FIFA goalkeeping instructors’ course begins

Yasaratne GAMAGE

The FIFA regional goalkeeping instructors seminar conducted by International Football Federation was officially opened under the patronage of FFSL President and Member of Parliament Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara as chief guest with a impressive opening ceremony held at Hotel Galadari, Colombo on Tuesday.

The four-day event has been organized in cooperation with Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) and FIFA Development Office in Colombo to give instructors better technical know-now of goal keeping.

FIFA instructors, Alex Vencel (France) and Hans Leitert (Austria) are conducting the seminar in both theory and practical areas while Marcelino Carpio being present as a representative of AFC.

Goalkeeping instructors from Afganistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and host, Sri Lanka are attending the seminar. The first day started with the opening ceremony followed by a presentation of FIFA’s new teaching materials regarding teaching manual and technical preparation. The in-house sessions are conducted at Hotel Galadari while practical training venues are City Football Complex ground and CR and FC grounds.

The first lessons on Tuesday included role of the coach, crosses theory introduction, and a practical session with three goal keepers.

Theory on ‘1 on 1 situation’ was concluded with real training. Participants also took lessons on general preparation including planning - organization in competition period and game preparation. The afternoon session was on analyses of the game, observation followed by the practical session with six goalkeepers.

Today the participants will start on the field and then move on to the feedback session for previous lesson which is followed by theory on goalkeeper profile and physical preparation. In the afternoon there will be two practical sessions.

The final day starts with a practical session and then ‘young goalkeepers’ will be a topic for discussion and after lunch again theory lesson on ‘death ball situation’. The closing ceremony will be at 4.30 pm.