Two females were among the 71 individuals who were officially certified coaches after being presented with Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB)/University of Technology (UTech) Coaching School certificates at a graduation ceremony held at the JFF headquarters on Thursday.

Tyiesha Grant and Tamara Williams are now Advanced Level One and Advanced Level Two qualified coaches, respectively.

“I am excited but a little disappointed because I came late and I wanted to collect my certificate,” said the former Harbour View and Barbican player, Grant.

Williams, who coaches the Harbour View women’s team, was doing her second course and said it was good to be among the men.

“I am excited. It’s always good because the men are really helpful and they always pushed me to ensure that I do well,” she said.

Also among the numbers are National Premier League stalwarts Jerome Waite, who coaches at Arnett Gardens, and Anthony Patrick, who does duties at Waterhouse FC. Both are now Advanced Level Two qualified.

Last year’s Manning and daCosta Cup champion coaches Miguel Coley of Jamaica College and Omar Wedderburn of St Elizabeth Technical High School are also now Advanced Level Two qualified.

Former Portmore United captain Anthony Modeste was among the 23, who are now Advanced Level One qualified, and the Grenadian was the only international coach to be certified in Jamaica. Jermaine Welds-Newell was the top achiever for Advanced Level One with an overall average of 85 per cent.

Advanced Level Two Cohort 7 had a batch of 28. Miguel Coley, with an overall average of 95 per cent was the top achiever there, while Advanced Level Two Cohort 8 consisted of 20. Dennis Surgeon, out of Clarendon, topped that batch with an overall average of 79 per cent.

Kim Mairs, chief executive officer of the Joan Duncan Foundation at JMMB, said the group was very happy to have partnered with the JFF and UTech.

“We are very proud to have partnered with the JFF and UTech for the training of coaches, and we are even more proud of your dedication, effort and potential to have gotten this far.

“The Joan Duncan Foundation prides itself on its commitment to nation-building of all levels, education, economics, cultural and, of course, sports. We are believers in our vision that it is important to enable every Jamaican to tap into their potential for greatness and to have their greatness impact their own lives and enhance the lives of their communities,” she added.

The programme, since its inception in 2009, has so far certified some 500 coaches across the island. This year the programme had 73 participants, but two did not finish the course.

GRADUATES, Advanced Level I — Cohort 14: Jevaughn Campbell, Marvin Douglas, Scott Graham, Tyiesha Grant, Donald Green, Damion Harriott, Andrew Hylton, Sherlon Lennon, Authly McGrath, Santanio Miller, Anthony Modeste, Cecil Morgan, Kemar Ricketts, Morinton Rochester, Livingston Scott, Romario Speid, Maurice Stanley, Rudolph Stennett, Ainsley Stewart, Lloyd Terrelonge, Clinton Thompson, Jermaine Welds-Newell, Keble Williams.

GRADUATES, Advanced Level II — Cohort 7: Raymond Beckford, Dexter Bennett, Kevin Blake, David Bromfield, Miguel Coley, Peter Grant, Donald Green, Carrington Hartley, Garnett Lawrence, Montique Long, Raymond McDonald, Oral McKenzie, Kavi Meeks, Landsdale Parry, Anthony Patrick, Rohan Rousseau, Roy Simpson, Carlton Smith, Rudolph Speid, William Spencer, Maurice Stanley, Marvin Tate, Jerome Waite, Dwayne Watson, Nigel Webb, Richard Williams, Tamara Williams, Oscar Wright.

GRADUATES, Advanced Level II — Cohort 8: Clive Adams, Tafari Babatunde, Andrew Bent, Lynford Burrell, Michael Daley, Alexander Francis, Lenworth Gordon, Sherlon Lennon, Dameian Mullings, Robert Parkes, Dudley Powell, Kemar Ricketts, Andrew Smith, Dwight Smith, Donovan Stone, Dennis Surgeon, Clinton Thompson, Baron Watson, Omar Wedderburn, Barrington Whyte.