Getting to World Cup needs more than skill

Like many citizens, I am often taken in with the wave of optimism each time our players are about to take the field that says this time it would be different and that the pre-game commentaries would match the postgame outcomes. But alas, this is seldom the case.

On too many occasions senior coach Stephen Hart has lamented, when TT comes out on the losing end of a game, “that some of our big-name players just did not show up on the field on game day.” More recently, I have noted national Under-20 coach Brian Williams’ comment, following the defeat of the U-20s by Bermuda, that what he observed was that “our players were not hungry to take care of the game.” Interestingly, both coaches have been saying more or less the same thing over and over.

Our players seem to lack the key elements that would make us winners.

It has nothing to do with skills on the ball as we all know that TT can produce world class players.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson did not instil passion and commitment in Dwight Yorke to make him a “deadly assassin” on the ball.

Yorke recognised very early in the game that every time he took to the field for United that he had to give 100 percent.

The same may not have always been evident when he wore the red white and black, much to the annoyance of local fans. But what was very clear was that he knew what he had to do when it mattered most to him and his team.

I watched the utter disappointment on the face of Usain Bolt when he won a gold medal at the recent Olympic Games but did not break his own world record.

Clearly, for Bolt winning is a way of life. It is not a hit-and-miss story.

It is obvious that skill alone would not get us where we want to go. We are pretty on the ball, we know how to raise expectations and to dash the hopes of supporters.

It is my humble view that creating the winning formula must start from the home. It must be reinforced in our schools and must it be sustained and developed, whatever field of endeavour is being pursued.

Perhaps our coaches may have to go back to the drawing board and start with lessons on discipline, respect, civics and, most of all, getting the players to internalise what it means to be chosen to wear the red white and black.

It is obvious that punishing players does not work. I dread the upcoming World Cup qualifiers later this month.

Some people are already looking for a lime and to have a great time. Coach Hart has indicated that it is going to be tough. I am hoping for a miracle.

J DE CHABERT via email