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Tuesday 28 June 2011

Canberra football (still) lacks vision and growth - add the FFA as well!

It was reaffirmed that Canberra’s possible inclusion in the Hyundai A-League was postponed for the forseeable future. The idea of a separate, stand-alone Canberra team in the National Youth League was canvassed, but economic factors were identified as a major impediment at this stage

http://www.capitalfootball.com.au/site/news.php?id=1539

Pretty weak!

Capital Football and the FFA might be so excited they put this story on their website, I'd be ashamed and embarassed, and every parent of every aspiring boy in the U10 - U15 Representative football programs and those aspiring to such heights will see little "growth" as the headline suggests in this undynamic model.

So joining with the regional SNSW is good for business - and it sure makes sense for those regional towns to reap the benefits of coaching and playing against the stronger teams from Canberra - but again the major point in Canberra football remains.

How is it that Capital Football are unable to come up with the vision, the desire and the plan to give our boys post-15 a pathway. Maybe Southern NSW should take over Capital Football and not the other way round!

We've achieved the first base for the women, through the W-League. Although we were initially rejected from that league, nothing could stop our intelligence, resource gathering and great leadership and vision to get us in - and rightly so.

Where is the plan to build on what Canberra United has achieved or is this it?


How come we don't have the skills, intelligence, desire and vision to make a pathway for our boys? How many years have Canberra been unable to make any headway? And the final point in the story quoted above, put in as an after thought when the story should be:

FFA and Capital Football dismiss all hope for boys development pathway in Canberra - again!


Playing Albury and Wagga away post 15 is not a pathway is it?

Interesting Eddie Senatore is now on the Capital Football Board - Eddie is one of the drivers behind the Boomerang Futsal Club that plays......wait for it, wait for it....in NSW (Sydney).

It can be done - we now have the talent on the Board who can implement Futsal pathways, different costs for outdoors we all know that, but why not use the talents on the new Capital Football Board for the outdoor game!

Can't be THAT hard to get a youth team can it?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Evidentally it is that hard otherwise it probably would have happened.

NSW Premier League and Super League don't want our clubs to partcipate in their leagues.

We can't get an A-League Youth team as no-one has the funding and FFA won't give Canberra a licence.

Currently there is the HPP, ACTAS and then AIS (if you're good enough) or club football if you're not. The same as in any other state.

What other pathway could there be? Any one have any solutions rather than more questions and bagging of the governing body?

Eamonn said...

"Evidentally it is that hard otherwise it probably would have happened."

Thought Capital Football would have the resources and people to come up with a strategy - isn't that their job to lead the football community?

What other organisation in this town has the time, money and staff to set a plan in motion - there is a plan right?

"Currently there is the HPP, ACTAS and then AIS (if you're good enough) or club football if you're not. The same as in any other state."

Ahem not quite the "same as any other state" you heard of A-League youth teams, Premier League and State League teams in NSW and Victoria - ACT hardly measures up these days. If you think the 1 ACT boy post 16 who gets to the AIS is a pathway - you should work for Capital Football!

Talk to people in clubland, who's kids aspire to another level of football, talk to the parents of those who have acheived like Luke Pilkington, Chris Bush, Kofi Danning, Lustica, Milanovanovic and see what they say - then talk to all the players who leave ACTAS with nowhere to go.

Forget the "bagging of the governing body," some of us are actually interested in getting some real pathways for our player base.

Some of us have solutions, of course, but the peak body has to have the desire to lead and support in this area. They need to be creative, engaging and resourceful in solving the problem.

I look forward to the day!

Anonymous said...

so if you have the solution eamonn why not get in there and do it? Not having a go, I actually mean it!

If it doesn't look like CF are doing anything, you should! If they can't find the money, but you can then why not do it?

They clearly are leading the way in some respect as they have a dialogue with FFA about the issue (as per the article you referenced), so why not talk to they and offer to lead the charge with their support?

Anonymous said...

so if you have the solution eamonn why not get in there and do it? Not having a go, I actually mean it!

