TTFA to start Elite Youth Programme in January

This was the word coming from TTFA coordinator of Technical Programmes Jamaal Shabazz.

Shabazz said the planning phase will take centre stage during this month, as the FA will engage the various entities and regional associations that will be affiliated with the nationwide programme for boys and girls.

“There have been a lot of rumours that the Elite Development Programme has been started but it has not been started. I did not come to run around the programme. I came to run the programme,” Shabazz said.

“We will start in a proper way and all the zones and the country at large will know about it. It is not a secret.

The sponsors have made a great input. NLCB have demonstrated that they have planted the corn. We want the butcher to send his son, the baker and the candlemaker to send his sons and daughters to be part of this programme,” Shabazz added.

The TTFA will announce, among other things, the schedules of screening sessions and selections in due course.

Speaking about the running of the programme, Shabazz explained, “it will take a lot of wellplaced personnel to coordinating the efforts required for this. We are so thankful that NLCB have stepped forward as the sponsor of such a programme.

We are talking about engaging people from in the zonal associations across the country and then when we finally get the elite pool, we will need the coaches who will be qualified to coach that pool.

“We will need a large staff mainly of coordinators and coaches.

We have already spoken to UEFA about setting up a course to teach coaches how to scout for talent and then we will also have a specific course for youth development in a more specialised way,” Shabazz said.