Monday, September 01, 2008
International Futsal Competitions
Bangkok has been hosting the ASEAN Futsal Championship which is nice. And pointless.
Most of the football associations in this part of the world are starved of funds for youth development domestically, why are they spending a small fortune on sending teams overseas to play in competitions?
Players come, players go. Could it be because the officials, who seem to have life tenure, get these free trips abroad and gives them untold shopping options? Because sure as hell I can see no benefit to the domestic game by spending thousands of dollars on these jaunts.
Futsal has it's place. It's something you play with your mates, it's helpful in training programmes. But do people wanna spend money to watch these things in half empty arenas? Or veteran's tournaments where has been players drag themselves from their memoirs or the golf course and reminisce with old colleagues and foes.
Futsal has its place for sure but only as part of something bigger. International events like the recent one in Bangkok are for now pointless and the money better used elsewhere. Like improving pitches back home. Or training referees and linesmen. Or importing experienced, foreign coaches for workshops.
Most of the football associations in this part of the world are starved of funds for youth development domestically, why are they spending a small fortune on sending teams overseas to play in competitions?
Players come, players go. Could it be because the officials, who seem to have life tenure, get these free trips abroad and gives them untold shopping options? Because sure as hell I can see no benefit to the domestic game by spending thousands of dollars on these jaunts.
Futsal has it's place. It's something you play with your mates, it's helpful in training programmes. But do people wanna spend money to watch these things in half empty arenas? Or veteran's tournaments where has been players drag themselves from their memoirs or the golf course and reminisce with old colleagues and foes.
Futsal has its place for sure but only as part of something bigger. International events like the recent one in Bangkok are for now pointless and the money better used elsewhere. Like improving pitches back home. Or training referees and linesmen. Or importing experienced, foreign coaches for workshops.
# posted by Me @ 3:58 PM 
