I have never seen our coaches truly evoke fiery spirits in our players.....I remember us falling behind with beeny as coach in games and shrugging it off because you just knew the team would fight....my question is how are Local coaches in never able to light dat fire in our players, it can't be dat foreigners jus get more respect jus because, I have often theorized dat we penchant for negative
Lefty, a lot of what you say is true, but from my experience, Coaches could get good response from their Trini players. The problems is when the players put everything into the game, and then they get a pat on their backs, a box of chicken chips and a Solo. Trinis will fight tooth and nail for you, but when you bullshit them, they will bullshit you. So here is my experience.
So the 1974 youth get pick. Alvin is coach, Roderick Warner is the trainer assistance coach. Alvin had gotten his FA coaching badge a year or two before(the only person the Caribbean at the time). Roderick had just come back from Australia. He had gotten a PE scholarship and went there for 2 years. The two of them went about preparing the team in such a way, that we believe that we could beat anybody. Alvin relayed his experience with the national team in team meeting and when we were in relax situations(driving in the cars or buses to and from games). He talked about the 67 PanAm games team being being given no chance in the first round(grouped with Mexico, Argentina, Colombia) and went thru to the second round. He also pointed out how not to be complacent. He mentioned how when they played Bermuda and lost, was due to complacency on their part.
So when we grouped with Mexico, CR and PR, we knew we had to be on point or is a early return home. Roderick had us in top shape. Any messed up on our part came with constructive team meetings. Players were rebuked, but not in disparaging ways. They spoke to us in a firm and mature manner. So when we went on the field we put everything on the line. Even the game we lost to Cuba, we were in it all the way. We were even in possession, but the Cubans put away their chances, we did not. It was a disappointment.
I remembered TT playing Netherland Antilles in an Olympic games and lost 3-0 in Curacao, and the return in the QPO won 4-0. So I asked Lincoln Philips about those games, and how the recovered to win the second one. Lincoln said that they had a hard time adjusted to the bumpy field and the strong wind blowing across the stadium. But on the return to the Oval, Conrad Braithwaithe had them ready. They won 4-0.
So players performances have a lot to do with how the association treat them. They players give their all. But when the promises fall thru, there is that inevitable tipping point.