1st Indian Joins MLS (for the Kansas City Wizards)

1st Indian Joins MLS (for the Kansas City Wizards)

Pretty good stuff from a country obsessed with cricket!

George Costanza2010-03-30 16:53:39

I think Ethnic talent gets over looked. So many young Iraqi and Somali players in Wellington for example, that if they had proper coaching could go a long way in NZ. NZF need to come up with some kind of program or initiative to get the most out of these players.
in fact its something i wouldnt mind getting involved with once my playing days are over.
AJ132010-03-30 15:58:03

How would you define "proper coaching" and "overlooked"?

IMHO, kids are kids and talent is talent. If programs can be designed so as to be more inclusive of different societal groups, then I'm all for it. But how much really needs to be done? Are kids from different ethnic backgrounds really all that different when it comes to learning the game, so long as they receive the same opportunities and treatment as every other group? My team last year was pretty diverse, yet the only way it affected me was having to ensure there were halal pizzas available at prizegiving for my Muslim players.

This'll be only my second year coaching football so maybe you're discussing issues I've yet to come across. I just don't see the benefits of treating junior/youth footballers differently based on their ethnicity and/or culture, though I'm happy to be enlightened on theories as to why this could be an idea.

We, of course, had Praven Jeram in goal for the AWs in the 70's (damned good 'keeper he was too).