Some positives can be taken from yesterday’s international friendly against Jamaica.
Our men’s team in losing 1-0 gained valuable experience. Playing away from home in an awkward environment it has served its purpose.
From all accounts, David Monsalve was very good in goal and five uncapped players have now been capped. As long as there is consistency with having national team camps in order to build on this experience, then the project has been worthwhile.
One note of caution however, is the insistence by Stephen Hart that the results in these games are of little concern. Being empathetic here, one can understand where he is coming from – inexperienced young team, harsh environment and not wanting the team to lose confidence if results don't go well.
There is the other side of the coin though which trumps this philosophy.
Without tangible success in the form of winning games players can begin to ‘not believe’ and contrary to what you are trying to achieve it becomes counter productive. Developing the right, winning mentality means it should never be alright to lose any game be it a five-a-side, and exhibition game or a world cup qualifier.
Unfortunately, Hart’s approach is a little naive and yet it appears to fit within our soccer culture, where our fun first approach is rife. At times we coddle players and ourselves to the point of absurdity. What is needed is a professional approach to training and competing and it starts from the top at the national level.
You play an exhibition game to gain experience, but you also play a game to win it. If you lose with the right mentality then you suffer the pain that accompanies the loss. Over time a tougher mentality and a greater resilience is developed. Avoidance of this is weak and self-serving. In the end it will fail you because losing becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.
