..participants receive charge and certificates
PARTICIPANTS at the just concluded Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/FIFA Futsal coaching course, yesterday received their certificates of attendance, but not before they were given a charge by both the president of the GFF and the Technical Development Officer (TDO), Colin Klass and Lyndon France respectively.
In his brief remarks, France urged the participants to recognise the importance of the way forward, since the GFF has been in constant contact with both FIFA and CONCACAF, hence the visit of Constantine Konstin, the FIFA Futsal coach once again.

According to France, the participants were able to look at various ways of executing their duties, such as the age barrier of their charges, coupled with the systems of play especially the ones used by Spain that brought them two Futsal world cup titles.

“It is important that an evaluation is done by you the participants, so that we at the GFF can know and understand what you have gained out of this course, which is the first international one on our calendar for this year.

Added to that, courses of this nature are expected to bear fruit and certainly we will be looking to see the fruits that will be coming out of you the coaches who are fortunate to be here today” said France .

He complimented the coaches for displaying discipline, team work and adapting to the change of venue, while urging them to go out there and do of their very best at al all times.

Klass, who is also the chairman of the Futsal committee for FIFA, CONCACAF and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), said he was very thrilled with what he saw coming out of the course.

“According to Konstin, Guyana is pushing Futsal soccer, as this course has not been held in any other country to date, but while I am proud to say that, there are four points I wish to share with you.

Adaptability- I must compliment you on your adaptability, for even though you were handicapped by the lack of certain necessities that were needed, you are standing tall over some others which places you at an advantage position.

There is only one Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), but would we all line up to use that one venue? No, we would create our own sports hall whether it is in Berbice, Linden or even Essequibo and perform as if we were in the original CASH, making those in authority give us our individual CASH.

Discipline – Let me also commend you on the discipline and attitude you displayed during the five days of this course, despite being hampered by certain things. You are a privilege sect of people, as the knowledge you are receiving today was not available to your peers of yesteryear, yet still we are not producing as they did.

All we are asking for from the GFF’s point of view is for you to go out there and show the fruits of your labor. Make a transformation in Guyana’s football, taking it to the level it is supposed to be at, starting with you.

Change is one of the key factors in one’s life. There are changes in your personality, lifestyle and even whereabouts and as coaches, you need to adapt to changes as quickly as possible.

At the GFF, our aim is to have Guyana’s football reach the level we all know it is capable of reaching and I am challenging you to make such a change a reality, for as I stated before, the buck starts and stops at you the coaches who have the future of the nation’s football in your hands.

Klass closed by informing those in attendance including two executives of the Suriname Football Federation and one from the French Guiana Football Federation, that another Futsal tournament whose sponsor approached him during the just concluded course, will commence within the next six months.

“As you are aware, there is a Futsal tournament that commenced a few years ago. However, during the just concluded course, a major sponsor approached me with the view of having another Futsal tournament within the next six months.

I say such a time, because I need to give you the coaches a chance to work with what you have learnt from this course and added to that, I need to see each and every one of you attached to a team in that upcoming tournament, displaying what you have learnt to the public” said Klass.

Also making a brief remark was Konstin who said it was always sad to go whenever he visits Guyana, but stated further that the participants have learnt how to adapt to changes and wished them well in the future, while thanking the GFF for having him here another time.

“Soccer is the King of sports and it is a beautiful sport as well. Futsal is the Queen of sports and that also is a beautiful sport as well. Certainly, Futsal cannot and will not take away the spotlight from soccer, but it can be just as entertaining.
I am hoping that you go back to your respective communities and impart the knowledge you would have learnt over the past five days at the same time, elevating the sport of Futsal which while not being able to overtake soccer as the King of sports, can be just as entertaining.”

Konstin thanked Banks DIH and the other corporate sponsors who made the course a success and said he is looking forward to making another visit to Guyana to impart more knowledge, before he handed each of the participants a special token.

Candace Mc Kenzie, the lone female among the 21 participants which included president of the Berbice Football Association (BFA) Keith O’ Jeer, moved the vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, while Mr. Garvey Harry who himself is a member of the GFF/Futsal committee, moved the overall vote of thanks.