IF we believe in the basic concept of futurism, then we believe there is a strong possibility that radical change becomes crystal clear in times of crisis.

Professional football is in a crisis in Trinidad and Tobago.

Is there an answer to the dilemma that we face?

There is no quick fix to the problem.

The solution is, as I see it, the application of sound strategy and constructive planning.

Any system that does not incorporate into its design, provisions for fundamental football training, at the primary school level is doomed to failure.

The foundation stage is left to chance and natural ability and not proper planning.

The “use” of local/foreign professionals as national players only serves to raise the condition to new heights.

The use of professionals has two basic problems (1) synergy with the “home” players on the team and (2) an “individualistic” approach and an absence of proper teamwork foundation.

On the synergy issue, the truth can be stated that the foreign professional player may have played with the team in the recent past and as such has a rapport with the team.

I suggest to you that consideration has to be given to the fact that the professional has as his primary concern his “new” home and “team” with which he has to immerse himself “entoto”.

Sportsmen of superb ability can easily command such a situation.

However, we are not dealing with a team of super sportsmen.

The athletes’ training and endeavours are part and parcel of his new home and as such his every expression reflects his acquired style.

I see this as an impediment.

The approach to the game, locally, as a foreign-based professional can be seen on two levels: the professional playing as an individual on a team in a team sport and the absence of a proper teamwork foundation.

Football is a team sport and as such it is imperative that the foreign-based professional must be an active participant in all clinics, retreats, warm-up games and preparations of the team.

It will not do to have athetes flying in and out at game time.

This does not make for team cohesiveness.

The national team should always have a ready pool, young and upcoming players from its base pool, primay/college/comprehensive leagues from which the best is extracted.

They, once elevated out of the pool, would have been truly tried and tested in a National Participation system and not that of a haphazard selection programme.

I believe in the “farm” or “Vertical Progressive Movement (VPM)”.

This system can serve as the panacea for the problem of football in Trinidad and Tobago over the long term.

It would be worth the time if the TnT Football Federation (TTFF) took a long, hard look at the USA experience.

From Pele and the NY Cosmos to many other foreign nationals representing the USA to its present team, an almost home-grown team.

VPM as a system has been emerged with the education system, overtly and covertly, to produce players of World Cup status.

There are those who may conjure up the image of the US and its huge financial resources as the answer to their problems.

Money helps, but, the need to compete and win at local and international forums and the highest ideal of all national interest, above everything else, propels the US to excel as a neophyte, in international football.

The sport of football holds majestic in Trinidad and Tobago and is rivalled only by the gentleman’s game of cricket.

However, the importance that is attributed to it is not on the same level.

There has been for sometime, moreover in recent times, many individuals and organisations engaged in preparing youngsters, male and female, for the world of football.

To this writer these efforts do not present a holistic package.

These efforts when taken as a whole are but individualistic exercises geared toward developing players of a “privileged” nature.

If TnT is to compete on an international level, our players need team cohesiveness.

With the VPM system, these players would be familiar with each other, having graduated from the system.

The system provides for an intimate relationship and also an in-depth knowledge of the game among players.

The VPM, once instituted, can realise almost instant results.

VPM coupled with active participation from parents, schools, youth leagues and the human effort can have but one effect just rewards.

Whoever is responsible for this country’s football programme, be it the Ministry of Sport, TTFFA, FIFA, TnT or the movers and shakers, has to insist that football becomes ingrained in the national culture.

Ecomiums, at this point, must be extended to certain institutions and individuals, viz inter alios, Republic Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, Keston Nancoo and Kent Taylor for mounting football clinics and running pee wee leagues over the past years with unstinted diligence and varying degrees of success.

This article is intended to ignite an awareness to institute a search for an alternative vision to an existing problem.

Football is the most popular sport in the world; and its fan base is the “Ureka” to pretigious Madison Avenue Advertising Agencies.

Football’s popularity brings with it a “fine” jewel, endorsements.

The world of endorsements is the economic reward for excellent sportsmanship.

I fail to see how the business community does not inject more capital into the game.

The fallout from intensely supporting the VPM programme benefits all concerned.

It is with such participation that our professionals can be truly home grown.

As a cash cow football is “Queen of the Barnyard!”

It is said that plain talk is bad manners but there is money to be made, national pride to be secured, if a serious effort is made and a radical look taken at football with the aim of doing for football what Dr. Eric Williams did with politics in Trinidad and Tobago which we believe is a very apt and appropriate analogy.