Right on track

The launch of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation’s Youth Development Programme is a welcomed step, as this country seeks to reclaim much lost ground in sports.

Long overdue, finally, this Executive has mustered the will to implement such a critical element, as youth development forms the bedrock in any form of progression and sustainability.{{more}}

Although there were semblances of youth development before, it was basically on the initiative of some conscientious persons in the various communities, with some input by the local governing body.

Ian Sardine, current First Vice President of the SVGFF, must be credited for his tenacity and perseverance in this field for the past two decades, and, therefore, ensuring that there was some structured approach towards honing the skills of budding players.

But for the national football body to lead the charge is commendable of the present Executive.

Undoubtedly, this has to be the highlight of the eleven-month old tenure of the Joseph Delves led administration, which has had little to shout about since taking office October last year.

A timely intervention one may say, as far too often, our footballers are able to match their opponents skill for skill, but are in most cases unable to make the next step up, as they have not received any formal training.

This void in our Football development has cheated many players who, despite their talents, are unable to procure professional contracts, as their resumes do not show them coming through the youth development process.

Admirably, the SVGFF programme places equal emphasis on the academics of the young players. This is critical, as we have seen some players fall by the wayside because they lacked that knowledge base and that crucial mental aptitude.

Another good move is to reward the local coaches with a stipend for their efforts. This will be a relief from what obtained in the recent past where foreign coaches will come in, prepare national teams for competitions and milk the federation to the bone of its finances.

Too, the fact that the Executive saw the wisdom in investing in equipment also augurs well for the life of Football.

The seeds have been sown. the nurturing and constant watering by way of financial injection, to ensure that fruits are borne out of this programme, are the next steps.

Once there is a product, one can expect that corporate bodies will come on board and assist to drive it forward.

Sustaining the programme through continuous evaluation and fine tuning must be priority in order to make it truly developmental.

But this programme must not be seen as the panacea to some of the crippling problems that have stagnated Football over the years. The Executive should not start thumping their chests and thinking that they have arrived, as their work has just begun. In fact, this will be their acid test.

Systematic planning in laying down timelines for achievements, in terms of qualifications in age grouped regional competitions, must be a focal point. so too, is the institution of bench marks of accepted levels of performance for all national teams.

These must take precedence before we can really and seriously challenge the other CONCACAF countries for World Cup qualification.

Concurrently, the men in the administrative positions of the SVGFF should in tandem improve on their leadership capacity, endeavour to improve the level of officiating, ignite a Sports Medicine component, coaching, pursue with vigour a home for Football and a concerted effort to improve the image of the sport.

In the same vein, while the emphasis is on youth development, those established players must also be nudged into improving their status all round.

Football has started in what is hopeful to be a path of recovery. Other sporting associations which are facing a similar predicament of a non-systematic approach to development should do likewise.

The SVGFF should move to lay the foundation for a national assault on sports development. But do we have that will?

Lacking that will are those who chose to continue to have that eye sore of a “Mound” at the Sion Hill Playing Field.

email: kingroache@yahoo.com