Coach's Corner

Vernon Haynes, Coach
Soccer Is  Simple’s  teaching focuses on: Sportsmanship  Teamwork  Strength  Character  Discipline  Tolerance  Dedication

Football is the most beautiful sport in the world.

Dallas, Texas December 2010

Football is the most beautiful sport in the world. This is what I experienced in my secondary school years in the 1960s in Trinidad and Tobago. Today, the game seems to have lost its beauty, elegance, and grace. My former coach at my alma mater, St. Benedict’s College, La Romain, Brazilian Americo Brunner, used to drill into our heads that “futbol es un arte,” “ football is an art.” As an art, it is not only about winning and losing but about displaying the skill and grace of controlling the ball first time from many angles, the intelligence in passing the ball, a dancer’s dexterity in dribbling an opponent, all coordinated in teamwork like an orchestra, moving like a game of chess forward seeking to find an opening to the climax of a goal.

For me, football is a way of life. I was taught this by my coaches, Brazilian Mr. Americo Brunner, Mr. August Wooter and Mr. Lagadeau from Surinam, Sports master Mr. Dave Traboulay, now Prof. Trabs, Mr. Renwick, and the inspiring leadership of Dr. Dom. Basil Matthews, Principal of St Benedict’s College. We were taught that every player should know every position on the field, what ‘trap’ to use when it is appropriate, when to head the ball, when to slow the game down, when to pick the pace up, short or long passes, when to travel with the ball, when to dribble down the line and hit across to the penalty spot, when to tackle, not just running and risk getting beaten. We were also taught to put the opponent where you wanted him to go, not where he wanted to go. As for goalkeepers, keepers of today don’t know how to play their position. Why do keepers kick the ball out so high in the air to the middle of the field only for the opposing team to kick it back? This seems senseless. Midfielders don’t know how to play their position. They should see themselves as attacking players as well and try to take at least four shots at goal every half. Those at the position of striker should get at least seven shots at goal each half. Why do players wait on the ball and not attack it? Players do not seem to know when to sprint, when to screen the ball, and when not to block fellow team members from getting the ball. Why do defenders kick the ball off the field? Is this an option of defense? I hardly think so. Why don’t they develop skills to dribble or screen the ball, like the Brazilians?

I remember well when, as a 12 year old, Steve David, later ace striker for Trinidad and professional player, got both his legs broken playing for St. Benedict’s senior grade team; also, when Leroy de Leon had to substitute as a goalkeeper but no one could score on him. Calm and composed, no one could beat him in a 100 metres sprint. I still have not seen a player nationally or internationally who had the incomparable skills that he had. In my opinion, the best strikers in the heyday of great St Benedict’s teams were Steve David, Warren Archibald, Wilfred Cave, and Dick Furlonge; the best midfielders were Keith Renaud, Adrian Chandler, and Bede Wells, and the best goalkeeper was Allan Cupid.

The visual beauty of football lies in the excellence of the individual and the team. It exemplifies the values of individual freedom and team discipline. That was the meaning of my college team, St. Benedict’s College at La Romain, as it was shaped by the vision of its Principal, Dr. Dom Basil Matthews. We were told to do our best at all times and that each one should teach one another. Up to today, we still communicate and respect each other. I am asking my fellow team mates to take up the challenge given by Dom Basil he would of have us do. Can we not organize to play together one more time? This call goes out to all the football giants of that golden era. The players of today are dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants.

Yours Respectfully

Vernon Haynes,

Player / Coach

I must also make mention that it was an honor playing with these great players.

Berry Haynes, Coach

CPR CERTIFICATION & SAFETY Soccer is Simple’s Management of Vernon and Joyce Haynes are trained and certified in CPR, Basic Life Support, First Aid Care, Automated Emergency Defribillator.