As I watched the Jamaican women’s team depart this World Cup after a memorable run into the round of 16, it begs the question, what of our national team?
The Jamaicans scored one solitary goal and conceded only one as well but played to their defensive strength and cohesion. Simply put, Jamaica played as a team on and off the field of play. There appeared to be no selfishness, no self-worth, no segregation, no "oneupmanship" and most critically team spirit.
Jamaica’s women did complain about their federation though, just like Trinidad and Tobago’s women complained about the T&T Football Association (TTFA).
Jamaica complained about match fees and the timeliness of such and similarly, we have heard these complaints from the T&T women footballers as well.
Some Jamaican women footballers have been more outspoken than others and it is the same in this country in that regard also.
The "Reggae Girlz" also made several threats and comments openly on the state of the women’s game in Jamaica. Our "Soca Princesses" have also had their say and more on the state of women’s football in this country.
So there are obvious similarities between the women footballers of Jamaica and T&T.
However, the Jamaican women left all their complaints in their hotel rooms, in their locker rooms, in the airport, and in the minds of their family members and close friends. They all saw the larger picture and understood that with success on the field of play and higher profile performances with better results, there may be a possibility of improvements but most importantly it would bring awareness that would stand a greater chance of redress.
T&T’s women footballers have clearly adopted a different approach, allowing all the problems off the field, all the inherent difficulties that exist in women’s footballers to galvanise them not to be interested in competing seriously for their country or to apparently at times not being as committed as they should be. In this country and in this case women’s footballers, there is a belief that apparently playing half-hearted, playing as if you are the victim while on the field of play and being sorry for yourself will achieve more. Alas, ladies, that is not the case. Off the field, turmoil should remain there.
Hopefully, these women footballers of T&T will begin to realise the error of their ways, for some of them it may not matter any more as they would have missed the opportunity by their age and form currently.
I asked some Jamaican journalists friends of mines about all of this and one replied: “We doh play man…off the field is that but Jamaica is Jamaica when you have on we colours and they know not to play that…"
The other three, basically said the same things, if a lot more colour fully and clear (nothing held back).
There is a lesson in all of this and it is visible in most sports internationally, where people sacrifice themselves to achieve a World Cup place in their sporting discipline. This inexcusable and for some shallow behaviour in our women’s game cannot be good for the sport. And what hurts the most is that some of these ladies have the best minds in the sport in the region and could be so vital and essential to its growth in this country and outside if correctly ventilated.
Naturally, we have to be honest and admit that the treatment of women’s football in this country has been terrible and downright at times both belittling and humiliating. So the football authorities have a lot to answer for over time and that must not be forgotten. But we are still faced with the unique problem in women’s football in this country, where players protest by not choosing to represent their country, perhaps for valid reasons or not.
But, due to the murky state of their responses and behaviour, is sometimes overshadowed by casting doubt on their love and intentions for country.
Let us also not disregard the fact that we have some persons who have held jobs in coaching women in this country with little success and others with great track records that have not fitted into our system of life and culture of thought whether through obvious flaws or just downright ineptitude. There are likewise similarities in other areas, as we may criticise a few players for their errors of judgement which in time they may come to regret and they look back on their international careers which were stunted by their actions and a country denied its best opportunities.
There is absolutely no way that after the heroics of the Maylee Attin-Johnson-inspired and brilliantly-led team of 2014 and before, nine years later we have still not played at a World Cup and Jamaica has been there twice. It is the sort of bitter reflection that should hurt everyone concerned with national sport on any level.
We are all to blame because all of us stood by and allowed it to happen, whether it is coaches, players, media or football authorities, we have allowed this decline in women’s football and it is terrible to watch and ever accept.
If T&T is to ever regain a competitive place in football, first of all in the region, then everyone needs to work together and put egos and personalities, as difficult as it can be. But perhaps most importantly our women footballers need to start to ENJOY playing and representing their county.
Hopefully, enough painful lessons have been learnt and communications can be better in all areas.
Let us restart women's football now!!!
SOURCE: T&T Guardian