It’s a sad, sad situation and it’s getting more and more absurd, why can’t we talk it over. Oh it seems to me, sorry seems to be the hardest word.”
Recognize the lyrics from Elton John’s hit song Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word? Does it translate to the St Lucia Football Association (SLFA) Inc and their very apologetic president who is currently under fire?
Those who know him will tell you the words apologize and sorry are not in his vocabulary. However, at Friday’s press conference focusing on the unpopular decision by the SLFA Inc not to send a national team to the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, both words were used extensively by President of the SLFA Inc, Lyndon Cooper.
Having to deal with last Wednesday’s peaceful protest outside the SLFA headquarters, by players demanding an explanation as to why St Lucia which was carded to play Nicaragua in their opening game of their Men’s World Cup Qualifier last week, the SLFA proceeded to do damage control by way of a press conference.
At Friday’s press conference at the SLFA headquarters in La Clery, General Secretary, Victor Reid started out by saying: “Our purpose here this morning is to undertake a series of discussions through a press conference, to address some of the issues that have surfaced over the past few days in regards to our FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and so on.”
In retrospect that should have been done weeks if not months ago, to avoid what has become an embarrassment and anything but fair play on the part of the SLFA Inc.
After being introduced by Reid, it didn’t take long, in fact it took a mere one minute and fifty seconds into his speech, for Cooper to express his and his executives “sincere apology” to the media, players, fans and the Government of St Lucia, relating to St Lucia’s no show at the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He went through a lengthy explanation as to how St Lucia arrived at the present position and admitted that miscommunication by the SLFA to inform anyone of their intention even the players was a big mistake.
National Team Captain Zane Pierre who was front and centre at the players protest, expressed his frustration with the SLFA and given the fact that he travelled all the way from Italy in hopes of representing St Lucia, had the right to be upset.
The St Lucia team as a whole was never in training together on account of Covid-19 protocols. However, players did practice on their own. Things could have been far different had the SLFA contacted the relevant authorities. But they didn’t which angered government and players.
A press release from the Office of the Prime Minister dated March 25, 2021 stated in part. “The Government can confirm at no time did the SLFA Inc approach Government or the Chief Medical Officer to inquire about a request being made by the SLFA to have a team train for the World Cup Qualifiers. Neither the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports nor the office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has received such a request.”
Fielding a team was not the only problem facing the SLFA. According to Cooper, FIFA indicated that any country with a quarantine period or more than five days, could not host any games and would have to play all away from home.
Cooper pointed out that sometime in January, the General Secretary continued to engage all the players and informed them that it was unlikely St Lucia would be competing at the World Cup Qualifiers, because of the nightmare the SLFA was having with obtaining a proper venue, finance, training, travel, and finding players.
Having completed his speech there was a question and answer session. At that time the SLFA President said “everything is on the table except my family, marital status and individual salary of support staff.”
For now it’s not whether or not the SLFA will face any action from FIFA for their unwillingness to play in the World Cup Qualifiers. Cooper said: “No ruling has been given on that subject, but I want to reassure you if any sanction comes through St Lucia will formally appeal the decision and put together one of the best legal teams St Lucia has.”
When asked about the fragmented relationship that now exists between players and the administration, Cooper replied: “As the SLFA head I can address any issue. I apologize to everybody I offended. The media for not talking on time, the players for maybe saying things that were offensive, everybody. I am sorry. I am moving on.”
Will any action be taken against players involved in Wednesday’s protest? He said: “I have no intention as President of the St Lucia Football Association to approve any recommendation coming out of the secretariat to open proceedings against anybody, not even one with the placard ‘Lyndon Cooper must go.’”
Those calling for Cooper to step down may have to wait awhile. With the SLFA President facing immense pressure from the public and even his own players, I inquired, “at any one time did you ever consider resigning?”
He told me: “For the record I have two and a half years left in my term of office. I have no intentions to not completing my two and a half years left. It is my intention when I meet my membership, which is 19 affiliates, sometime on Saturday next week or at the annual congress, to indicate the date of my departure in football whether by force or voluntary.”
I continued with another question: The placard ‘Cooper Must Go’ must not sit very well with you. His response: “They have said worse than that. I saw a Facebook post saying where they are going to slash my tires. I got a call the same day saying we go shoot you. We have stepped up security all the round place now. I am accustom to that it comes with the responsibility. If I die there in the process before I do that, I will give you Dave a list of persons I don’t want to be at my funeral.
Hopeful it won’t come to that!
