out world class goalkeepers from the Caribbean and to allow candidates to return to their countries and develop programmes 1996, did first FIFA goalkeeping course at Centre of Excellence, The mission there was to bring out world class goalies from the Caribbean, that was to allow candidate to go back to country and develop programmes. When they returned in 2001, it was evident that Jamaica did the best and they have had solid goalkeepers right through. Now I have the opportunity to jump start that initiative in Trinidad and Tobago,” Phillips commented. T&T has also produced the likes of Hislop, Clayton Ince and Kelvin Jack and there are some promising ones emerging.
“We have also done very well but we need more Shaka Hislops, Clayton Inces and Kelvin Jacks. There is a constant separation when you call formations like 4-4-2. That’s ten men but with good goalkeepers there is no separation… it’s eleven players involved in the game. We need them by the dozens. We have to hasten that momentum,” he concluded.
