Shooting from long range

It must have come as some type of relief that St Vincent and the Grenadines’ football has been spared an embarrassment and things are back to normal following the decision of FIFA not to uphold the Guyana Football Federation’s appeal.

The progression of the Vincentian signature senior men’s football team Vincy Heat to the third round of the World Cup qualifiers came after a successful defence of the eligibility of English-born player Gavin James.{{more}}

James, whose mother, father and grandparents were all born here in St Vincent, was among the 18 players declared in both matches in the second round last month.

Following the ties of June 10 and 14, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) lodged a protest over James’ eligibility, stating he was not in possession of a Vincentian passport.

James, although eligible for a Vincentian passport, presented his British passport on both match days.

However, the disciplinary committee of football’s world governing body (FIFA) let the results of the two matches stand, hence St Vincent and the Grenadines’ advancement.

When the first leg was held here at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, June 10, the match ended 2-2; the return leg in Guyana four days later was locked at 4-4.

St Vincent and the Grenadines progressed on the away goals ruling.

All is well that ends well and the edgy feelings which existed among the populace since June 18 when the news broke of Guyana’s protests have evaporated.

In between the saga, the wait and the tension, several verbal shots were fired at the operations of the secretariat of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, and rightly so.

The blame game and finger pointing within the walls of the secretariat had started, instead of collective responsibility for a shortcoming. But a house divided cannot stand.

In all that transpired, can our football administrators continue to play with fire and one day not get burnt? We cannot always let bygones be bygones; instead we should learn from our mistakes and prevent such reoccurrences.

Therefore, with the team given a lifeline to go further in this third round, every effort should be made to ensure a berth in the fourth round is realized.

Without being dismissive of Aruba, which St Vincent and the Grenadines is set to first meet here on September 4, then in Aruba four days later, we should be taking aim at the group stage.

Our country should be sensitized of what the prospects hold in making it to the round four.

Should St Vincent and the Grenadines get past Aruba, they will be placed in Group C of the fourth round, which would also comprise the US, Trinidad and Tobago and the winner of the third round tie between Antigua and Barbuda and Guatemala.

Without a doubt, having the US visit us will surely open up the door for a few days of travelling supporters and a marketing outlet for St Vincent and the Grenadines’ tourism.

As we are well aware, the US is building itself as a “soccer nation” and with it comes bands of loyal fans and a host of media networks.

The likes of ESPN and Fox Soccer Channel are possible well-known broadcast groupings likely descend on St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Not counting our chickens before they hatch, we should then be shooting from long range and getting our houses in order for what is a strong possibility.

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ immediate neighbours to the south, Grenada, gave a good account of themselves back in 2004 with their marketing, when the USA played their outfit in World Cup Qualifiers then.

The SVGFF, along with all the support mechanisms at its disposal, has to start to get proactive, by first of all getting over the first hurdle – Aruba.

It may also be another reason for us to look down the road and extend the talent pool of the St Vincent and the Grenadines team, whereby others who are eligible to represent the Vincy Heat brand can do so.

The way we do things in sports should be representative of what is close to the ideal in our spheres of national design and vice versa.

So, let us go for the fourth round, knowing that we must leap over Aruba next.