most countries in europe understand spanish, french or german. in schools there, learning more than one language is common place
Most countries in europe also understand English...
But it's different... In Holland for example, the kids think "it's cool" to speak English, but around the dinner table with mama and papa, it's Dutch that is spoken... A 2nd language could help, even games and courses in Surinam are not really a bad idea seeing that it has such a "rich" footballing pedigree... everything is pretty close to us, we just need to look closely, at what's around us...
I'm not surprised though that we haven't tapped into or looked at these options for our future players' development...
We have (well, had, no man, HAVE) a good ting going, wid football in T&T... but, we could still push for better and more...
Jus' meh 2 cents...
Of what use is a second language if yuh football isn't good? Conversely, who needs a second language if your football speaks for itself. Does Javier Hernandez need to learn English before going to the EPL? This whole "learn ah second language to improve yuh professional opportunities" talk is ass-backwards nonsense. How much English Drogba know?
I think Didier handles himself well in front of the media, in fact, he know enough to show his displeasure to the cameras (
it's a disgrace... it's a f**king disgrace!!! immediately comes to mind)... But yes I see your point, what I am advocating is a development strategy, where an exchange of footballing students (across cultural and linguistic divides) could actually help us to create and achieve a better footballing product, that can integrate easier into a European system as well as, enhance our own technical abilities on the pitch, even if it means starting at say, age 7 with the introduction of Dutch coaches into our system, and games played with freedom as opposed to controls (referees)...
Ages 10 - 12 could be used to introduce controls (referees) and thus enhance the more tactical aspects of our game...
Isn't it strange that for the little proof that Caribbean football has shown to the various leagues around the region and the wider world that there is NOT ONE major club from Holland, whether it be Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV or Rotterdam, that has not even thought to set up an academy in T&T or JA?... or any major club for that matter? No Liverpools, Manchester Uniteds (and Yorke played for them yeah?...) Chelseas or Arsenals...? Not even a Spanish influence, No Valencias, Getafes or Villa Reals??? nothing?...
Is it BECAUSE we cannot communicate (because let's face it, Van Persie said it best about referring to being Dutch when quizzed about the influence Bergkamp has on his Arsenal career and I quote, "it's amazing, but what makes it even more special is that he is my countryman and we speak the same language...") in these languages?...
Shaka Hislop's intelligence is not questioned... is it?... Having worked for NASA and all...
Speaking a second language, also encourages the brain to work differently, it makes for a stronger mind, and if the old adage "that we only use 1/10th of our capacity" is true, then surely offering a footballer the opportunity, to enhance his skills by learning a 2nd or even 3rd language, can only be a positive diversion away from other distractions outside of the game... PS3 and all... and encourage him or her to think differently (hopefully more productively) about improving his or her own game.
Oneness...