Every so often over the next two weeks, UTPA women's soccer head coach Glad Bugariu, also the head coach of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines women's national team, will blog about his experiences during the time leading up to, and in the Winward Islands Football Association Championship. March 11The last time I coached in the Caribbean was over 10 years ago, when I was assistant men's coach of Grenada. Working in the Caribbean has its challenges and 10 years later those challenges continue.
The power at the Trinidad airport went out, so I spent quite a bit of time in the Houston airport, missing my connecting flight to St. Vincent and having to spend a night in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
This gives me the opportunity to catch up with current Trinidad and Tobago women's national team player Janine Francois, my former player at South Carolina State University. She is in the know about the top young players from her country, so it will allow me to get an extra bit of recruiting in, and I still should have enough time to make my first session on Thursday with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines women's national team.
The adventure begins.
March 12Great morning in Trinidad and Tobago, despite a flight delay of over four hours.
I get to spend most of the day at the Trinidad airport, but finally my LIAT flight arrives and I am on my way to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
After going through immigration and customs at the small airport, I am picked up by Keith Ollivierre, the country's Technical Director and we drive to the federation offices to meet the president and the national coaching staff. Of course, with all the delays I missed the Thursday session, but I will have plenty of opportunities to work with the players over the next few days.
We spend most of the evening planning out the sessions that will take place and I have my first information about the women's national team and the players that are available. I also have a great discussion with Mr. Venold Coombs the president of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Association and I am really looking forward to getting out on the field.
March 13Over the next few days I will conduct sessions and also make presentations to the national coaching staff regarding my work at UTPA.
The federation has arranged a room for me, similar to a bed and breakfast in a quiet part of the country in the hills. I have two windows in my bedroom; both have very interesting views. One overlooks the yard, while the other overlooks the entire country. It is very nice and quaint. It is owned by a lovely woman named Ms. Bramble, mother of one of one of my assistant coaches, Andrew Bramble.
After catching up on a bit of work this morning, it will be a series of meetings and training later this afternoon. We are here to prepare for the Windward Islands Football Association Women's Championship, made up of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St. Lucia, and Dominica. I hope my work will be a benefit to everyone involved.
So far everyone has been very welcoming and I am looking forward to getting out on the field.
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