A plus for our Football still

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ draw with Jamaica last Friday, March 21, 2025, at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, in the first leg of the Concacaf Gold Cup Qualifiers, was indeed a booster shot for the country’s Football.

The 1-1 tie, when put into perspective, was a heart breaker, given that Jamaica equalized via a penalty kick, seconds away from the final whistle.

But the Vincentians were unable to replicate the effort and the score-line, in the reverse fixture last Tuesday night, March 25, at Sabina Park, Jamaica.

The Jamaicans finished on top, with a 3-0 win, winning the tie, 4-1.

Most importantly, Jamaica booked a place in the Concacaf Gold Cup in June of this year.

Reviewing the two matches, St Vincent and the Grenadines in patches, looked like they belonged to that echelon of regional Football.

Obviously, Jamaica, with their plethora of professionals, their Football pedigree, history and status, was the odds -on favourite to win.

More so, Jamaica has been a fixture in the Gold Cup, as against St Vincent and the Grenadines’ solitary entry, back in 1996.

Added, Jamaica is ranked 62nd in the world, as opposed to St Vincent and the Grenadines’ 173rd.

Given those statistics and realities, some may say that St Vincent and the Grenadines over-achieved by coming away with a draw in the first leg.

What the two matches have revealed is that Football is the most popular sporting discipline among the populace.

Yes, we had an almost packed venue last Friday night, as persons were mobilized in an attempt as well, to see the Jamaican players who are names they know from the English Premier League and other leagues around the world.

Kudos, though, must go to Head Coach, Ezra Hendrickson, who in his eight months tenure, has been able to get the players to buy into his philosophy, gain the respect and trust of players to the good, notwithstanding the results.

The tale of the tape shows that under Hendrickson, the flagship team- often referred to as Vincy Heat in Nations League and Gold Cup Qualifiers combined, has won four matches, drawn two, and lost two.

In Nations League, St Vincent and the Grenadines defeated Montserrat 2-0 and 2-1; El Salvador 2-1; and against Bonaire, won 3-1. The other results were a 1-1 draw with Bonaire, and a 2-3 loss to El Salvador.

These go along with two drawn matches in international friendlies versus Grenada here at home, prior to the matches versus Jamaica.

These stats, whilst encouraging, do not tell the real tale of our Football.

Truthfully, and relatively, St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Football is not where it ought to be, given where we were four decades ago, when we were on par with the likes of Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname.

Hence, we cannot wait for the flashes of brilliance, one-off good results, and conclude we are in a good place and space; far from it!

Victories in Football matches at the regional level are not assured as we just do not have the consistent talent to put together that string of wins.

Getting to that place where we can compete manfully against our regional neighbours, must start here at home. The sport has to be solidified though an injection of funds, empowerment of clubs, as well as a semi- professional local league.

The sport is advancing rapidly, and our protracted amateur approach will not suffice the competitive demands at the World Cup Qualifiers level and the Concacaf Nations League.

Significantly, our football authorities must get in train that comprehensive Youth Development Programme that successive administrations have evaded.

Settling for mediocrity should be a notion of the past, as the world is moving ahead of us with lightning speed.