The power of the beautiful game

The four-year FIFA exercise of the World Cup has been here with us for the past two weeks and counting.

Excluding the many side shows that have emerged from the Qatar extravaganza, the sport is showing the world how beautiful it is, and how it can act as social cohesion for many.

So as the World Cup reaches its business end, it is immeasurable how much the activities in Qatar have gripped the world.

The cup is therefore filled and running over, as the intrigues, the surprises, the upsets and of course the disappointments have provided entertainment, analysis, peace of mind and greater love for Football.

Like in other parts of the world, St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), is suffering from an acute dose of Football fever, brought on by the high temperatures emanating from the stadia in the western Asia country.

Thanks to mass media, Vincentians have become gripped into the happenings of the World Cup. This is evident by the numbers hooked on their devices, those who flock community shops, sports bars, or do so in the comfort of their homes or at the friends’ place.

The World Cup has been able to, at least for the moment, distract the minds of people from the economic struggles that we are facing. It also put on hold the internal miseries that are affecting the sanity of many of our people.

Likewise, the World Cup has somewhat taken away from the normal focus at this time of year- Christmas.

Interestingly, within the past two weeks we here in St Vincent and the Grenadines seem to have experienced a slight downturn in known serious criminal activities.

Co-incidental it may be, it is a reality that a lot of the youths’ focus and attention at this time is the World Cup matches.

Again, the role of sports in effecting social control, providing a better way to past time and instructively take persons’ minds away from criminality.

Obviously, one sunny day nor period, does not necessarily translate into a bright, hot Summer.

But for us here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, there needs to be an acclamation to have Football declared as our national sport.

Indeed, it is the most popular sporting discipline, the one that attracts most media attention and from a local fan base, attracts the most patrons at the community and national levels.

This is notwithstanding that other sports have appeal, however, not at the same magnitude as Football.

It is therefore no gainsaying of tag-lines preached by two former Football presidents. The late Basil “ Bung” Cato in the late 1970s echoed: “ Soccer, Soccer, the game of the People”.

Three years ago, then president, Marvin Fraser, noted : “ Football Taking Over”.

These coinages by the two are profound in the context of Vincentian sports. The reality though, have we enjoyed any sustained success commensurate to the intent of the tag lines.

In between Cato and Fraser’s pronouncements, another former president- St Clair Leacock, rhetorically asked: “ Are we a Football Nation, or a Nation that plays Football”.

The latter question should direct the way forward for the sport, should we take Football seriously from here onwards.

Undoubtedly, Football in a most credible way, has proven to change many of our young Vincentian boys into men.

Furthermore, it has changed the psyche, decorum and attitude of some who were deemed outcasts and who were expected to amount to little or nothing.

Played predominantly grass roots people, Football more so than any other sporting discipline practised here, is the perfect vehicle for transforming the lives and aspirations of some of our misguided youths.

Football thus has the power to break down otherwise seemingly immovable social barriers.

The task is for all who love the sport, as well as those entrusted with the responsibility to administer and develop it, be the guardians to make it the best there is.

Our political directorate has to redouble their efforts and make meaningful inputs towards the realization of making St Vincent and the Grenadines, a “ Football Nation”.

There is so much to offer to the youth population of St Vincent and the Grenadines using Football as the conduit. Instructively, there is a lot at stake, and equally, so much to gain from injecting that spirit of commitment from all and sundry towards the beautiful game.