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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 11 2004 : 01:04:15 AM
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Friday, December 10, 2004,
DOWNSWELL. won't cut it
Dear Sports Editor,
The success of the national football team has taken a decidedly downward trend. The team made it to France in 1998, got to the 'round of six' for World Cup 2002 and failed to make the 'round of six' for 2006.
But what did national observers expect from a team (used loosely), with some speaking Yankee, some cockney, others Yardie, variants of English, and a coach whose native tongue is Portuguese? Not much! To be fair to Lazaroni, he never really got a team to coach.
However, let us put all of that behind us. Forget about the questionable characters involved in football in Jamaica, the questionable collection and expenditure of funds, the opportunists from England, the local players who only wanted to impress foreign agents, the sponsors who wanted to push their products and services to the detriment of the programme, and the 'wagonists' who really did not understand the game nor the business of football.
Let us consider the following suggestions as we focus on qualifying for World Cup 2010:
1 Drop the 'Reggae Boyz' branding. Replace this with 'The Jamaica National (Football) Team'.
2 Forget about a foreign coach. However, Downswell won't cut it. What of Jackie Walters and Emerson Henry or nomad Geoffrey (Maxwell - though morals might be an issue here)? A foreign national like Ruud Gullit would be contracted as technical director (advisor) to guide the national coaches at all levels, and the premier league teams that supply the majority of national players.
This need not be a long-term solution, probably our friends the Dutch would assist with the remuneration, as the Germans did with Calder in the 1980s. Our minister of sports just has to find the correct official to introduce to some warm Caribbean kisses.
3 The media should reduce 'the hype' regarding the greatness of individual players and the team in general. Encouragement is different from overkill. Jason Euell, for example, was being touted as our saviour prior to our game with the USA. Was the media aware that he spent most of his time on the bench for Charlton FC during this period, and that Charlton's fans accused him of being lazy?
4 Forget about the British imports. They do not bring much to the table (field), and we need to develop local players. While we are at it, we can also say goodbye to Bibi, Tappa, Pepe, Andy and company, who after three World Cup campaigns did not show the soccer class expected of them.
A total focus on youth from the under-17 and under-20 teams is not desirable either. We need the best combination available at any point in time.
5 Invite local players including Kevin Lamey and Reon Nelson. Nelson was top-scorer in Jamaica, and proved it was no fluke by repeating the feat in Trinidad. In 1998, Lamey was the leading scorer in the National Premier League but could not even sit on the bench in France! A travesty of justice!
6 Encourage national players to spend less time at the hairdresser and more time in strategising, watching videos of football matches with successful teams and doing more blackboard work.
7 Develop a Jamaican or Caribbean style of play. Whenever our players come to camp from whatever club, wherever in the world, this would be the style they adopt.
8 Teach players black history in general and Jamaican history in particular.
They must see themselves as part of a team representing a proud nation, not as a bunch of individuals trying to catch some European scout's eye.
9 Football administrators at all levels, including KSAFA and the parish bodies, must be good role models. Persons of questionable reputation should be ostracised.
10. Play ball!! However, be reminded that excellent football begins in the brain - we want thinkers not kickers and loudmouths.
Lenny Gentles
c/o CGR Communications
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Karl |
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Ten tips for 2010 - Letter to the Observer
