10/13/2006 11:09:00 AM A boon for football, but can both the USL and ISL succeed?
This week's panel
Roderick Spencer: National basketball coach
Jon Beard: BFA chairman of the technical committee
Calvin Blankendal: BFA youth committee chairman
Robert Calderon: Bermuda Football Foundation
George Holdipp: Bermuda Sun columnist
David Bascome: ISL commissioner
Paul Scope: USL co-owner
James Whittaker: Moderator
In last week's panel we should have described Peter Dunne as the race director for the Bermuda Grand Prix.
Come next summer Bermuda's top footballers will have a choice to make - USL or ISL? The start of David Bascome's new professional six-a-side league coincides directly with the launch of Bermuda's professional 11-a-side team to play in the States.
What do you think of both ideas? Can they both succeed? Could other sports follow football's lead?
Roderick Spencer: The more our athletes in any sport are able to compete against quality opposition can only benefit the development of that sport and the quality of play at the National level.
I see these leagues being of greater benefit to those younger players just breaking into the national ranks and those just on the outside ready to be called in. he domestic leagues.
Robert Calderon: The concept is a good one that should be able to coexist with our local league structure. Given the real positives attached to these initiatives, the FA should consider moving the league schedule forward, particularly the Premier Division and eliminating meaningless competitions. Problems could arise when our senior national team is involved in competitive matches that conflict with the professional schedules. I also suspect that the FA will have to appoint new senior national coaches to avoid obvious conflict.
David Bascome: Obviously I'm going to say that they both can succeed. The only way the ISL or the USL is going to be successful is if everybody is on the same page. It's giving our players an incentive.
What's going to be key is: Can the players entertain? Can they live up to the hype? Can they live up to receiving the incentives? Can the players handle it?
We have to have people come through the gate if we're going to succeed. If they see it is going to be entertaining and if they see it's going to be for families. If they see it's going to bring the game back. That's what I have to sell to the fans.
Without finance, nothing is going to work.
Paul Scope: Certainly, both ideas can co-exist and prosper. David, Kyle and Shaun have talked about possible scheduling conflicts, but these will be easily worked out.
Philosophically, both parties are trying to do the same thing...raise the level of football in Bermuda. The USL will be utilising 20 or so players, the ISL over 100, but both will have minimal impact on the domestic league as the USL and ISL seasons do not overlap at all with our current winter league. It's more likely to impact on club cricket as there are several dual sport athletes.
James Whittaker: Will other sports be watching the success of these leagues with a view to making similar developments -a semi-pro 20/20 cricket league for example? Or is football the only sport with the player base and the crowd-pulling power to make it work?
Spencer: The biggest problem for the indoor sports (basketball) would be that there are no facilities in the island where an indoor sport could be hosted and hold the fan base needed to make it financially viable or to even meet demand of a small loyal fan support base.
Bascome: Why not have a 20-20 pro cricket league or are the numbers too small? It will help the players and they'll have more incentives. It will give them something to work for.
Cal Blankendal: I believe that David has stated what we all recognise as being the biggest stumbling block, FINANCIAL BACKING.
Most new ventures or inventions do not return a profit until after 5-6 years of operating. If any sport is to follow the ambitions of the USL or ISL, there will have to be long-term financial backing made available. I still believe that if we are to make any impact, the existing sporting groups and clubs will have to be included, since this is where the pool of talent will ultimately come from.
Whittaker: Just wanted to pick back up on a thread from Robert early on. Do you really think it will be necessary for the BFA to appoint a different senior national team coach?
It seems like this would create unnecessary conflict. What would be the issue with Kyle managing both teams? Anyone have any views on that?
Blankendal: If Kyle is deemed to be the coach of Bermuda's USL team then it would be wise to review his position and see if there will be any conflicts.
Both the BFA and USL will want to make sure that their coaching staff can commit the necessary time needed and meet all of their requirements.
I wish to stress that until more is known about the USL set up, it will be difficult to make any final assessment on all of the particulars.
George Holdipp: It remains to be seen whether either venture will be successful, both are new to Bermuda so I guess we will just have to wait and see but my greatest concern is that things in soccer appear as though they are being carried out in a haphazard manner, David has his programme, Shaun, Kyle and Paul theirs while local coaches such as Kenny Thompson and Andrew Bascome theirs. There doesn't seem to be any sort of cohesiveness or direction for the sport as a whole, unfortunately until we get a first class technical director who can take overall responsibility for the game in the island I fear it will continue to drift all over the place!
Blankendal: I do not see an issue with the various coaches, organizing structured and technically sound programmes. I would prefer for them to be based in an existing club, to build on the foundations we already have in Bermuda.
It is good to see various philosophies, coaching methods and motivational or incentive based ideas.
What we really need is for a coaches symposium or quarterly gathering to discuss the present day and future course of football in Bermuda and beyond.
The beauty of football is to see Arsene Wenger, Alex Ferguson, Fabio Cappello and Guus Hiddink take their very diverse methodology and then meet at an annual coaches/directors forum to ensure the beautiful game continues to entertain all.
Calderon: I see nothing wrong with the names you mention working individually to improve the game. As long as their efforts are not in violation of the FA's policies. This is the norm in most countries.
I note your desire to retain the services of a first class technical director. I trust that you will insert inclusive, non-abrasive and the ability to institute a holistic programme that meets the need of domestic and national programmes in this person job description. Our football suffered immensely a number of years ago when this criteria was either ignored and or allowed to go unchecked.
Jon Beard: I can see only positive development from entry into the USL. It is something the technical committee has recommended for a few years. The fact that there were two bids from Bermuda shows that others with a real interest in local football feel the same way
The excitement from younger players over this venture is palpable and I do hope we can help to get some real success with this venture. Equally the ISL gives our players another option - and although I personally favour watching the 11 a side game I hope David's league is also succesful. I'm sure it can only benefit our football in the long run. As for Kyle coaching both I agree with Cal in that that will be a decsion of the BFA once the full situation becomes clear. However, he currently coaches PHC as well as the national team - and so provided there is no club/country commitment it might well be a good situation as he would simply have many of the national squad to work with in the USL team.
Calderon: I would be shocked if there is a precedent in world football that mirrors what is being suggested here. These coaches double as owners, as such have a vested interest in the financial well being of this professional team, which could create considerable conflict. This is not as simple and non-contentious as amateur club coaches having a dual responsibility for our national team. In fact, I can remember when national coaches were not allowed to coach club teams with the main issue being the potential for bias.
Scope: The concept for the USL team is to raise the standard of football in Bermuda generally and the senior national team, in particular. In the past the national programme has been too start/stop. The USL franchise will give our top players more exposure to a higher level of play.
I would argue that it would be of great benefit for the national team coaching staff be the same as the USL staff or at least, for there to be a very close working relationship, as the USL team will provide the core of the national team. This is exactly what happened when Puerto Rico put a team in the USL.....the coaching staffs were the same for the first two years which resulted in their National Team improving greatly and the USL team progressing also.....in there third season they made it into the Division 1 play-offs."
Calderon: Sorry but I disagree. In this case the coaches of our national team are both coach and owner. This has the potential for considerable conflict and the FA needs to seriously consider the ramifications of this proposed relationship.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Comment by:
ricardoalcerro
hi, i used to play in the league for the last 10 years n i`d ilke to helping you to organice the team , find good talent to play or helping about the league.
