Recognizing development

by Rollit Walrond

Sports enthusiasts have had enough time to reflect on 2016 performances and results of the SVGFF executive and its senior national team at world cup and regional competitions, in which Team SVG lost all of their games.

Excuses of all kinds are being made, as if it is the first appearance. It is 24 years, 1992 – 2016 and in 2016, the preparation was the worst.{{more}}

In 1992, Team SVG played its first game and from there on, every executive and those who wanted to be knew of the FIFA four-year programme, its dates and when the next tournament would be held, so there was enough time to be prepared and to learn.

Those who call for a foreign coach must also kindly assist by putting what is required “in place and in time” for the foreign coach to bring the results they want.

1994 – 1998 – 2002 – 2006 – 2010 the SVGFF executive hired foreign coaches; the coaches and their contractors left with good money and Team SVG were left at the bottom of the group.

Persons not being able to recognize what is required and the required time needed for development are not knowledgeable of the sport and its process of development. Therefore, they should not be in its administration.

China is now starting its youth soccer coaching clinic and it is supported by businesses and its Government. England have made nine-a-side mandatory for their youth development programme. It is over 30 years these two development programmes have been in operation in SVG, without the requisite help.

Rollit took the initiative with his team mates of Avenues United and others who were convinced these programmes would develop our players and soccer and officially launched all four programmes; two later came in the 90s. “The Masters,” which are comprised of players over 35 years old returning to assist, then the Female Clinic.

Other countries have recognized the programmes’ values and benefits, but authorities in SVG will not, because of who took the initiative. These programmes encourage the young, the old, and those new to participate in one way or the other; it also gave potential players, coaches and referees the confidence needed to perform, organize and conduct coaching sessions.

Organizers of communities with small fields soon began organizing both competition and coaching sessions. Presently all over SVG, these are the only development programmes taking place and they are done privately. There is need for these programmes to be properly organized and be put to use for their purposes, with monitors, if our players are to be developed “in time”.

Every executive has failed to develop soccer, since receiving FIFA technical and funding assistance; had they been knowledgeable of the sport’s process of development, also honest, they would have implemented what FIFA instructors shared with them; then soccer, Team SVG and the SVGFF executive would not be in this sad state which exists in 2016.

Parents, spectators and especially sponsors, those who help to finance teams and the sport and are not satisfied with the performances and results of the SVGFF executive and Team SVG, there is nothing you can do about it. The voting affiliates select and elect the executives.

Imagine what our soccer would look like, if these private clinic owners, the over 35s and nine-a-side organizers were not convinced that these programmes would develop the players and the sport.

Let’s thank those owners for the faith, patience, time and finance they put into conducting these programmes without the requisite help, as their contribution to the nation’s sports. And hope, the voting affiliates develop their knowledge of recognition; in so doing, they will identify and select developers for the future.