That balancing act

THERE HAS BEEN some discussion in recent times, of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), looking the way of the employment for a new technical director.

Whilst not confirmed, there are hints that those in authority at the SVGFF, are leaning towards a personnel, who has some pedigree and a non-Vincentian.

Certainly, that heightened search for such a personnel has been augmented by the recent results of the senior men’s and women’s teams.

Seemingly, someone is not happy with such results, hence a change in personnel is the life line for a reversal in fortunes of these flagship teams.

A change at the top of the local administration may have also changed the way of thinking, which differs from his predecessor.

If the national football administrators follow through with their hinted intent, then it will mean the end of the road for former national player Keith Ollivierre.

In the position of technical director for the better part of six years, the appointment in all its wisdom and good intent, did not get the returns as expected.

But in some ways, Ollivierre cannot be faulted, as he has to juggle with his regular demanding job, and still best formulate the programmes for the sport nationally.

In the event that the decision makers of our football are adamant that they should hire a foreign technical director, it should not be made out of frustration, but from pertinent data of our current needs.

Our history is well documented, as St Vincent and the Grenadines’ football administrators, since 1992, have been employing foreign technical directors, but, no one can say with any empirical evidence, that such personnel would have altered and ultimately made our football better.

This, then puts everything into perspective.

Getting any foreign technical director is just not the solution for our football, as he would not be able to weave a magic wand and things would automatically come good. Therefore, what we expect would not be instant.

Too, foreign technical directors are not available at 3 for $10, hence one has to pick what is available on the shelf for the price.

Conversely, any technical director of note, who wants to work with our football, has to have a football structure at his disposal, good raw material and adequate infrastructure, to ensure his resumé is held.

But, whilst we may be unable to satisfy all the aforementioned areas, are we willing to pay the cost attached for procuring such expertise?

Are they persons here who are unlike Ollivierre, who could devote their efforts 24/7 to our football?

The SVGFF’s hierarchy has to weigh, most of all, the expenditure as against getting the same value for money from our local persons, who may have similar credentials.

They must also not be dragged into the notion that persons with a different accent and skin pigmentation, always have a superior knowledge of football.

This type of think, too, has been exhibited by players, who buy into ideas of foreign coaches and technical directors, when persons here on the ground are delivering the same message, but do not get the same respect.

But the problems confronting St Vincent and the Grenadines’ football, goes beyond the hiring of a technical director.

We must not be in denial that SVG’s football needs a better structure from the ground up, as what we currently have is not sufficing our deficiencies, hence fingers are pointing when our national representative teams come up short.

Football has changed globally, whereby there are new methods of training and preparation, thus a change in the overall approach towards administration of the sport, must also follow suit.

In the interim though, it may be best served at this juncture of our pondering, that the best football brains here, come together and fashion a blueprint for the sport in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Or are our administrators going to pave the golden streets for someone to come in and eat the fat of our land, then just leave us in the same predicament?

The choice is in the hands of those who call the shots at the SVGFF.

Sadly, our football is a mirror reflection of the way we live generally, and the methodologies we pursue in our daily lives.