Senseless dollars?

The tenure of Zoran Vranes as Technical Director of this country’s football “programme” will soon come to an end. In some quarters, it will be good riddance, while others may see it otherwise.{{more}}

Here since September 2004, Vranes was in charge of the building of our Football on what his predecessors left. But if he has built or destroyed, or we are back to square one is another matter.

Statistics do not lie, but they are indicators of progress or lack thereof. His, though, show that he may have overstayed his employment, based on what obtains in the realms of international football coaching.

Of all matches played at all levels, Vranes’ record shows 21 wins, 32 losses and 11 draws. What’s that for a man paid US $6000 per month, accommodation and other perks, in a country like ours in which money is a scarce commodity. This made him one of the most highly paid persons on this beloved rock.

Yes, getting a Technical Director for that cost can be considered cheap, but contextually, for Vincentians, was an expensive undertaking.

As it has turned out, we got just what we asked for, as Vranes in his three years did not bring anything additional to bear on our football. But he would not have been allowed to do so, were he not so cosy with the current executive of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation.

He quickly replaced the English duo of Cess Podd and Aide Shaw, after a reported transgression by the latter, but Vranes became the spotless angel during his tenure, with little being heard of his shortcomings. I presume there were none.

Vranes enjoyed a more protracted stint than the previous Technical Directors: Jorge Ramos, Bertille St. Clair, Sammy Carrington, Lenny Taylor, Jim Conway and Podd.

His failure to implement any programme among the nation’s youth is an indictment on him and his employers.

And the records are self explanatory. St. Vincent and the Grenadines did not get past the first round of competition in regional outings at the Under-17, Under-20, Under-21 and Under-23 levels, spanning 2006 to 2007. The only time we did so in the past three years was when the Under15s reached the quarter finals of the CFU Invitational in 2005.

His most recent failure was the U-23 Olympic Qualifiers last week, despite given some of the more talented players on a platter. Vranes’ tactical inability was the root cause of the team not advancing.

His major accomplishments were Vincy Heat’s reaching the Final of the Digicel Cup earlier this year, the defeat of power house Jamaica and the Under-23 holding their Mexican counterpart to a 0-0 draw in regulation time in the Digicel Shield.

The movement of this country up the FIFA rankings also occurred with Vranes at the helm. Our highest ranking, though, of 80, was achieved in August 1996, with Jamaican born American Lenny Taylor in charge.

Vranes’ impact was mostly on preparing national teams for regional and international tournaments. But this was done in the past by the likes of Elliot “Morie” Millington, Earl Paynter and Fred Trimmingham, just to name a few. So it was nothing new. We’ve been there, done that.

Vranes has not left behind a distinctive Vincy Heat brand of football that Vincentians can call theirs. Neither has he created any players. Instead, the local Federation has been saddled over time with bills for his services. But, was his remuneration and pampering commensurate with his eventual output?

These are lessons that will guide us when we screen the next person to take over from Vranes. But we must first ask ourselves: how far do we want to take the sport, and do we have the support of other entities? Either response will impact.

Can we afford a full Technical Director or should we get one just for tournaments, especially the world cup qualifiers? We cannot make the same mistake and have someone here on an extended paid vacation.

Vranes’ three years here should undoubtedly set the focus of review of the new executive to be elected October 6. Whatever the outcome of the upcoming elections, this post with the precedent already set must be a high agenda item when the new course for our football is chartered.

And another case of spending dollars without sense is the “mound” that has been erected at the Sion Hill Playing Field. Retrofitted with a drain, the only place for that mound is its removal.