Warner appeals to region’s coaches

His call came at the closing ceremony of the FA International Coaching Licence Course at the Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Tunapuna last week.

Warner advised the audience which comprised coaches and spectators, to go back to their countries and offer their services toward youth development.

“Too often, our coaches only want to work with the senior national teams because it is more glamorous and it attracts more publicity,” Warner said.

He said the real work of a coach is at the youth level, building a solid foundation for the future.

A bad coach he said can do a lot of damage to a talented young player but a good coach can nurture that same talent and take it to excellence.

The regional football boss praised the work of the CONCACAF Technical Department at the Centre of Excellence saying in the past few years, the facility has been a beehive of activity with coaches, referees, and administrators from all corners of the Confederation attending courses, workshops and seminars.

He also congratulated the CONCACAF Technical Department for a marvelous job. However Warner said he was still waiting to see the real fruits of their efforts.

“Our job here is to ensure that persons who attend these events receive the best possible training, but it is for the different Federations to utilise the skills and knowledge that have been acquired,” Warner said.

The FA International Coaching Licence Course attracted 26 coaches from 12 countries in the CONCACAF region and was conducted by FA coach and education experts Graham Keeley and Michael Hennigan.

In concluding Warner expressed his gratitude on behalf of CONCACAF to the English FA for their continuing support of the region and the Centre of Excellence.

He said the FA has been a true friend of CONCACAF and the organisation was extremely grateful.