Today the Sunday Guardian will continue with the second and final part of its inside look of: A philosophy of football development.
In the modern era, success in international sport is determined less by raw, natural talent than by the quality of management and technical expertise that run the affairs of sporting organisations in a particular country.
In the long term, it is the quality and availability of the indigenous expertise that determines whether high standards of performance are sustainable or merely transient.
However, if the critical support systems and structures are not simultaneously established, there is little chance of success. A narrow, superficial approach to development often leads to a preoccupation with personality at the expense of process.
Scarce funding is channelled into short-term, instant solutions and the more long term structural issues are ignored. The three Concacaf representatives at the 2002 FIFA World Cup (Mexico, Costa Rica and the US) have some important similarities.
Apart from the fact that are all now guided by indigenous coaches , they also have systematic, long-term plans for their football.
When Concacaf issued a request to its members last year for proposals on football development, these three were among the first to submit comprehensive plans.
In the December 2001 issue of FIFA magazine, there is an interesting article on the rise of Costa Rican football which claims that..."Contrary to what happened in the past , our resources are being used wisely by Costa Ricans, who have studied in Europe and have wide experience of training methods and are familiar with our way of life, now managing our teams."
This emphasises the critical importance of training indigenous expertise to the highest level and underscores the philosophy that is guiding the 2001-2003 Concacaf Development Programme in Trinidad.
The Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence recently staged a Strategic Planning Workshop for senior regional Coaches sponsored by Concacaf and the English FA. 46 coaches from 22 countries attended and among the topics discussed were the Growth and Development of Elite Players, Strategic Planning for International Tournaments and the Design and Implementation of Coaching Programmes and Structures.
The Programme is rooted in the philosophy that upgrading the quality of indigenous expertise is the most appropriate method for developing football in a sustainable manner.
It also asserts unequivocally that persons within the Concacaf region are capable of achieving the highest international standards in all aspects of football.
A key objective of the Concacaf Development Programme ,therefore, would be to expand substantially this pool of expertise for the benefit of the entire region.
Richard Braithwaite is the Director of Development, Concacaf