The BSA, no vision, no development plan

Fri, Feb 01, 2013

Editor: Please permit me a space in your weekly newspaper to address an issue that I have found to be a worrying one. In your newspaper dated Friday, 11th January, 2013, the reason for Barrouallie opting out of the Hairoun Beer All Leeward Football Competition 2013 was given by the President of the Barrouallie Sports Association, Mr Larson Lewis.{{more}}

His decision has caused the Inter League Champions to be mere spectators and it was seen as grave disrespect and a blunt refusal for the ardent followers to see their team in action once again. Even the constituency representative, the Hon. Maxwell Charles was present at the Inter League Finals, in strong support of both teams (Layou and Barrouallie), and can only hope to see them in action once again, even in their own organized competition (All Leeward). In addition, a lot of people, not only in Barrouallie, but the entire football fraternity in St Vincent and the Grenadines and even in the diaspora were left in a state of “AWEâ, wondering why, although answers were given.

Now the question is: what are their motives, what are their plans for the community of Barrouallie? Let me tell you what it is. Itâs a “NO VISION, NO DEVELOPMENT PLANâ.

Allow me to enlighten you and the public about this “NO VISION, NO DEVELOPMENT PLANâ he and his executive have executed in the last two years.

DID YOU KNOW:

The President of the Football Refereesâ Association lives in Barrouallie, yet there have been no talks held with him concerning training for officials by the BSA. This collective effort will have a direct improvement of the game. But instead, the president reduced the number of referees from 38 in 2010 (all who gave their service willingly) to nine presently. This has not changed the price of eggs. Games scheduled for 4:30 p.m. commence at 5:00 p.m. and sometimes later, sometimes because of lack of officials. And complaints are still being made about the level of professionalism of those current officials and the impact this has on participating teams.

Once sports are developed in a community, it encourages neighbouring communities/teams to participate in its competitions. But this “No Development Planâ has cause teams to withdraw participation. Go back to your roster; there were no teams from Layou participating in 2012, as they put it down to “officiating problemsâ. (Clean up your act first before addressing someone elseâs).

DID YOU KNOW:

He has increased his staff from 10 members to over 20 members. As you said “to develop sportsâ, yet, we the public await the impact/effect of this positive change. In an article dated 12th February, 2010, in the Searchlight Newspaper, you stated that you will do your best to develop Sports in Barrouallie and the introduction of new sporting disciplines as well. We are waiting to play and view other sports. You continue to organize, in a repetitive fashion, three disciplines per year. With such a large number of committed members, it should be made easy, but I keep forgetting that the current BSA operates in a myopic fashion.

DID YOU KNOW:

He has been the first president of the Barrouallie Sports Association to withdraw from a challenge, as a matter of fact, two (challenges) competitions in the space of 6 months, the most recent the All Leeward Competition and secondly the Club Championship.

After winning the Inter League, the BSA was given the opportunity to enter the CLUB Championship, as a club. It was turned down. You make it all about winning. The community of Layou took the challenge (the offer was also presented to them) and entered their younger and not so featured players and gave a great show. They placed 3rd. They faced the same problems as you did, but they believe in development. Shame on you and your short sighted executive, but as this article stated, no vision no development.

Now that we have been entertained with few opportunities that were posed to the BSA, and there are more, what does our future hold with these guys who act in such a myopic fashion? Is there any light at the end of the tunnel? My answer is a resounding NO, unless these guys are replaced. One can only think about the sponsors and contributors, and what they expect from the BSA.

Surely, it leaves a lot to be desired. In these hard economic times with the sponsors and contributors devoted and continued support to the community of Barrouallie that is in care of this Association, this executive needs to concentrate on developing and improving rather than operating as a clique whose work can only be seen with the use of a microscope. We expect a reply to our questions, but when you do, please donât send your 2011 victory speech which is vivid in our memories and we do have copies of. We are still waiting for hard copies of the 2011 financial statement that was beautifully displayed as a power point presentation at the last general meeting, which do donât have a hard copy off.

In closing, I must make reference to Tribal wisdom of the Lakota Indians, passed on from generation to generation, says, “When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.â However, in government, organizations, associations etc. more advanced strategies are often employed, and my favorite is such as:

“Promoting the dead horse to a supervisory position and hiring another horse.â

We made a grave mistake in putting you there, but you can prove us wrong. I plea to you, make sports your interest, have the sports men and women interest at heart and finally remember, you have a social obligation and an economical opportunity to provide for the public, just a few fundamental objectives of the organization that might be overlooked.

More would be said in the future.

The Columnist and Football Player