The forthcoming Lime/Pelican Football Tournament has the potential to become the defining moment in local football.
It could be the start of the movement where players will see that they are being taken seriously and they will in turn play to a standard that merits adulation.
One of the reasons football has not been totally embraced by certain sections of the society is that it has been largely stigmatized as a grassroots sport and only attracts a certain class of person.
The mere imagery of what I just mentioned is more than enough for the creation of a stereotype which is not guaranteed genuine respect nor sustained funding from the public or private purse as some other disciplines tend to do. The perception is the major obstacle to the full development of the sport.
Once that is changed it becomes much easier to achieve a national focus in pushing the game forward. I would be the first to concede that in some instances the footballers may contribute to the way they are perceived so the onus is on them to pull up their socks in an effort to maximise their talent and where possible, capitalize on it.
It is in this regard that the tournament can contribute to the change football so badly needs. Notwithstanding that the players can expect to be handsomely rewarded financially within the context of our economy, I believe the greater good is that the organisers want the players to see themselves as professionals and conduct themselves in such a manner.
My point is that once the players can raise their self-esteem there is every chance they will raise the standard of the game.
The idea of having a draft of players being bought by franchises; of doing post-game press conferences, sets the right tone and creates the perfect image of a sportsman whose ability is highly valued and who is respected as an individual who has a role to play in the development of his country.
If the players come on board with the organizers’ vision we will be on our way to seeing local football go beyond the village to the world. We can do it. We have the talent that can produce several more footballers of the ilk of Gregory “Lalu” Goodridge who is still Barbados’ only homegrown player to have made it to the English Premier League.
In fact, I think the organizers can highlight this achievement to show young players that their dreams can come true. If he’s not playing, Goodridge can be used to mentor younger players in this tournament.
The truth is that he has been a symbol of the disrespect footballers have had to endure through the years. I still find it hard to fathom that given his playing credentials, Goodridge is not involved in any national programme to help develop football. My assumption is that he has been a victim of the typical football stereotype.
Now is the moment, though, to cast away those demeaning shadows and put a brighter and more uplifting image on the face of the sport and its personalities. I note that veteran administrator Randy Harris is one of the organisers and this has to be a big plus.
Not only is he synonymous with having a genuine passion for football but he has also been associated with similar tournaments in the past. His experience and know-how will be utilized to ensure all parties achieve their goals. The footballers know they do not have a better ally than Harris and that he wants the best for them. I think the tournament is an opportunity for all stakeholders to share a common bond in rebranding football as a respectable sport for all.
I must agree that the winner-take-all purse of $100 000 is intriguing, but I believe what this tournament hopes to achieve in changing football’s image is priceless.
Andi Thornhill is sports editor of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation.
