Jamaica's football needs honest assessment

Keith White, GUEST Columnist

It is well known by football purists that the strength of a country's national team/programme comes from the clubs and not the other way around. A strong national team will not result in strong clubs.

Historically, Jamaican clubs have not measured up against their CONCACAF counterparts. This year, there are no Jamaican clubs in the regional Champions League. The three Caribbean slots were taken by two teams from Trinidad and one from Puerto Rico.

The Jamaican economy cannot sustain a professional football league and probably would not be able to qualify for a franchise in any United States (US) professional sport league. The average Jamaican football fan could not afford a US$30 (J$3,000) ticket weekly to watch their local team play.

There has been an improvement through the Professional Club Association with encouraging corporate sponsorship, but companies are under severe pressure and available funds are scarce. Some clubs used to be financed through individuals' personal resources, but these clubs do not usually survive for long.

The Jamaica Football Federation's work with the senior national team has a major and direct impact on the inflow of funds to football. Despite the past successes by national youth teams, only the senior team attracts major corporate sponsorship and crowd support. Foreign coaches also attract greater corporate sponsorship for the programme, but this sponsorship is generally available only when the World Cup qualification starts.

The Government of Jamaica was a major financial contributor to the Reggae Boyz on the Road to France and continues to provide some support to sport, but there should be no need to explain to any Jamaican our Government's financial challenges.

Hiring coaches, keeping a squad in training, and playing practice matches cost money; this is as true for a national team as it is for clubs.

There are many things that clubs need to do to strengthen, but cannot afford to. Youth programmes and academies are the responsibilities of the clubs, not the national association or the schools. Talent discovery and development must be done by the clubs, as happens around the world and in the local communities.

LOCAL VS OVERSEAS

When players of exceptional talent rise to the top, they are contracted to play overseas in leagues that can afford to pay them. These overseas-based players then form the core of our national senior team.

The team may be strengthened by overseas players who were not born locally, as formed the bulk of the US national team in 1998 prior to establishing a viable US professional league (MLS). It may also include players from the local league, but the reason why these players were unable to secure overseas contracts should be explained.

This situation is the main difference between 1998 and what exists now. A local-based national team available to the coach for extended periods is a thing of the past. The 'Road to Rio', though not ended, has an extremely steep gradient now, but the fortunes of our team could have been much better.

It has already been a historic campaign, defeating the USA and winning a point in the Azteca. The need for a clinical striker was agreed to be critical going into the hexagonal round. An attempt was made to fill this need, but results have shown that it was unsuccessful.

The watershed in our competition so far was the injury of Nosworthy 20 minutes into the match against Panama. His absence of performance and leadership has been the major difference between the team which played to a draw in Mexico and subsequent matches. A string of conceding simple goals since Nosworthy left the field is evidence of his impact.

Tappa's departure is the norm within the sport, as is the temporary continuation of his assistant. It is not over, as there is time before the next game. I hope Nosworthy will be fit by then, that a striker will be identified, and that a coach who can attract financial support will be identified.

Keith B.D. White is a retired major and a football coach, manager, former club president, and past KSAFA councillor. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and kbdwhite@gmail.com.