If it doesn't look like CF are doing anything, you should! If they can't find the money, but you can then why not do it?

They clearly are leading the way in some respect as they have a dialogue with FFA about the issue (as per the article you referenced), so why not talk to they and offer to lead the charge with their support?

Eamonn said...

There are a number of people better placed than me who could solve this issue.

When one door closes you open another - Cap Football have to let others lead on this issue - they clearly haven't been able to do it over the last few years.

So why not try other strategies.

Brumbies and Raiders have pathways for Youth - so why can't football?

Anonymous said...

When was the last time someone asked Football NSW the question? There are too many excuses why not to do anything.

Eamonn said...

Changes in FNSW may mean now is the best time to push for change for the good of football, for the good of Canberra.

Those changes mean we should, now more than ever, be pushing for change.

Unknown said...

you are invited to follow my blog

Anonymous said...

Haven't you just cut and paste the very end of that story rather than the acutal story itself?

It doesn't read as if Capital Football and the FFA are 'excited' about the only piece of the story you chose to highlight and publish verbatim on your blog....

Just saying.....

KingG said...

Hi pete, love the blog, just wondering what qualifications or experience do you have to give advice on football or sports development?

Ivo said...

Hi Eamonn

You say 'HPP, ACTAS and then AIS' if your good enough, im going to go out here on a limb and say if you cant stand out there you dont need a pathway because the only path for you is state league 5 and rightfully so. Cream always rises to the top my friend.

Eamonn said...

Ivo - out on a limb!

Many players develop post-16 Australia has a long record of players developing well into their 20's - look at big Sas Ognenovski as one such player - but in Canberra once you leave ACTAS - you head to State 5 and you are doomed ain't yer.

Are they training 5 times a week these days?

Eamonn said...

King G

had a trial with Notts County once - and watched a lot of football on telly.

and I'm Eamonn - Pete - who's he, the local guy? - I'm more of a national view with a tad of local.

Never get us confused - ever!

Pete knows much more and is much more qualified than me.

Where else in Canberra do you get to read people's views on football and local football - in the Canberra Times - no - on the ABC or Win - no - and of course Capital Football do a great job but it's only one view and we obviously need two in this city!

Anonymous said...

Stop picking on State League 5 - it's full of yesterday's superstars - brilliant competition full of excellent football. Shame on you all..... :-)

Ivo said...

Ivo - I disagree with your logic Eamonn. What pathway did Didier Drogba have in Ivory Coast? Adebayor in Togo? Dwight Yorke in Trinidad? The cream will rise if you are good enough you will get found or you will find them. CFC played the Mariners last year and couldn't get a touch but most would fancy themselves at a higher level? explain that.

Anonymous said...

Probably overblown egos at CFC actually explains that - they do tend to think they are better than they really are - of course they've bought most of the best players in Canberra and then beat up on everyone else - just a thought !

Eamonn said...

Ivo - that's easily explained.

CFC players from post-16 have trained at bst twice a week - any Mariners player or Diwgth yorke would have been training at leeast 5 times a week for many many years.

As soon as a boy leaves ACTAS at 16 his touch, fitness and football ability cannont keep up with or get better than ANY boy in Australia who is training 6 or more times a week.

Flash forward to CFC v Mariners - fitness alone would be enough to ensure the CFC players wouldn't get a kick - skil wise some will have flashes but touch wll never be any where near the level required to match it with A-League players.

Twice a week training from 16 to the current Men's Premier standard means cream or no cream our players have NO CHANCE of ever shining beyond 16 in terms of a professional sense.

Only young Rogic and Pilkington from the local league got a "gig" of sorts a pro football but they were both training post ACTAs under the Mitchell model at ANU 5 times a week.

That model is now gone.

Football is avery competitive game - players can get into pro leagues even as old as 22 -23 but they must be training many times a week from 16 with a ball and fitness and of course playing proper games - not the local Canberra League - if they are to get a contract.

As you say Cream rises - only when there is something underneath it!