Technical Director of the Dominica Football Association, Jerome Bardouille said training Dominica’s young football players is essential for the future development of our national teams.
The Dominica Football Association hosted a press conference on Thursday, September 29, at the football house to launch its sponsors of the Under 15 boys league.
It was announced that the league will begin this weekend to provide the youth the opportunity to play against themselves after the setbacks from COVID-19.
“Training young players [is] essential for the future of our national teams and so association and clubs have a huge responsibility to develop football in the country. I had the opportunity to meet with club representatives to show the state of football in our country and we were able to take a look [at] our present gaps and how they are affecting our outputs,” Bardouille said in his address
He noted there was an overwhelming competition for partnership among the clubs and technical department to address their “shortcomings” and to work together to improve football from the base in order to have good senior players.
“I see the lack of desire, commitment, and willingness to go the extra mile and to put in place the structure required to elevate the level of our game and I will therefore say success will be achieved through hard work.”
He added that it was unfortunate that they were unable to continue the league in 2021 as COVID presented an unfortunate barrier as far as youth development. The technical officer stated that this is the chance clubs have been anticipating.
“The league will commence this weekend that has so much to offer to the young men in our care. Football can be described as the school of life through which valuable skills can be taught such as teamwork, dedication, and perseverance.”
Bardouille said through healthy competition, young people are taught the importance of teamwork and cooperation balanced by good sportsmanship.
“There are no shortcuts to success as players’ minds need to be made up to work hard and I hope that this league will be taken seriously and coaches will put a plan together for development of the game.”
These three sports officials look like they are mostly about the money, rum and pork. Why is the state of sports in dominica the way it is today? Has the stadium found new lights yet? Why doesnt the olympic committee not lobby for better training facilities to include a full gym with and other amenities that the athletes need to train. Why are football fields around the island still looking like savannas for grazing of livestock? Unless it is politically motivated nothing happens. Force the politicians to give you what you want to attain greatness on behalf of Dominica. Who is the Minister of Sports? that person is a failure as well as the person before him/her. Head of sportsm you are failing your athletes if you do not press the government for what you need. sitting like good little boys hoping to get an extra dumpling doesnt work. Demand that the government improve the state of track and field, football, basketball etc.. We wil get nowhere being mute. Same for all other sectors.