'Football suicide'
Published on: 5/14/08.
http://www.nationnews.com/story/334026586609122.phpby MIKE KING
STOP THE PREMIERSHIP. It is football suicide.
That is what technical advisor Keith Griffith thinks Barbados will be committing if those involved in the World Cup football qualifiers continue to play in the premiership.
Following a 3-0 defeat over the weekend by Trinidad and Tobago, the highest ranked (88) English-speaking Caribbean side in the world, Griffith conceded that the strain of three nights a week of the premiership had taken its toll on his players.
"The boys played their hearts out for 75 minutes at the Marvin Lee Astro-Turf Stadium, but with 15 minutes left, Barbados players were literally walking.
"They had no energy and when the game was over, complained of fatigue and burn out. Before heading to Trinidad, the players were asked to play Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday in the premiership at the YMCA.
"If we are going to make an impact and be competitive and challenge the United States, the national effort must come first, not premiership football. The players are hurting," he said.
Griffith said he was not one to make excuses and acknowledged that Trinidad were the better team on the day.
"I am not finding any excuses but it was the first time that I have been with the team that I saw the men walking. Even Bryan Neblett who is super fit was walking. We are just playing too much football.
"You cannot plant corn and reap cassava. What you sow is what you shall reap."
Griffith told MIDWEEK SPORT the technical staff had requested that the national players be withdrawn from domestic football as of May 1.
"It is hard to understand why the request was not granted and the players are just playing every day. We are committing football suicide. Men can't go to work every day and then go to the YMCA to play."
Griffith pointed out that four of those who played last night for Brittons Hill in the premiership – Walton Burrowes, Arantes Lawrence, Rondell Vaughan, Omar Archer – were in the squad for Sunday's match in Tunapuna.
"The premiership has to be stopped or the fixtures re-adjusted or forget USA. The players are fit but too much football is being played at the moment. The astro-turf is not easy to play on. It saps your energy more than the grass."
Griffith said Barbados were missing ten players including five overseas-based players from the team that defeated Dominica 1-0 in the second leg of the first round at Kensington Oval on March 26.
The team was without English pros Emmerson Boyce, Jonathan Nurse and Jonathan Forte, first choice goalkeeper Alvin "Banana" Rouse, striker Reveire Williams, Rommell Brathwaite, Rommell Burgess, Jeffrey Williams and two others serving drug suspensions.
"We matched up fairly well but then Norman Forde was stretchered off and we gave away a goal just before half-time and then when you see more goals coming in the 87th and 92nd minutes, you know it is fatigue."
In preparation for the June 15 clash in California with the United States, the squad will head to Bermuda for a six-day camp which will include matches on June 6 and 9 and Griffith is hoping the team will be at full strength.
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