Our women's national football squad have weathered the storm of embarrassing moments over the past two weeks, but rallied on to qualify for the final four with the hope of making their debut visit to the finals of Fifa World Cup in Canada next year.To have shrugged off the inconveniences which beset them leading up to the first match in the tournament and perform in the manner that they have done is credit to the strength of their character and their ability to focus positively on the job ahead, was remarkable.Putting that approach next to the behaviour of our highly paid cricketers defines the mentality of athletes at different times.
There are many tough moments in the lives of sportsmen and women, in quite the same way that normal persons receive challenges during their everyday life.There is evidence of the strong and the erratic in these two situations which can serve to provide examples of mixed behaviour among our athletes.It is yet another a case where athletes who are selected to represent our country in key international events, can sometimes cast aside the virtues of good sportsmanship when bumps appear on the road to success.To personalize these issues will be to revert to some previous occasions of poor behaviour by some of the most successful athletes which we have produced in the past, some best left alone.
To choose one aspect of the quagmire of unusual and unethical conduct should not be left without drawing it to the sport loving public.The person who was chosen to sit in the coach's chair for the women's preparation, Mr. Randy Waldrum, an American whose credentials were no more qualitative than quite a few local coaches.The official information which was handed to us through the media, was that the coach volunteered his services for free, a gesture which is not usually the habit of professional coaches.But before he could even see the squad prior to the preliminary round which was hosted in T&T, the gentleman decided that his duties at home did not allow him to make his free services possible before the start of the matches.
He then sent his son to handle our national women's team, someone whom no one knows and has no illustrious record on which to show his worth.I did not share the view of the administration whose decision to ignore the previous services of Marlon Charles, a former national player and a qualified coach at good enough status.We were all fully aware that our girls would have dominated the preliminary group of opponents and this did not need any scientific guidance more advanced than Marlon's knowledge.Then there was the financial confusion which has now become par for the course in almost every sporting discipline in T&T.A hiccup followed when our players travelled to Dallas, Texas, USA for the training camp prior to the big tournament where the USA, Haiti, and Guatemala were our opponents.
Shortage of funds for the first few days in Dallas, produced a scathing attack on a social network by the American born Coach which presented a humiliating embarrassment to this country.This caused readers to start sending funds and foodstuffs to respond to the desperate call. Even the poverty stricken Haitians offered funds to bring some relief to the Soca Princesses.My question is: was that the best way for the coach could solve the problem without taking our country's image down the drain.Being the proud people that we are, the pain was deep. To the players, the feeling may well have been the same although, they were disciplined enough to shrug off the shackles and focus upon the matches.
Up to the time that I am writing, this team is on the verge of finding its way to the finals of the FIFA world Cup finals in Canada.Why would anyone wish to accept the coach's decision to use the social network in language which lent itself to the reader in a way that we felt that this country has asked this American coach to assist this country free and they sent him a team which could not provide food for themselves, and hope to be successful?That is when the strength of the players came to the fore and played their best game ever against the USA. As a coach myself, I am fully aware three sessions prior to a key match was insufficient for preparation of the team.
This team was well prepared long before this American volunteer came abroad ,and his previous effort to coach this team provided nothing startlng from him.The decision to ignore these comments was certainly absolute evidence that patriotism was not a part of his partnership, and I am surprised that he was even allowed to sit on the bench during the matches.This should not have been accepted and the people who bypassed this unwarranted behaviour should have caused immediate withdrawal of his services.The gentleman's apology was the signal of his guilt, but the damage was already done and his outward show implied his understanding of his comments.I am hoping that these girls carry through to the finals in Canada, but there will have to be a reassessment of the coaching staff.Our principles must not be compromised to faclitate anybody who shows an absence of respect for our country.I wonder what the Association would have done if the coach was a local practitioner? Think of it before you answer the question.