Corneal appointed TTFF Technical Director
Anton Corneal has been appointed as the Technical Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. This was among some of the decisions taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the TTFF at its headquarters on Thursday. According to TTFF Acting President Lennox Watson, Corneal’s selection to chart the way forward for T&T’s football from a technical standpoint was a fitting one considering his vast background as a player, coach and coaching instructor. Watson revealed that the centre of the TTFF’s focus for the upcoming 2012 calendar will be its development programme which will see emphasis placed on the men’s national Under-23, Under-20 and Under-17 teams as well as the women’s Under-20 and Under-17 teams. An interim technical staff has been appointed to oversee some of the senior team’s international friendlies with Hutson Charles and Angus Eve as the two coaches. Their first fixture is on January 22 vs Finland’s senior team at the Hasely Crawford Stadium at 5 pm.
Watson also said Otto Pfister’s contract as head coach of the Senior team will not be renewed. Pfister’s final match in charge of the “Soca Warriors” was a 2-0 win over Guyana last November. A TTFF technical committee was also approved and it includes Richard Quanchan as chairman, Rodill Clarke (Deputy chairman), Roland Forde, Marlon Morris, Wayne Riley, Jinelle James and Corneal. “I feel satisfied that we have kick-started proceedings towards implementing some of the measures that will enhance the development of our football, more specifically our national youth teams that will supplement our Senior National teams,” Watson said yesterday. Corneal meantime, in an immediate response to his appointment said he was truly honoured to be presented with the opportunity to serve in the capacity of technical director. “I feel honoured to help with the development of football in Trinidad and Tobago. I have been the assistant Technical Director for several years with Mr Lincoln Phillips in which a development programme was implemented,” Corneal told said. “But due to of lack a funding many areas of the programme could not be realised. I believe our coaching education programme will be a key area to developing coaches at all levels of the game. “A conscious effort must be made to synchronise our club football, colleges league and the Pro league with an emphasis on proper development. Coaching schools, community teams, primary schools and zonal teams will help form the foundation of our football. These programmes are only possible with the support of the Government and the business community, I know with planning, implementation and patience we will see a better product in our National teams,” Corneal added.
Corneal qualified the T&T Under-17 team to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2007 and was assistant coach with the T&T Senior team at the 2006 World Cup Finals and Under-20 team at the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. He is also a FIFA Grassroots instructor. Corneal was an understudy to Leo Beenhakker at the 2006 World Cup. Head of the TTFF’s marketing agency All Sport Promotions Anthony Harford stated also that another statement in relation to court-related matters involving the TTFF will be issued in the near future.
guardian
