THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday officially introduced its new Technical Director, Ian Greenwood, to the media.Greenwood, an English UEFA-qualified professional coach, who has over ten years of experience with English clubs, has promised to improve Guyana’s football.
The 31-year-old Greenwood was the chosen one for the GFF from among 13 applicants and, according to the former Leeds United Development and Academy coach, his desire is to establish a solid foundation in a new structure.
“A national philosophy from the age of five right up to the national team. We must understand, as a Nation, how we want to play. How we understand football to be and how we coach. We need to have a clear structure of philosophy as a country and as a football nation that we understand how we want to play. We need to develop a Guyana style of play.”
The former defender/defensive midfielder predicts that there will be massive changes for the sport ahead, but cautioned that it will not be overnight.
“We want to build it from the foundation so we want to make sure that everything is in place … we want to make sure that the structure and everything geared towards being successful are in place. It’s going to take time, but I feel with the Executive of the GFF and the technical staff we can do it.” Greenwood stressed.
Greenwood’s four-year contract with the GFF began last Saturday and already he has been in discussions with the Federation’s Technical Officer, Lyndon France, to review the progress made under the past TD Claude Bolton.
“Over the next couple of days we will be assessing what things fit and what things don’t fit. Over the next few weeks I will be meeting with the key stakeholders,” the new TD stated.
“My main role will be focusing on youth development, grassroots and developing coaches. My belief is that if we can get the foundation correct, so that if we have Coaches/Education in place and then we have correct youth development programmes and grassroots programmes, over a period of time that will improve the overall football infrastructure in Guyana and improve both the national male and female teams,” Greenwood promised.
President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, in his welcoming remarks said that he was optimistic about the future of the sport, “We are very pleased to welcome Mr Greenwood to Guyana. We are excited about the work that Mr Greenwood is going to be doing to develop football in Guyana over the next couple of years. The emphasis of course will be on youth development and coaching/education.
“We are very confident that we made a good choice and I am very optimistic about the future of Guyana’s football,” the football boss declared.