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Former national defender sets sights on becoming top local coach
December 29, 2021
Former national defender Dicoy Williams has set his sights on becoming a top football coach.
He is now an assistant coach at Jamaica Premier League (JPL) club Arnett Gardens and he is hoping that he will learn enough to gain his coaching licence and move on to be one of the best local coaches.
"I want to be the best so I will go among the best coaches and the best teams. Even to be the water boy at one of the best clubs and then move up to be the manager," Williams said. The former Santos, Arnett Gardens and Harbour View player believes he was born to be a coach. "I think I have it (coaching) naturally even though I will have to learn the theory. I just need some experience so I can impart my knowledge to my team," he said.
Williams revealed that initially his intention was to join Santos in the KSAFA Super League, but the delay in the restart of parish football due to the ongoing pandemic forced him to look to the JPL.
"My initial aim was to be at Santos where my football career started, and if everything was going normal without the pandemic, I would definitely be at Santos. It is my dream to get them into the JPL. I have also played for two of the best clubs in the country and it would have been easy to choose any one of the two.
"But Harbour View have always had a big cadre of former players to choose from when it comes to coaches, so it is unlikely that they would have space for another coach.
"Arnett Gardens do not have a lot of former players who get involved in coaching, so I looked at that and I approached them and was accepted," Williams said.
Although he still has a passion to assist his beloved Santos, he said the objective now is to keep learning at the highest level until he can make the transition to being a head coach.
"In three years time I think I should be coaching a team at Under-20, Business House or Manning Cup. But the main aim is to coach a Premier League team," he said.
Williams has been learning a lot from Arnett Gardens head coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis and his assistant, Dutchman Eric Rademakers.
And the 35-year-old former Toronto FC defender admits that his passion for coaching appears to be even stronger than his love for the game when he was a player.
"The passion for coaching is really there. I really like to get up in the mornings and watch the players in training. Once the passion is there, it is the best thing. I missed training days when I was a player but now I am feeling so motivated every day, I do not want to miss any as a coach. I like talking to the players one on one.
"I don't know if this will change but for now it feels really good," Williams said.
