Local players are hungry to succeed

THE EDITOR: Here we go again on the never-ending cycle of coaches and players, around and around, going nowhere, getting giddy-giddy, some falling off, some vomiting.

Poor Hannibal, hardly a conqueror but I could have told him so. Since 1989/90 after the World Cup effort, we have not progressed. Indeed we have deteriorated dramatically. Failure after failure, excuses, excuses. Who is to blame? We have changed water boys, flag bearers, therapists, uniforms, managers, masseuse, technical directors and coaches — still no improvement. It leaves just one obvious change to make. Yes, I know you don’t want to say it, but the truth is that the administration is the same. It lacks direction and a clear sense of purpose. Maybe to many cooks spoil the broth with every successive change in government and subsequently every Tom, Dick, Harry and Jack putting their finger in the planning — what do we expect?

Jamaica has qualified in the Gold Cup. We have to play off Honduras and Martinique. I am afraid that we are in a jam — toe jam! With us having to fall back on the resident team, whom we should have played in the first place, but were victimised. After all these fellas want to be paid, are they mad?! Paid to play for Trinidad and Tobago?! Let’s spend money instead and bring in overseas players rather than play resident players. They damn farse!

So where do we go from here? I wish to suggest we bring back Bertille St Clair and give him a five year contract to the next world cup, with performance incentives for success. Then seek some support for paying a team of resident players that will be interfaced with foreign players when required and when available. Remember every time we succeeded in the past it was resident players. Why? Because they are hungry to succeed and are not concerned about injury. In the meantime, it’s time to make one major change and to get some energy and new ideas and initiatives going. There are a few people I could think about who can do no worse.

DAVID MC KELL
Tacarigua