Unprofessionalism, egoism causing injury to football

Are we in St Vincent and the Grenadines, getting the best out of football? A deafening no will be the obvious response.

This is against the reality that we have the luxury of ready-made financial support all around, namely the regular draw downs from the sport’s governing body, FIFA, as well as from other sources, such as CONCACAF.{{more}}There is also no shortage of training courses for coaches, referees, administrators and medical personnel.

Additionally, on the local scene, football competitions are plentiful, both at the national level and at the various community based, organized leagues.

Yet, we seem to still be lagging behind others with similar land space, similar resources, economies and social issues.

Although one does not expect perfection, as this is virtually impossible, what is required, however, is that visible mark of progression.

Today, our national football policies are fashioned and locked by yesterday’s men, who employ day before yesterday’s thinking, to face tomorrow’s challenges.

On the field of play, even against our regional neighbours, St Vincent and the Grenadines take the sticks and stones mentality to battle those who possess tanks and assault rifles.

This begins from the way the sport is administered nationally and trickles down to the operations of the team units and eventually the players.

Our current senior men’s team Vincy Heat must look out of sorts in this World Cup campaign, because we are too pre-occupied with trying to get a trip for friends and cohorts, rather than concentrate on improving the technical and tactical abilities of the players.

Therefore, it should not have come as a surprise when some persons showed up last Wednesday morning at the ET Joshua Airport, bound for Suriname as part of the St Vincent and the Grenadines national senior football team’s contingent.

Joyriders have become commonplace with the present national football executive, which has mastered the art of handouts in recompense for loyalty.

Hence, players are coming into national representation as a glorified occasion, instead of a stepping stone in making football a career and what comes with it.

Our football administrators’ ego and unprofessionalism squandered a golden opportunity for St Vincent and the Grenadines to be the beneficiary of technical assistance from a partnership with Italy.

The partnership would have resulted in the provision of a qualified coach for “Vincy Heat” to begin working with the team upon arrival in the USA last year.

The partnership would have also brought with it assistance with tools to assist team management in the analysis of previous games, with other relevant technological equipment and software to assist the team’s development, also proposed.

Furthermore, technical assistance was earmarked in the continued provision of a coach; a sports psychologist to work with the team on an ongoing basis beyond the qualifying round would remain an area of priority.

According to the proposed agreement, the technical personnel who would be based on the island to work primarily with the national team would also have worked with other coaches as a trainer of trainers in an effort to develop a cadre of qualified coaches, who would have then been able to work with teams at the grassroots and other levels.

An attachment programme for coaches with a top club in Italy was another proposal that was suggested.

However, none ever saw the light of day, as those who were to ink the proposals into fruition, held on to ego, at the expense of the sport.

Not that the proposals would have translated into instant success, but the oblivion with which they were treated, exemplified the variance of objectives for those who are in charge of the sport nationally.

Operating at the amateur state is contentment of the highest order for those with the task of bettering St Vincent and the Grenadines’ football.

As a consequence, the sport is being robbed of some of the more proficient technical personnel, simply because of an inflated ego by some decision makers.

The glaring sidelining of Kendale Mercury from the national coaching set-up is another example of the modus operandi.

Undoubtedly, Mercury has proven that he has the knowledge and other acumen to make a lasting, positive impression on the national football programme, but those who have the decision strings, think in reverse.

Whilst football is the focal in this discourse, the same can be said of other sporting disciplines that conduct activities here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.