Never a dull moment in football

It may seem to some that football is the focal point of this column, with some degree of frequency. A casual reader may, therefore, conclude that the writer has some sort of vendetta with the sport locally, so beats up on it regularly. However, there is no preference for football as a reference for commentary.{{more}}

The simple reason is, there is always something happening in the sport; hence, it attracts attention.

The most recent development came earlier this week, with the resignation of first vice-president Kenton Ollivierre.

Whilst Ollivierre, in some persons’ assessment, has done the honourable thing, given his protracted absence from the state, the secretariat must get some flak for its handling of the lack of communication in the first instance.

It was not until some pressure was brought to bear from within, that we heard that Ollivierre was out of the state.

But the men and woman of the national football executive are not too concerned with keeping the affiliates and others informed.

Similarly, nothing was said of the prolonged non-functioning and absence of committee member Earl Bennett, who, reports say, is also in the United States of America.

Bennett is an elected member; hence, it is important that affiliates to be informed, instead of relying on street talk.

Was it not that same clause of absence that was used against then first vice-president Lloyd Small, prior to his resignation from the executive in November, 2013?

Beyond that though, something smells fishy about the tone of Ollivierre’s letter of resignation.

Addressed to the executive, with specific reference to president Venold Coombs, Ollivierre hinted at some sort of rift among current executive members, including attempts to undermine the top post.

Fallouts and divergent views are commonplace in any organizational framework, but this executive has taken the business of their personal differences to a new level.

Such behaviours are coming to the fore, as many want to be in the good books ahead of the pending elections.

This executive harbours public attention and seemingly likes to have people wash their mouths on them, likewise, the good name of football.

It is all in the game, as football administration is somewhat of a mirror image of the national political landscape; the contour lines have been drawn, with the four-year exercise of electing a new executive looming.

It is self-explanatory that no end of trinkets, offers and niceties are on the table for affiliates to go and sup, until they are filled.

It may well explain why the current members of the executive decided to take a bonus stipend last December, as they had more on their plates, thanks to FIFA’s generosity.

Football, however, needs more than just this sort of nesting and the many handouts, although it is the mandate for the national executive to ensure that its affiliates are supplemented, as they are the ones who are directly developing the players, and ultimately the sport.

Unfortunately, most of the affiliates have been sucked into the vice that plenty football is it.

So, give them what they want and all will be well, the current executive has come to do, whether decidedly so, or by mere co-incidence, if that is the best they can do.

In light of this, if tournaments were the lone yard stick for football in St Vincent and the Grenadines, this Venold Coombs led executive would be voted back into office resoundingly.

They would also get high marks for staging courses of the major facets of the sport.

Their report card over the past three years and four months would see this executive marked down in the areas of public image and perception, as well as public relations.

They also would not score highly in executive interference in national team selection, competitions (fixturing and eligibility rules), preferential treatment to some units and confidentiality of affairs within the organization.

Ungraded is the only reward that is forthcoming in the area of instituting a comprehensive Youth Development Programme.

Again, simply having various age group competitions and the like, devoid of a structured means to the end, does not qualify for progress.

In summary, this administration, despite a valiant attempt, has failed football in St Vincent and the Grenadines since taking office.