Trumpeting with no melody

The monotonous and frequent pronouncements from some members of the current executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Friends and Family – oops – Football Federation, of its achievements since taking office in 2011, is like some unmelodic trumpeters.

Their chest thumping is similar to parents who, when providing for their children, then boast about it, knowing it is their responsibility.{{more}} Therefore, having competitions and courses are part of the mandate of such a national sporting association.

Particularly as it relates to the latter, there is no special merit of achievement that is required to procure courses; they are there for member associations, simply to be sourced.

But the horn is forever being touted, which can be justified, as they are the highlight package of the current football administration’s tenure thus far.

The only other thing on the credit side is the social outlets that these competitions offer.

So, all the glamour about who has done this and has done that are insignificant and are only part of the football politics, when there are much deeper concerns which have not been addressed.

Beyond that, there is little by way of real growth and development that is visible.

Our players then get stuck in the mode of participating in the local competitions; few move on to the national teams, which is a recycled process and the cycle continues.

In essence, there are the numbers, but the quality of the sport is sorely lacking.

Similarly, there is a large number of personnel in the management set-up of the national football body, but surely, there is a lack of administration acumen and capacity.

This is further compounded by the scant acknowledgement that the group of men and woman have gained from the football public, affiliates and footballers alike.

Prompted by the institutionalized ineptitude, the present executive has reeled off a library of reasons which has caused it not to have any moral authority of correction of any wrongs or perceived wrongs by any of its affiliate members.

Therefore, professionalism is like a curse word to the national football executive, as the records again are there to prove likewise.

History will show that under this executive, permission was openly given for a team to feature overaged players in an Under-13 competition. It is nothing new to say that this executive is a foreigner to legitimacy as it relates to the transfer of players, especially in its national club championships.

It cannot also be denied or defended that there is interference with the selection process of national teams.

Much, though, should not be expected, as the executive is built on self-interest, not any genuine love for the sport and its development.

Everything is kept within the friends and family circles, while the affiliates are kept in the dark in many of the happenings within their organization.

A case in point is the recent use of match commissioners during the National Inter-Community League Championships.

Whilst a move in the right direction, is it only members of the executive who are fit to be trained for such appointments?

Was the training gained exclusive to those within the organization; hence every opportunity to acquire must go the elected and selected members?

These happenings and others are allowed to be perpetuated because most of the affiliates have been sucked into a cocoon of loyalty and have been duped into believing that a set of competitions constitutes the purpose of the lovely sport.

And, soon the drum roll will begin again, and the ears will burst with the echoing of how successful the national inter community league was.

But silence would be kept on the many faux pas which were counted during the competition.

It will be covered down with deafening silence on the many rules of the competition which were contravened.

Not much public ventilations were made about the expected shortcomings, neither anything came out of the infractions, as clearly nothing better was expected.

Who cares though, as long as the sport is played? There are results and the page is turned over until next competition, then things nice.

Many who have the power in their hands are wedged in the status quo, because they like it so.