SHORT TERM VISION FAILING LOCAL FOOTBALL
The Reggae Boyz go into the World Cup qualifying match against Honduras on a three-match losing streak and chances are that based on how the team has been playing lately, the result will most likely be similar to the last three. Why? We all know the reasons. Ineffective coaching, a lack of quality players, not enough practice games against quality opponents and a general lack of understanding as to what it takes to qualify for a world cup.
Having witnessed failed campaigns for 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2012, one has to believe that the 1998 campaign was a fluke. It was the perfect storm of the right players at the right time with the right coach. Since that time however, Jamaica has seen failure after failure after failure. We can blame coaches, we can blame players or the lack of resources, but ultimately we have to lay the blame at the feet of the people who administrate over football and sport in general in Jamaica.
Like most other times when things go right in Jamaica we have failed to strike while the iron was hot. Using the euphoria of ’98 when there were so many passionate players in the Jamaican squad, players like the late Peter Cargill, Shorty Malcolm, Walter Boyd, Deon Burton, Paul Hall, and Theodore Whitmore, who connected with the people, the Jamaica Football Federation and the Government could have used the opportunity to restructure local football in such a way that we would have been reaping the benefits now, 15 years later as the island is about to bow out of another campaign. This will be another crash and burn and once again no one will be held accountable.
Had Jamaica done a comprehensive overhaul of the national programme wherein youngsters en masse would be exposed to the kind of training that would equip them with the requisite skills, there would be opportunity for the very best to be placed in special programmes that would help these youngsters hone their special skills.
Under careful supervision, they would grow to develop into quality players that would eventually be exposed to and attract the best clubs in the world in the very top divisions where those skills could be sharpened and readied for our world cup campaigns. Looking at the current squad, there is not one player there who plays for a top club anywhere in the world. The Jamaican squad is currently comprised of players from our sub-standard Premier League and second and third division clubs across the world. What this tells us is that Jamaica does not possess enough quality players to take on the best in the world and that is what the world cup is all about. Sure, there will be players who will be blessed with the skills but there will never be enough of them to form a deep enough squad for a world cup campaign where injuries and unforeseen circumstances will require the use of an equally talented player, a game changer, from off the bench.
When one looks at the top club teams from across the world, one realizes that it is not just the starting XI that makes them good but also the players they have in reserve. Jamaica does not possess a talented starting XI nor a talented bench, so how do we expect to play and win consistently without the calibre of players being at the disposal of the coaching staff. As it relates to coaching, we would be forced then to hire quality coaches to shape our talented recruits. You can’t use a short order cook to train world class chefs.
So instead of largely depending on recruits, some of whom who would have only heard of Jamaica from stories passed on from previous generations, Jamaica would have had the benefit of cherry picking quality players for all positions when assembling a squad for a campaign such as the one we are currently engaged in. But that is not what has happened and is why we are now languishing at the bottom of the Hexagonal Round with only two of a maximum 15 points.
There will be the cry that Jamaica did not have the resources but consider this. Had the JFF with support from Government said to corporate Jamaica and to FIFA, “Look, we want to build a programme, here is our plan. We want to qualify for the 2010 World Cup but we have to start now,” money could have been raised to implement the system we needed to make good things happen. The problem, as it is with all things in this country is that we only live for now totally disregarding the future. That’s bad planning and where we fail to plan we plan to fail and that is what we are doing in this campaign; failing.
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28 Responses to “SHORT TERM VISION FAILING LOCAL FOOTBALL”
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I must agree with levy, we have gotten this thing all wrong since 1998. and until we get someone with the vision and purposeful thoughts we are going no further than Caribbean cup
Excellent analysis. The 1998 and current model differ greatly in preparation, planning and knowledge. Talent is not enough.
An excellent summary of the state of the team and the organization behind it. A couple of points I would like to make: FIFA funds were turned over to the Jamaican FA for the team’s appearance at the 1998 World Cup – why is there so little to show for this legacy? Secondly, a player from the 1998 squad who deserves a mention alongside Cargill and Whitmore – Ricardo Gardener, who has done his country proud for more than a decade in the Premiership.
