Football losing artistic skills

THE EDITOR: The recently concluded European Cup Finals were an indication that the beautiful game is losing some of its beauty. The fitness, first touch/receiving of the ball, passing of the ball and movement into spaces are to be admired. However, the passing of the ball is sometimes overdone. Too often when a midfielder has the ball in or close to the penalty area and he realises that each of his colleagues is well marked he will pass the ball backwards and another build-up ensues. This scenario happens several times during the game. Once upon a time in the situation described above, the player with the ball would dribble one or two defenders. This opens up the defence and he can then make an assist. The striker or another player then has a very good opportunity to score. Ronaldhino did this in the last World Cup Finals.

The professional players in the tournament are very talented and skilful. Apparently, they can be easily taught to dribble an opponent. There are many occasions when there is a one-on-one situation and there is no colleague to whom to pass the ball. Invariably the player with the ball loses it. He obviously has not been taught or allowed to dribble an opponent. The body beat, for example, is one of the most artistic skills in football. Younger footballers and spectators may be asking “what is that?” It is true that there are some players who overdid the dribbling of opponents. An astute coach will not tolerate this. Apparently the present state of affairs in this context is not limited to this.

When a team does not perform as the owners desire, individual players tend not to be fired or sold. It is the coach who is fired. As a result most coaches have become quite conservative in that they do not want any flair from their charges. These coaches want total control of how their players perform. So dribbling an opponent is out. Just pass the ball and move into a space. Consequently, there are ten robots playing against ten robots. Initiative is discouraged and the game has lost some of its beauty. Under these conditions spectators are unlikely to see another Pele, Maradona, Garincha, Eusubio and locally De Leon or Latapy. I am grateful that there is still Brazil and to a lesser extent Argentina and France. Football is losing some of its beauty.

COURTNEY BOXILL
Port-of-Spain