Leo Beenhakker meets with Pro League’s Coaches.
By Joel Villafana (ttproleague.com)
Newly appointed National Football Coach Leo Beenhakker has placed a high priority on the continued development of the T&T Pro League.
The former Dutch Coach in his initial visit to Trinidad, before returning permanently to work with the national team, wasted no time and called a meeting with all the League’s coaches in order to get a feel of the work taking place at the national club level.
Caledonia AIA Fire Coach Jamal Shabazz described the meeting as an excellent political move.
Shabazz also coach of the National Womens’ team said, “Unlike other national coaches Beenhakker recognizes the Pro League is the premier league in the country.”
“He was very humble and open in his approach and this will lay a foundation for a good relationship with not only the club coaches but also the locally based professional players. The likes of Trent Noel, Michael Celestine, Aurtis Whitley and others will now get a real opportunity to seriously address the Technical Staff.”
Shabazz said the Dutchman made it quite clear he is not interested where the player plies his trade—but the important thing is whether or not he can play the role effectively.
The Caledonia coach ended by saying, “This new thinking is crucial if we are to progress as a footballing nation.”
Leo Beenhakker himself was surprised over the fact that this was the first time the local club coaches were so close and involved with what happens with the national team. The former Real Madrid Head Coach went on to guarantee that this would change.
He said, “The meeting was very positive and I promised them that while my chief responsibility is to the national team—I assured them they will be involved very much in my portfolio and I will be visiting them on a regular basis and looking at many of the local club matches that my schedule will allow and observe what happens here at the national club level, as the national team is not only about the players who play abroad—but also the players who ply their trade locally in the T&T Pro League. The former Dutch Coach stressed the importance of a strong national league—as it will only aid in developing a strong national team.
