The problem, with my limited experience of school football, is that the whole philosophy and structure of school football is determining the standard of football in the ProLeague and the national team.
On countless occasions, posters here laud the youth academies at Barca or Real or Man U without recognising that those time consuming and expensive programmes are what's missing in T&T.
I have no problem with youngsters playing school football. To me, it's an absolute must.
However, once students reach 16, if they are talented, they should enter professional football. Now, there are provisos. If the student genuinely wants to pursue their education, then an overseas scholarship should be sought. Or maybe you could still have a watered down under 17 competition?
Next, the school football season should last much longer. Yes, I know schools want to play cricket, but there is no reason why football can't take place on Friday evenings and cricket on Saturdays.
Next, any student over the age of 16 who wants to return to school to play football, must attend a minimum 75% of classes. (I know of several top players who play school football, but do not attend classes.) There should also be a measure of players' grades to determine if schools are recruiting players without focusing on their education.
I have seen with my own eyes talented players between 16-19 playing school football for 3 months rather than play professional football. Why is this a problem? Those three years are where raw talent turns into professionalism. I don't believe schools deliver anywhere near the same standard of coaching as professional clubs. Basics like keeping shape, tracking back, running off the ball, defensive responsibilities of strikers, attacking responsibilities of defenders etc
I can state that a guy who was Intercol top scorer for two consecutive seasons, when he turned professional had the shock of his life. The game is faster, more physical, more concentration is needed, more discipline. The training is much harder and intensive. Life away from the training field is more disciplined. Football against schoolkids is nothing like football against seasoned professional men.
I would be interested to know how many of T&T's top players in the last 10 years came through Intercol. I would love to know that statistic.
If only we could nurture this talent at 14, develop it from 16, by age 18 we'd have fast, strong youthmen knocking on Stephen Harts door.
Now I don't necessarily blame schools for this situation. I've spoken to players who, I know, could get contracts in UK if they play half a dozen ProLeague games before age 17. It appears that Intercol is more glamorous and less hard work than professional football. The fame, the girls, the easy life. But these are just kids. Someone needs to explain that once they reach 19, many of them will not be good enough to earn a living from football, certainly not overseas. They're throwing away what could be their only chance of a decent career.
Imagine if everywhere was the same. Perhaps there would be no Messi, no Rooney, no Walcott. Or more to the point, maybe T&T would have had their own Walcott or another Yorke, Stern John, Kenwyne Jones, Sancho or Kelvin Jack ??
