The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association commenced its distribution process of the indestructible footballs to local schools at the Finals of the Atlantic LNG Primary Schools Finals at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Wednesday.
Twenty-one schools received twenty footballs each which TTFA Technical Director Anton Corneal says will aid in the development of the game at the respective schools. Corneal conducted “C’ License Coaching Courses for several Primary School Coaches this year in a collaborated effort with Atlantic LNG.
Representative from each of the schools received boxes of footballs from a presentation party that included Corneal, National Senior Team head coach Stephen Hart and TTFA General Secretary Sheldon Phillips. The distribution process will continue in coming weeks at various points in the country.
“This will go a long way in promoting the sport and the playing of the game at the various schools throughout the country,” Corneal told TTFA Media.
“What we noticed was there was an obvious need for more equipment at this level and these balls through an initiative between One World Futbol and the TTFA came at an ideal time as it falls directly in line with our youth development program.
”I think it’s going to help in a lot of ways. Some of the schools had two or three footballs which was not enough.
It’s a first where we have ever given so many balls to schools or communities, These balls will also be used in our grassroots program, In a few weeks we have a shoreline program where we go to places like Mayaro, Icacos. Toco and other areas will receive manuals and coaching courses will be conducted in these areas,” Corneal added.
The partnership with One World Futbol came out of an initial discussion between the organization and former Technical Director Lincoln Phillips after which One World presented 15,000 balls to the TTFA.
“It was a fantastic opportunity today with the Atlantic LNG Primary Schools Finals at the Hasely Crawford Stadium and with our offices now on location, for us to introduce the ball program to the schools and to have the students actually present here at the grand finals. Fifteen thousand balls were received from One World Futbol through the efforts of former Technical Director Lincoln Phillips,” General Secretary Phillips added.
Atlantic LNG Primary Schools League coordinator David Thomasos commended the TTFA for its contribution.
“This will be of tremendous benefit to the primary schools and will go a long way to developing the talent at the Primary schools level. I was pleasantly surprised by this great initiative from the TTFA and I hope we can continue working in this way towards developing the game at this level,” Thomasos said.
Among the schools that received footballs on Wednesday were San Fernando Boys RC, Valencia RC, Sacred Hearts Boys RC, La Romain RC, Whim AC, Moruga RC, Eastern Boys Government, Cowen Hamilton, St Gabriel’s Boys RC, Mason Hall Government, Longdenville Government, St David’s RC, Chaguanas RC, Santa Flora AC, Tunupuna Boys FC, Petit Valley Boys RC, Vos Government, Carenage Girls Government, Richmond Street Boys AC, Arima Boys RC and St Agnes Anglican AC.
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