The only positive I see is Horace Burrell; He sponcers every level of football in Jamaica, the JFF owes him money and he is the boss. If you vote him out Jamaica’s football will callapse.
I agree with coachnello. Everybody asking for Burrell to resign. Have any of you ever thought for one moment that Burrell is the REASON WHY WE HAVEN’T GONE TO COMPLETE DAMNATION YET? Few people remember the man named Crenston Boxhill. Under him, we amassed millions of dollars in debt, created some stupid training facility (which was started but never finished and is now in ruins) and couldn’t even qualify for the first stage of the WC. Yes, Captain has made a couple of mistakes, not letting the team gel enough is one. However, you have to see with him. Remember, these players are at clubs that release them for 5 days 6 days at a time. Also what you don’t realize is that we just don’t have the talent YET at the local level. Local team couldn’t even win a Caribbean Cup.. After we qualify for a WC then we can look to bolster up our youth programs in Jamaica. PLEASE JAMAICANS SUPPORT OUR BOYZ THIS IS THE CLOSEST WE’VE GOTTEN TO THE WC SINCE ’98. DONE WID DI WAGGONIST TING..
Thank you Derrick.
Where do we go from here?
Local coach vs foreign coach?
Bear in mind to that cooperate Jamaica favors foreign coaches and players over locals. Money talks!
article hit the nail on the head
all other serious football countries build their national team through their youth system
and acadamies we only spend money at the top when ever a wc comes around,a tree without root wont bear any fruit
scraping up third rate players all over the world with distance Jamaican blood will not work,France 98 is history that will not repeat
I share your views & here are mine http://bigfren-nuffsaid.blogspot.com/2013/06/vcb-and-hopes-of-nation.html
What a disgrace people must walk or be pushed,they don’t know what they are doing.Talk about football developement.Gold cup 2011 Jamaica did have a good squad of players,to build a solid foundation, but for some unknown reason (JFF/Mutt&Jeff) most of the players just disappear.How can a player represent Jamaica 2001/2002 and after 10 years absent selected to play for Jamaica.1.USA 2.Costa Rica 3. Mexico (4th Honduras/Panama and Jamaica)facing off aganist New Zealand.Former Jamaica National Footballer Edward Johnny Cool Dawkins.Shame how just a few people doing what they like mushing up the Youths/Yutes !!!! Do the right thing WAlK & DON’T LOOK BACK,RIGHT NOW
I am in total agreement; the JFF has not laid a solid foundation for football to develop in the country. There is nothing in place to help develop the younger players so instead of living for the here and now, the JFF should focus on the development of the young players to better develop the national program. It is the same approach each world cup qualifying where Cap’t and the technical staff try to recruit players who may not even be able to find Jamaica on a map. While that may have worked for 98, it sends a message that homegrown players are not good enough (which may be true) but at the same time knowing that they are not good enough, the JFF must ask themselves what do I need to put in place to develop the next generation.
Nemo Kid, which is cheaper recruiting from over seas or building academies and youth systems?
Honestly can we afford the ideal?
Desmond we need to stop and honestly answer this question: are the homegrown talent good enough?
Thats where our problem is.
So many people are begging for player development but you talk to the players in Jamaica listen to how many of them, fans and coaches will say that the homegrown players are good enough and in some cases even better than…
Answer the question.
COOLRUNNINGS, who should walk?
What exactly is the rational for sponsors to prefer foreign coaches and players?
Ric Bent, that’s a very tough question, especially since I am nether national coach nor sponsor.
But you tell me; if you were a major sponsor to the JFF, to which program would you donate more: one coach by a Jamaican coach or one coached by an internationally acclaimed coach?
Fact: the best coaches in the world are not from Jamaica.
I was expecting another question though…
A child must creap before it walks,mumble before it talks.
Develop a youth system,take it from there.
The administration of football in Jamaica is a microcosm of what goes on in Concacaf as well as FIFA. There are a few strong men at the top who control and rule their affiliates through monetary manipulations. One not looks further than former concacaf President Jack Werner of Trinidad and Tobago and his numerous football related indiscretion.
