BNFA plans to improve coaching

The 1999-2000 football season is now history and the Regent Millennium Cup is safely locked up in the southern village of Independence. But that doesn’t mean that football is now dormant. Today the Belize National Football Association launched a program to improve the professionalism of coaches and players, in an effort to develop the overall appeal of the sport.

Trenton Miller, Vice President BNFA

“We have devised a National Development Program simply because there is a need for football development from grassroots all the way up to non-amateur level. We have consulted with the experts in FIFA and they have informed us that yes, we have the expertise in the country so we can go ahead and use some of their funding to develop football nationally.”

Faralee Gabourel

“So this program will help both players and coaches, that’s what you’re saying?”

Trenton Miller

“Well we’re looking at the entire country, not just players and coaches. We’re talking about fans because fans are the people who support and do most for the sport. So if fans have a better product they will support more, the business community will invest more because they will see where their investment is going, so we think there’s a need for this development program, long overdue need.”

Miller also said that the program in its earliest stage will focus on training coaches under the leadership of the National Technical Director, Manuel Bilches. Training will last for three years at which time qualified coaches will be awarded a license. In related news the Semi-pro Belize Football League today issued a press release in support of six players sanctioned by the BNFA. The BFL believes the penalties are too severe and called for a meeting between the BNFA, BFL and players to resolve the situation.