Welcome Theon Gordon

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN order for those who took the bold step to appoint Theon Gordon as this country’s Director of Technical Matters of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation.

It surely was not a onetwo- three decision, as carefully consideration, tees crossed and bureaucratic hurdles mounted and other variables would have been factored in, before a final approval was given.

So, here comes 35-yearold Gordon, who taskes up this appointment at a critical juncture of this country’s football. More so, he is placed in the fray when the sport is at a low ebb and when results on the field, especially with the senior men’s outfit, are unfavourable.

Additionally, Gordon takes over from Keith Ollivierre, who served in the post since 2012, a period of nine years. It was surely a rocky road during Ollivierre’s tenure, as many felt that there were not any appreciable changes made to our football product.

What worked against Ollivierre as well, was the fact that he was not full-time. Despite this debilitating fact, the general consensus was one of greater expectations.

Hopefully, the nomenclature from Technical Director to Director of Technical Matters, brings with it a definitive shaping of the way things is configured and executed technically.

With youth in his favour, and more so, installed on a full-time basis, Gordon is in the know with the modern-day approaches to the sport.

Whether by accident or by design, Gordon has etched out a pathway for such a position.

He brings with him his five-year stint at the Universidad Deportivo Del Sur of Venezuela, between 2006 to 2011, where he was able to attain Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management and Technology.

At the relatively young age of 35, Gordon has notched up years of experience. He has served St Vincent and the Grenadines’ football, both as a player and in managerial positions.

To his credit, Gordon has also managed local football club Je Belle for the past nine years, and is the holder a CONCACAF B Coaching licence. His list of positions extends to him being the St Vincent and the Grenadines’ CONCACAF Grassroot Coordinator, a CONCACAF Instructor and part of the bi-lateral committee for football development in the Caribbean.

Another of his preparatory engagements for this new critical post, Gordon, last year initiated a series of webinars known as “Read the Game”, in which various football topics have been highlighted and fleshed out.

When bundled together, he would have been the best choice, since it would seem a policy decision, to at best give a home-bred Vincentian first preference.

However, it will be no honeymoon period for Gordon, who has over the years accumulated sufficient data of the country’s football, to immediately put the mechanisms in place.

Equally, one should not expect instant changes and a reverse in fortunes and image of football.

Therefore, in making his stint count, among Gordon’s priorities should be to stamp his authority on the position, as obviously he comes in with a framework of intent. In saying that though, all of Gordon’s tenacity, brilliant outlook and fervour will come to nothing, if he is not given some elbow room and autonomy to execute his plans. Although the details of his post have not been made public, previous experience should dictate that Gordon should have more authority.

Thus, granted the title of Gordon’s appointment, he must be afforded the luxury of selecting the coaches best suited to fill the various national teams and development programmes. Added, he should be given a working budget in order to carry out his duties in an efficacious manner.

Critically in Gordon’s tenure, he must be surrounded by persons who are like-minded, forward thinking, have a penchant for success and are not archaic in their thinking.

But should the current executive of men and woman, not fully embrace change, we would be spinning top in mud and the real change would only be in personnel.

It is high time that those who have the reins of power for the country’s football recognise that the sport has become highly scientific and depending on sheer talent would not cut it.

They have to come to the point that we cannot get good results on the pitch unless a grip is taken of all facets of football in the country.

Reality too must hit them hard, that success is not cheap!