Who said there is nothing new under the sun.
Trinidadian Kent Welch, a US-based soccer coach, who grew up on Monroe Street, Tunapuna, and as a 16-year-old impressed Tunapuna star Willie Bain, and played big football for Invaders among Tunapuna grown-ups like his brother Errol, Clem Archer, the Burgess brothers Norris and Estwick, Colvin Hoyte, and Earl Murray, insists he has created something new and exciting in the world of soccer.
His calls his creation "Error Free Soccer".
Welch left here in 1966 on a track and field scholarship, which turned into a soccer "schol" when the US soccer authorities saw his ability on the field.
He eventually graduated with degrees in social studies and public administration from New York State University.
"Error Free Soccer" is a system Welch says he hopes to introduce in the Colleges Football League if and when he were to secure a six-month coaching assignment this season at El Dorado Senior Comprehensive.
"Error Free Soccer", he said, is not something a player inherits. He has to be drilled and taught for weeks before he fully comprehends what it is all about, and then it takes about nine months before it becomes a way of life for him.
"This system works and I have achieved a lot," said Welch, emphasising that it is based on discipline and education..." with no excuses whatsoever for those who 'foul up'...it is zero tolerance."
For instance, Welch says penalties are severe for players who miss penalty kicks, make stupid passes, give away the ball for no reason, fail to arrive on time for matches or training sessions, or are not in bed at 9 p.m. on the eve of a match. "Players," stressed Welch, "must attend sessions four days a week and attend meetings on Fridays, and most of all, players must produce documentary proof of their progress in their academic work.
"The emphasis is on education and preparation because I have observed that players who are up to standard in their work often play the best. I have two sons, Bradley and Brandon, they have to follow the rules to the letter," he explains.
"If you are so dumb that you are not interested in an education then I know you are not going to play good soccer," Welch says, adding that once a player falls behind in academics, it means that he is automatically out of competition and training until he improves.
He says: "Players who 'foul up' better don't even bother to turn up for the next match dressed to play. "They come out to support the team, but they know fully well, that they have been sacked because of their errors."
Welch, who once had a short stint with the New York Cosmos, and played for Searchers, a team made up of Caribbean players based in New York, said his "Error Free Soccer" programme has paid off in Orlando, Florida, where he's the coach of Orange County Bears.
"I took this team from scratch and we have now won the Under-19 League on two successive seasons," Welch says.
The "Bears" comprise of six Colombians, two Mexicans, three Brazilians, four Americans, one Venezuelan, two players from Argentina and one from Uruguay.
"We play as a tight unit. Every player in the field must have the ability to do everything. At least three of them are also competent goal-keepers, ready to play in that position in the event of the regular 'keeper is out because of an injury...or dropped for not maintaining the desired standard.
"Again I must point out that I accept no excuses whatsoever. If a player arrives late and blames the train or some accident as a reason, I will make a call and check out the authenticity of his story," he said as he pulled out his notebook to explain the graphics of his system.
Welch said once implemented, the system is certain to bring huge dividends, since, the problem with local soccer has always been a lack of discipline, which is the most important ingredient in modern-day football.
"Once it is introduced into the schools, it would gradually evolve at national level and it would become part of our soccer culture," he says.
Welch also revealed that he did a study on the USA team and discovered that each player, with the exception of one (name withheld), did well or is doing well in academics.
"They play well because they are educated, disciplined and dedicated to the game and have a desire to win," he said.
Commenting on Ash Wednesday's World Cup clash against the USA billed for the Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, he said he hoped that Trinidad and Tobago could pull off a victory. But generally, he was not too happy at the state of local football which he said had has suffered tremendously since mid-fielder Russell Latapy left the national scene.
He argued that the standard of Trinidad soccer has dropped because there was no replacement for such a talent like Latapy. "They are talking about bringing back Dwight Yorke from the UK to play in that crucial mid-field position. That makes little sense to me because Yorke is just not a mid-fielder...he's a goal-scorer," Welch said.
Meantime, Welch, longs for the day when he is given an opportunity, to introduce his "Error Free Soccer" at "El Do" and eventually see it move into local football.
"I guarantee that if I am given the chance, El Dorado will at least make into the final, if not win outright," he said.
17