OFC Auckland: The Oceania Football Confederation will resume its OFC Indigenous Senior Licence Coaching Scheme with Level 1 & 2 Courses to be held at its Auckland headquarters starting this weekend.
Again, the Football Association (England) will assist the OFC in providing technical assistance with coaching instructor Alan Gillett returning to facilitate both courses. After running the OFC Senior Level 1 course in December 2003, Mr Gillett accepted a temporary role coaching the Solomon Islands national team.
The impact he made there in such a short timeframe was nothing short of phenomenal. He led the Melanesian soccer power on its longest undefeated streak en route to qualification for the third stage final playoff against Australia at the recent OFC Nations Cup & FIFA World Cup Stage 2 qualifiers in Adelaide.
Thousands flocked to the streets of Honiara to welcome their heroes earlier this week. But for Gillett, there was little time to take in all the euphoria as his attention now focussed on a new batch of coaches selected by the OFC national associations for Level 1.
A total of twelve (12) coaches from Oceania’s island member associations will attend the Level 1 course which will run from 12-16 June. Those that pass will join the Level 2 course along with those Level 1 participants from 2003 who passed. The Level 2 Senior License Coaching course will run from 17-25 June. Five coaches return from last year’s Level 1 Course to sit their Level 2 exam.
The aim of the OFC Indigenous Senior Licence Coaching Scheme is to improve the overall level of coaching in the region with particular emphasis on the lesser developed Pacific Island nations. It is hoped that participants will gain the necessary accreditation which will allow them to be actively involved in training coaches back in their countries as well as taking part in future regional development programmes.
According to the acting OFC General Secretary, Mr Tai Nicholas, the recent success of the OFC Nations Cup means it is now important that the current standards displayed by the island nations is maintained and taken to a higher level.
“While we’re obviously pleased with the progress being made on the field, the challenge now is to maintain that standard and developing our coaches is a major ongoing priority that will assist in this process,” he said.