Youth Program effects on the Big Team

[Me]

Was looking at the youth teams during Simoes time and it quite interested how because some people either left the programs or we didn;t keep contact we are now feeling the effects.

We continuously talk about the lack of central defenders and ones with a brain. If Lellwelyn Meggs who played Under 20 with Fanna Griffiths and dem never turn Dr. we would have a star in defense. I guess them Campion ballers prefer the education route.

Next one is Ricardo Sinclair from Willy Boo U-20 team. Only one who seamed competent while Claude and Stew Peas were getting shif left right and center.

Add to that Shavar Thomas who the man dem did have in Wilderness and the central defense would be strong and have some decent depth.

At right back Kevral Stewart was regarded by Simoes as the best right back in the island and the man go America and since then can't hear anything about. This man was by far better than Sean Frazier and the rest of the players.

As soon as Simoes leave Patrick Graham just drop off the scene. It late for him now ith Arnett, but if he was continuously geting that exposure from them times, we wouldn;t be worrying about having a competent and composed central midfielder.

What could have.......

[Karl]

RE: Youth Program effects on the Big Team

The problem on developing our youngsters stem from two things - 1. lack of opportunities and, 2. lack of proper channels of development.

1.Lack of opportunities

a) Not all of the island is covered.This means the vast majority of our talented never make it to the notice of 'football people'.

b) too many of those who are noticed - the vast majority of this minuscule group - fall into the hands of coaches who to put it bluntly, do not know the game and therefore teach poorly...in other words the talent is marred/ruined!

2. Lack of proper channels of development

Our football landscape is already well divided on 'paper' plans. Thereare prep &school primary school (ages - 4 - 15), high school (ages 9 - 18), parish and national (ages up to and through18-21) competitions,colleges and senior parish and all-island competitions. On paper the 'paperplans' are in place. What is missing is coordination of resources, interconnection of these disparate parts and good back-office support under the guide of sensible...astute leadership. Currently there is the situation mentioned in "1" above and a disjoined poorly managed...perhaps,weshould call a spade a spade and say loudly and clearly that the football leaders are ignorant ofwhat the task they have been called to to undertake requires andtherefore these leaders are incompetents!

If you do not know...you just do not know!Our current leaders just do not know!

NB: Ofcourse,even with the incompetence of the leaders holding them downsome of our talent - Gardner, Claude Davis, Andy Williams, Luton Shelton, Fuller...etc., etc. do attain some measure of success. They are the lucky few who were fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and ESCAPED the incompetence around them!