To the next round… Be better prepared

The advance of this country’s senior men’s football team Vincy Heat to the third round of the CONCACAF Zone of the World Cup qualifiers, has been embraced by those who follow the sport locally and Vincentians far and wide.

Reaching another phase in the qualifiers comes at a juncture when the sport is buzzing, as it has been all success for both the men’s and women’s senior teams at the Windward Islands tournaments, and the Under-23 outfit heading to the group stage of the Olympic set-up.{{more}}

But for the senior men, the flagship team, the World Cup outings pose a different challenge and obviously heightened expectations.

Getting past Guyana with their trailer load of pros, was a booster shot for the local Vincentian coaching staff, which includes technical director Keith Ollivierre, head coach Cornelius Huggins, along with his assistants Wesley Charles and Kevin Richardson.

Coming out on top of the tie versus Guyana, albeit on the away goals ruling, last Sunday in Guyana, magnifies that air of anticipation.

On one hand, St Vincent and the Grenadines found its goal scoring form, but conversely, they conceded the same number of goals.

Doing well against the next opponent in the third round, set for August 31 and September 8, thus sets the tone for a more organized approach in mapping out success.

The draw, slated for July 25 in St Petersburg, Russia, is critical, as whoever Vincy Heat is matched with, would be a tougher cookie than Guyana.

But should we wait until we know the next opposition to begin to plot the way forward for round three?

Obviously not, as on evidence of the first leg match here on Wednesday, June 10 and the 4-4 result last Sunday, points to some deficiencies in our players, the system of play and indeed the structure of the sport here.

No one should be blinded by the fact that the team advanced, and think they have perfected everything, but note that our players’ tactical awareness and mental strength are areas for our technical staff to address with some measure of urgency.

Such are inherent problems which exist at the club and national inter league championships, which go unnoticed as getting a winner is paramount.

These shortcomings, however, cannot be fixed totally in the upcoming weeks, by those who are in charge of guiding the team; but surely things can improve.

Apart from the on field shortcomings, our players must be taught some semblance of professional education, amidst their amateur status.

What then is in place between now and August to ensure that the players’ fitness level and aptitude are maintained?

Would there be some international friendlies, which will not only assist the players’ competence and coaching staff’s gauge, but build prominence to the next engagements from the sporting public?

Will they be allowed to be on the loose during the festive Carnival season, when the excesses are the order?

Are you going to wait until the rum chips in before sobriety is preached?

Apart from the players, the executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation should also begin to show that they are the holders of offices which should dictate and guide the sport in a forward direction.

The men and woman who have either been voted into their various posts, or those who are appointed should from here on in, allow the technical personnel to do their job.

They should desist from using their position to dictate who should be included in the team(s).

This does not augur well going forward, as such interference only creates greater problems.

In the interim, however, every possible support needed for the players, the coaching staff and other bodies which are in concert with the team moving on, must be explored and maximized.

The objective from here on in, should be to see how far can this team progress.