So many people claim that reading the newspaper has become an exercise in futility and blame the decay of exciting news on the number of criminal events, irresponsible forms of “mauvelang” and political bantering which seem to have no real substance.
However, I have not yet given up the task of reading the newspaper, if only because it’s a habit which was mandatory when I was growing up as part of my educational development by my parents. The past week actually provided me with some form of constructive remarks concerning various aspects of our sport, which caused me to believe that all is not lost. The first statement was made by the honourable Minister of Sport Gary Hunt, when he indicated his dissatisfaction with the type of horrible behaviour displayed on the football field during matches played in the Pro league.
Well said, Minister Hunt, your remark allowed me to understand that you are taking your job seriously and will not allow any irresponsible players or clubs to distort the image of the sport. At least, someone is attempting to take issue with indiscipline, a move which should be emulated by persons in similar positions and with the same type of influence. The second comment was made by the T&T Football Federation (TTFF) special advisor Jack Warner in a recent press conference regarding the preparation of the senior football squad, the Under-20 World Cup team and also the U-17 women’s team, who will be the host team for next year’s world Cup.
These comments were even more interesting as many do not understand the value of investing in the youth, maybe because they think that there are little or no financial rewards. He went on to itemise the expenses for each of the teams and had to make a decision as to which investment was the most appropriate at this time. He started by announcing the cancellation of the three-match tour by the national senior team to Scotland, and commented that the cost was extravagant.
In an effort to share the wealth among the three groups, Warner boldly stepped out and announced that the U-20 team was the most essential, and the people of this country will be extremely proud of their achievements in the future. Its not too often we place the emphasis of national age group teams ahead of the senior squad, our gracious Soca Warriors.
True enough, the remark could also be deemed ambiguous, in that his disbursement of funds to the U-20 men’s squad and the women’s U-17 tournament to be hosted here in T&T, over the senior squad, can indicate in some indirect way that he may be losing faith in the senior squad, giving them a friendly against St Kitts/Nevis over a trio of Scottish premier clubs. Many viewed the trip to Scotland as one whereby the coaching staff could get all the local and foreign players together to play three warmup matches prior to their encounter against El Salvador in a few weeks.
Nevertheless, a victory over the Kittitians had personal significance to Russell Latapy, both on and off the field. It was his first victory as coach of the team, which he also participated as a player for some time, probably trying to show some of the young ones how it should be done. And then there was Willie Rodriguez, the former West Indian footballer/cricketer and president of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club, expressed his disgust with the manner in which West Indian cricket had found itself.
Willie was firm in his comments about a complete removal of any or all of those who are responsible for the demise of the game throughout the region.
He even made some suggestions which may be helpful and when one recognises the experience of Willie administratively and as a player par excellence, we must hope that his advice should be adhered to.
I even found enough time to read Dinanath Ramnarine’s cry for help from the president of Guyana in his capacity as head of a Caricom committee to come to the rescue of the present impasse. I wonder why so many people tend to believe that country’s leaders are experts on everything, whether its politics, crime, medicine, or even sports. Have we not learnt from the efforts of Dr Keith Mitchell of Grenada and others who chose to add their two bits, that this is not so?
Political clout is not the answer to this predicament and none of the political leaders have the knowledge or the experience to solve a problem which has been literally destroying the game immensely, whether it be on the field, off the field, or elsewhere. Please listen to Willie Rodriguez and use his sound advice so that we may be able to turn the fortunes of our cricket around.