Good players make winners

Fri, Jul 16, 2010

Editor: Soccer fans were not impressed with the performances of Teams and players in the World Cup, but those who play admit first and second matches are always played with some degree of nervousness and caution.{{more}}

The World Cup was not without its regular exciting moments, surprises and shocks, depending on how you look at the competition; it also heightened awareness of soccer today and how soccer will be played in the future.

Possession, while recovering and defending, stole the spotlight as most teams played with the intention, above all not to lose. Some argued, discussed, others spoke of the causes of performances of teams and especially the players. I wish they would consider that most teams have one month in which to prepare, mainly getting to understand each other, their behavior and role.

A country has only to play and win some of seven games to win the World Cup in one month. These players also have to make sacrifices to produce the best team for their country. Now if each player thinks about performing well, also to be better contracted, who knows at what time will he be able to change his behavior and attitude to put country before club from which he earns his living.

While we have the right to be critical, we should do it with some understanding of their sacrifices. Many of these players are accustomed to being well supported and fed in their League Clubs, now they are required to make someone else happy by producing. If we change our attitude soon, so will those players. Many outstanding players were not selected for that same reason which causes fans to critise their Managers, but it is “good players who help Managers and Coaches to win championships.”

Brazilian Coach Carlos Alberto Parriera won the 1994 World Cup with good players. He later managed Saudi Ariba and South Africa but could not reach the quarter finals. Why? Because those teams do not have good players. England’s manager earns fifteen times more money than the USA manager, and they drew 1-1. Is money the answer, the ball or the players? Local coaches first took Team SVG to the second round in the preliminary stages of their World Cup sojourn at no cost, then the Executive felt they were not good enough and hired foreign Coaches and Technical Directors for millions of dollars. They, too, could only take Team SVG to the same second round. So was it the coaches, time factor, manager, money, the size of the country or quality players? What do you think?

When Avenues United won the SVGFF National Club Championship 2010, they did so without a coach, winning ten of the eleven other teams, some with certified coaches. They also whipped the National Technical Director and his Coaching staff’s “National Team,” but when they competed in the Concacaf 2010 Club Championship, they were assisted by the same National Technical Director and his coaching staff, as well as four national players from other teams. They looked confused, were disorganized and played poorly. Was it “wrong coaches and or bad coaching,” the time taken to rebuild and mesh the players, that they are injecting into the Avenues United team? What do you think?

Sharpening techniques

In becoming a good player, he or she should begin by developing and sharpening the various techniques and skills which are the tools of trade of soccer. Next, he or she should show intelligence, have soccer physical fitness to execute those functions throughout the duration of a game and tournament in which he/she is competing.

Good players make managers and coaches winners, not the other way around. You can only get better if you are good. Why do you think club owners pay huge sums of money for players and change managers so often? It is also time for players to select persons knowledgeable of sport, its requirements and process of development to develop and represent them at meetings.

Managers, coaches and players must promote their team through television and the Internet. The SVGFF Executive cannot help you develop; you have to do it yourselves.

Seymour “Rollit” Walrond