Some improvements needed in national football circles

EDITOR: I was a spectator at both the game on Thursday and sent an email to the federation highlighting certain things I felt could be improved not just to do with the game but the infrastructure of the Federation itself and my response was email received. This attitude confirms my suspicion that there is a lack of knowledge and leadership within this organisation. I noted that there is a party boy attitude to the game from players and their coaches as well as the organisation.

The understanding of running football starting from grassroots to professional football is sadly lacking. The understanding of football as a progression from learning the game, the rules, the regulations, the discipline, the code of conduct for players coaching staff and anyone linked to the association is non existent. I realise that a lot of supporters come for a party as opposed to understanding the game and what it entails, but to progress to the bigger occasions it is necessary to be aware what is expected of not just the players, coaches, officials but also the paying public.

The loud and quite often offensive music played even when the players are going through their warm up routine before the match sails over the head of the resident DJ whose music at times befit house parties for the slackest in society. There needs to be an understanding of what is expected on the international stage and, especially nowadays where everything is scrutinised, make the adjustments quickly to avoid us becoming a laughing stock.

Happy the team won but they need to look at their celebrations as excessive ones can cause problems during away fixtures and a competent official could have punished them for the subs entering the field of play and for all who left the field completely and was therefore holding up play, something which will certainly not be tolerated in other countries.

Let’s hope for progress in all directions for future games, and we can all indeed be proud of the nation team as it was in the years gone by.

Sonja Arthur