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Time to get up and be counted
Western Bureau
From a football pers-pective, this past Wednesday was easily one of the most satisfying days I have had since the unfortunate down-ward spiral in western Jam-aica's football, which is now at an all-time low, started just under a decade ago.
My satisfaction was sparked by the launch of the new inter-parish football competition, which will feature the parishes of Trelawny, Hanover, West-moreland and St James competing against each other at the Under-17 and senior levels for the Stephen 'Shorty' Malcolm and Winston 'Twinny Bug' Anglin trophies, respectively.
rekindle interest
I am sure regular readers of this column can understand my happiness because I have spent most of the past several years begging and pleading to the administrators here in the west to restore this competition. I am absolutely convinced that this competition is easily the best way to rekindle interest in the region's football and expose new talent.
My only disappointment is this most welcome initiative is happening at a time when I am breaking away from the administrative side of football here in St James. Nonetheless, I still intend to use this column to make recommendations and suggestions, which I hope will be accepted by those in charge of the region's football.
For those who might want to know why I am walking away from the administrative football at this time, I just wish to state that after two decades of football politics, I am finding it increasingly difficult to function in an atmosphere where there seems to be a deliberate effort to resist changes, which I am sure would enhance the sport.
I believe the dismal state of western Jamaica's football is largely due to the reluctance of some administrators to be bold and decisive in taking strong but necessary changes to improve the sport. In St James, more football is being played than at any other time yet the standard is so poor that for the first time in the parish's history, we are without a team in the National Premier League.
While I am not divorcing myself from the blame that is rightfully being laid at the feet of all of us who have served as administrators in recent years, I believe that since it is inappropriate to, 'stay on cow back and cuss cow', it would be better to step away and honour my journalistic objective to defend the best interests of the sport.
With immediate effect, I will be making my pen and my thoughts the focal point of my football involvement and while I intend to be fair, I intend to operate without fear or favour. I believe our administrators have been having a free ride for too long and that is why our football product has ended up where it is today.
Football lovers in the west are now hurting because our football, which was once our greatest source of pride, is now gone to the dogs and getting worse. I believe the time has come for those administrators with selfish interest to step aside and make way for persons with a genuine interest in advancing the sport.
congrats due
I would just like to congratulate those admin-istrators who were instrumental in starting this inter-parish competition and I am hoping they will not allow it to become a futile exercise through infighting and other vices. Personally, I intend to watch this competition like a hawk to ensure that the best interest of the region's football is served.
Football has done too much for western Jamaica in terms of impact, recognition and creating stars for us to continue to embrace the so-called 'same o ... same o' attitude that has been in vogue within recent years. Things can only get better in the right climate to help our new generation of players to grow and develop.
Feedback: adrianfrater@hotmail.com
Western Bureau
From a football pers-pective, this past Wednesday was easily one of the most satisfying days I have had since the unfortunate down-ward spiral in western Jam-aica's football, which is now at an all-time low, started just under a decade ago.
My satisfaction was sparked by the launch of the new inter-parish football competition, which will feature the parishes of Trelawny, Hanover, West-moreland and St James competing against each other at the Under-17 and senior levels for the Stephen 'Shorty' Malcolm and Winston 'Twinny Bug' Anglin trophies, respectively.
rekindle interest
I am sure regular readers of this column can understand my happiness because I have spent most of the past several years begging and pleading to the administrators here in the west to restore this competition. I am absolutely convinced that this competition is easily the best way to rekindle interest in the region's football and expose new talent.
My only disappointment is this most welcome initiative is happening at a time when I am breaking away from the administrative side of football here in St James. Nonetheless, I still intend to use this column to make recommendations and suggestions, which I hope will be accepted by those in charge of the region's football.
For those who might want to know why I am walking away from the administrative football at this time, I just wish to state that after two decades of football politics, I am finding it increasingly difficult to function in an atmosphere where there seems to be a deliberate effort to resist changes, which I am sure would enhance the sport.
I believe the dismal state of western Jamaica's football is largely due to the reluctance of some administrators to be bold and decisive in taking strong but necessary changes to improve the sport. In St James, more football is being played than at any other time yet the standard is so poor that for the first time in the parish's history, we are without a team in the National Premier League.
While I am not divorcing myself from the blame that is rightfully being laid at the feet of all of us who have served as administrators in recent years, I believe that since it is inappropriate to, 'stay on cow back and cuss cow', it would be better to step away and honour my journalistic objective to defend the best interests of the sport.
With immediate effect, I will be making my pen and my thoughts the focal point of my football involvement and while I intend to be fair, I intend to operate without fear or favour. I believe our administrators have been having a free ride for too long and that is why our football product has ended up where it is today.
Football lovers in the west are now hurting because our football, which was once our greatest source of pride, is now gone to the dogs and getting worse. I believe the time has come for those administrators with selfish interest to step aside and make way for persons with a genuine interest in advancing the sport.
congrats due
I would just like to congratulate those admin-istrators who were instrumental in starting this inter-parish competition and I am hoping they will not allow it to become a futile exercise through infighting and other vices. Personally, I intend to watch this competition like a hawk to ensure that the best interest of the region's football is served.
Football has done too much for western Jamaica in terms of impact, recognition and creating stars for us to continue to embrace the so-called 'same o ... same o' attitude that has been in vogue within recent years. Things can only get better in the right climate to help our new generation of players to grow and develop.
Feedback: adrianfrater@hotmail.com