The five months of intensive training for Philip Marin in Germany is now over. The International Coaching Course (ITK) was conducted by the Faculty of Sports Science of the University of Leipzig with the collaboration of the German Football Association (DFB). The course began on March 3, 2014, and concluded on July 30.

The International Coaching Course (ITK) is offered twice annually in four areas – football, athletics, physical training and sport for the disabled. Each area is offered in one of English, French, Spanish or Arabic on a rotational basis, which means football will once again be offered in English in 2018.

Since the inception of this program, one which is an outreach by the government of Germany to developing countries, over 4,000 participants from 170 countries have graduated from this program. Belize now has only one graduate; Columbia and Nigeria with ninety each top the list, and Trinidad leads the region with nine; in CONCACAF, Costa Rica leads with over thirty. It is my opinion that Belize must take better advantage of this program in all sporting disciplines.

The course focuses on eight areas, namely Football (theory and practical in the topics- Organization and Structure of clubs and associations; technique and individual tactics; group and team tactics; and conditioning and performance diagnostics); Introduction to German Language; General science of movement and training; Strength training; Sports Medicine; Sports Management; Sports Pedagogy; and Sport Psychology.

Next year, football will be offered in Spanish. Come on, Belize! Let’s take advantage of these courses. We should also be targeting the other sporting disciplines offered by the University of Leipzig with the collaboration of the different associations/federations here in Germany.

(Editor’s Note: Congratulations, Philip! Your advice to Belize to “take advantage of these courses” should be taken seriously by those in authority. A pity we have “missed the boat” until 2018.)