Be more supportive, Najjar

THE EDITOR: So on the recommendation of the Sandra Basheer committee which included Joey Carew and Omar Khan, the TT soccer players’ suspension was rescinded. But what about the other aspects of the committee’s recommendations? And what is Coach Najjar doing to assist his players, the tools he Najjar needs to get the job done? This writer believes that a coach’s job is not only about defence, offence and other tactical manoeuvres on the field...it’s also about loving and caring for the well-being of each and every one of your players.

Throughout this whole episode, I haven’t heard Hannibal Najjar utter a single word of support for the plight of the players. In my estimation, as a coach, Najjar should be leading the charge to ensure that his players are well taken care of. He should be battling with the Federation to ensure that his players have basic essentials such as ice bags, meals, medicine kits and sports drinks...and adequately compensated financially! The job of a coach is simple: bring out the best. That’s right, a good coach will make every effort to help bring out the very best in his players...their “A”game! How in the world can a coach do that if he isn’t caring enough to insist that his players have energy drinks, lunches, ice bags, tapes for wrapping ankles or proper medicine kits?

A good coach inspires performance! How can you inspire someone to his or her best performance when you are part of the regime...condoning players representing their country without receiving  appearance fees? A good coach is supportive! Provides the right tools, the right instruction, the right answers and the right environment to make it easier for players to excel. Allowing your players to play without the basic essentials is not being supportive.

ALSTON H BORREL
Jacksonville
Florida