It is imperative if we want our football to grow, for us to restructure the governance of football within the JFF, while still operating within the confines of FIFA. We should not put the power of planning, development of a vision, youth football development, finance, international campaigns and all the necessities that football need to grow; in the hands of one person. An individual who is given a free pass because he supports local football from his own coffers is definitely short sighted and ‘licky licky’.
The government and all the local bodies must begin to rethink and plan for the future, building from the youth level is imperative, hence three football academies; one in each county would be a start. There are millions of dollars to be made from football however the investors are few.
If it were a vision, even for the short term, it would be much better that what exists, which is no vision whatsoever. And 1998. How do you say “buck up” in Russian?
hlynch welcome to the debate.
Where have you been all this time?
You have some solid points.
In every organisation my friend there has to be somebody at the top. I don’t get how you equate a person who supports football from his own pocket to be short sighted and licky- licky?
I believe that JacK Warner has contributed far more good than bad to concacaf; do you want to dispute that?
Juan mayor I see what you are saying.
Reality: we are poor.
Do you want Jamaica to put some boys in an academy feed them, clothed them, train them for years; with competent coaches and teachers which is going to cost us billions of dollars?
What if we can let other countries take up the bill and we just scout them after they become professionals? (They are called foreign based players)
Couldnt you name other places where that money is immediately needed?
One of the issues that need to be addressed is the limited amount of organized football that is played at the youth level. Many are calling for an academy-type system to better develop our young players, and I agree that this is a good approach. In the U.S., as an example, there are 78 Development Academies spread across that nation, and invariably each team at the U-15/16 and U-17/18 levels play up to 30 quality games over a 10-month period, in seven divisions distributed over three conferences. With this type of structure, the youth players become well seasoned and drilled, such that when they meet international competition they are not found wanting. They are technically and tactically far superior to their Jamaican counterparts, not for want of talent of the latter, but because of lack of proper organization. If we can get such a system in place, even in part, if not in whole, then we would be well on the way to establishing high level players consistently.
I would suggest that the captain invest the money (that is budgeted for the high salary coach) in a development program for the best 44 young players (16 year olds – 4 players for each position). We can’t make it to the next world cup so let’s target 2018 with a quality group of young players. Players with skills but lack the necessary technical knowledge to effectively play in their selected position and a team build to play as a unit. Also restrict these players from the local league to prevent them from substandard coaching, unprofessional influences, and exposure to frequent injuries (poor playing surfaces). Don’t waste the limited resource on a next to impossible short term dream that is Rio 2014 but start preparing for 2018. I am confident that talent level of our local players should result in our national team playing quality, attractive football without making silly mistakes that has caused us to lose many games in the past.
Stop the nonsense, a simple academy will not cost billions of dollars. Look at the local track and field programs, did they start with billions of dollars? We don’t need a lavish academy such as Real Madrid or Barcelona. I am not saying money isn’t important but a talented and dedicated group of the best young players along with a trained coaching staff focusing on the fundamentals of playing each field position effectively and efficiently is a good enough start. Again,our players are very skillful but lack the technical, mental, and professional qualities. In regards to sponsorship, businesses are opportunistic therefore once the program progresses successfully over time the sponsors will come on board (be it a local or foreign coach). No one mentions the approach of the local track programs, remarkable success stories with humble, modest beginnings. Lastly, someone mentioned transfer fees for local talents to overseas clubs, a portion of these fees could finance the growth of the program (coach development, improve facilities, etc.)
Think first I have all the respect in the world for your comments more so because I believe that you give each one lots of thought before you post them.
I see where you imply that its nonsense to believe that an academy could cost billions of dollars. Bearing in mind we are talking about an academy not a program like what they have for track and field and not a football camp; you still refuse to believe that if you put 44 players in an academy (like you suggested) house them, feed them, clothed them, provide them with proper coaching, teach them, medical expenses, commute, you eluded proper playing fields etc for 4 years, from boys to professionals, the price tag would be far less than a billion dollar?
Defender, truer words were never spoken.
Only if we could afford that approach to organizing our football.
The mandate of the JFF is to develop Jamaica’s football not just qualify for the world cup. A proper youth system including youth acadamys is critical for this to happen. JFF can use Trelawny stadium or the one in Sligoville instead of building new facilities.
Robert what about the other expenses?