THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday announced the appointment of Lady Jaguars former national team captain Tricia Munroe as the federation’s first Women’s Development Officer, a landmark move for the progress of women’s football in Guyana and a central part of the delivery of the new, national football development strategy.
In a release, the GFF said the creation of a dedicated, full-time women’s football position within the Federation’s Technical Department opens up a range of exciting possibilities for the development and organisation of the sport across the country, including improved leagues and competitions.
The GFF added that Munroe’s appointment will pave the way for an increased number of female coaching and refereeing activities, more programmes for girls’ football, and greater support for the nationwide GFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centres, as well as an enhanced youth and senior national team programme.
“I want to see women’s football grow more, as much as the men’s game, and get the attention it deserves,” said Munroe, who played in central defence for the Lady Jaguars for more than a decade during the 1990s and 2000s.
“I hope that I can encourage more former players to get involved in the work of the GFF, so that we can harness their skills and passion to inspire the next generation of players, coaches, referees and administrators as we develop the sport,” Munroe said
Munroe, who has also served as assistant coach at Fruta Conquerors, will be based at GFF headquarters in Georgetown as part of the newly-expanded Technical Department, run by Technical Director Ian Greenwood.
The expanded department features a Youth Development Officer, a Coach Education and Development Officer, a Schools Development Officer, a Technical Secretary, nine regional Technical Development Officers and 14 part-time Youth Development Coaches.
“As the GFF works aggressively to expand the scope and impact of our football development programmes, we are delighted to be able to bring Tricia on board to help us take girls’ and women’s football to the next level in Guyana,” Technical Director Greenwood highlighted.
Greenwood also pointed out, “Tricia is fully aware of the challenges that women’s football faces in Guyana, and she is bursting with the ideas and energy that we are looking for, as the GFF works to break down those barriers, through greater investment and a specific focus on the needs of women’s football, from grassroots to elite level.”
The GFF said that they are actively recruiting more women in football governance and management positions in a concerted effort to change the culture of football in Guyana. This includes three positions for women on the nine-member Executive Committee – Thandi McAllister, Carmel Williams and Magzene Stewart – and GFF General Secretary Althea Scipio and GFF Deputy General Secretary (acting) Rennella Bourne..
Two of the GFF’s nine, full-time Technical Development Officer positions are also occupied by women – Akilah Castello (Upper Demerara FA) and Leah Smith (Bartica FA).