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From the sports desk
By Ian Burnett
Sunday, March 20, 2005
In modern day sports, any team can win a match on any given opportunity, irrespective of the level of opposition. Therefore, as a game, Harbour View could have won against DC United in their CONCACAF Champions Cup match last Wednesday night at home, but as a contest, there was always going to be only one winner - DC United.
Such was the gap between the two clubs, regardless of the 2-1 result - DC United a fully-fledged professional unit, as against a semi-professional Harbour View unit, seriously lacking in the basic tenets of the game of football.
To put it simply, DC United are much better equipped, in all facets, to compete in the game of football.
Individually, Harbour View players displayed flashes of brilliance in the two-legged tie, but as a team, a number of weaknesses were exposed.
For all intents and purposes, if coach Donovan Hayles had the entire pool of our local National Premier League to pick from, it would not have mattered, simply because as a nation, we have not yet learnt to master the basic tenets of the game, despite our miraculous appearance at the World Cup Finals in 1998.
It was good to see DC United play simple, but efficient football, and without being unkind to them, there was hardly any dispute as to which team had the more naturally athletic and talented players, but equally, that team was clearly second best in terms of footballing intelligence, understanding and fitness.
As limited as DC United might have been talent-wise, they put on a clinic at the Harbour View mini-stadium, passing the ball around, moving into open spaces, utilising the width of the pitch, running off the ball, coupled with intelligence, understanding, and the requisite fitness to compete at the international level.
At the other end, we saw a local outfit gifting away possession of the ball, hardly moving into open spaces, often relying on individual ability and skill, rather than a team effort, and not keeping a consistent shape on the pitch.
This was another clear reminder that at the international level, talent alone cannot, and will not make it. Our players need to arm themselves with other attendant factors such as fitness, understanding, intelligence, as well as technique and the ability to master the basics on a consistent basis.
Still, the fact that this little nation has produced so many naturally talented players, who have been found wanting in the other important areas of their development, is an indictment against the level of coaching being administered.
I am firmly of the view that unqualified coaching is the cancer that has been killing our football development, and has been robbing us of the international rewards that our natural talent deserves.
In recent times we have seen players leave our shores as just ordinary players, only to return as stars, fully equipped to compete at the international level. Two such players that come readily to mind are Damani Ralph and Khari Stephenson, whose progress to international stardom came after just one season in the US MLS.
Just imagine if they were being taught the game locally?
Nonetheless, kudos to all concerned with Harbour View for progressing to the quarter-finals of the regional club championships. Let's hope that everybody learns from the experience.
By Ian Burnett
Sunday, March 20, 2005
In modern day sports, any team can win a match on any given opportunity, irrespective of the level of opposition. Therefore, as a game, Harbour View could have won against DC United in their CONCACAF Champions Cup match last Wednesday night at home, but as a contest, there was always going to be only one winner - DC United.
Such was the gap between the two clubs, regardless of the 2-1 result - DC United a fully-fledged professional unit, as against a semi-professional Harbour View unit, seriously lacking in the basic tenets of the game of football.
To put it simply, DC United are much better equipped, in all facets, to compete in the game of football.
Individually, Harbour View players displayed flashes of brilliance in the two-legged tie, but as a team, a number of weaknesses were exposed.
For all intents and purposes, if coach Donovan Hayles had the entire pool of our local National Premier League to pick from, it would not have mattered, simply because as a nation, we have not yet learnt to master the basic tenets of the game, despite our miraculous appearance at the World Cup Finals in 1998.
It was good to see DC United play simple, but efficient football, and without being unkind to them, there was hardly any dispute as to which team had the more naturally athletic and talented players, but equally, that team was clearly second best in terms of footballing intelligence, understanding and fitness.
As limited as DC United might have been talent-wise, they put on a clinic at the Harbour View mini-stadium, passing the ball around, moving into open spaces, utilising the width of the pitch, running off the ball, coupled with intelligence, understanding, and the requisite fitness to compete at the international level.
At the other end, we saw a local outfit gifting away possession of the ball, hardly moving into open spaces, often relying on individual ability and skill, rather than a team effort, and not keeping a consistent shape on the pitch.
This was another clear reminder that at the international level, talent alone cannot, and will not make it. Our players need to arm themselves with other attendant factors such as fitness, understanding, intelligence, as well as technique and the ability to master the basics on a consistent basis.
Still, the fact that this little nation has produced so many naturally talented players, who have been found wanting in the other important areas of their development, is an indictment against the level of coaching being administered.
I am firmly of the view that unqualified coaching is the cancer that has been killing our football development, and has been robbing us of the international rewards that our natural talent deserves.
In recent times we have seen players leave our shores as just ordinary players, only to return as stars, fully equipped to compete at the international level. Two such players that come readily to mind are Damani Ralph and Khari Stephenson, whose progress to international stardom came after just one season in the US MLS.
Just imagine if they were being taught the game locally?
Nonetheless, kudos to all concerned with Harbour View for progressing to the quarter-finals of the regional club championships. Let's hope that everybody learns from the experience.