Shabazz praises Lawrence appointment
T&T Newsday
Jamaal Shabazz, Assist-ant Director, Women’s Football in TT, has hailed former national defender Dennis Lawrence’s appointment as an assistant coach at Wigan Athletic as a major breakthrough for TT and Caribbean coaches.
Lawrence has teamed up with his former coach at Swansea City Roberto Martinez and will assist the Wigan manager in training and also on Premiership match days and also reserve games.
“That’s great news,” he said, “he has always had a good football head and seeing him work with the Caledonia AIA defenders a couple months ago, I have no doubt that he will become a top class coach,” he added.
The former Guyanese coach noted that to become coach in England is tremendous achievement and we should be proud of what Lawrence has done.
“The English market is very difficult to break into not just from a nationality perspective but from an ethnic one as well,” he said, “ he will join a small group that could open doors for a lot of Caribbean coaches,” he explained.
Meanwhile, former national player and ex-coach of the now defunct United Petrotrin, Brian Williams congratulated Lawrence from making the transition from player to coach.
“I think obviously in football when we are no longer playing then you go into managing,” he said.
Williams pointed out that Lawrence’s natural leadership qualities from being a central defender will auger well as he takes up this new portfolio.
He noted that the standard is now set for coaches in the region to aspire to and hoped Lawrence’s appointment provides an avenue for more coaches and players to work in England.
“This is one of the areas Dennis can assist in.
He can create opportunities for all of us in TT and the Caribbean,” he said, “I am happy for Dennis and I hope he can express himself well there,” he added.
