Post by Jesus on Nov 12, 2007 11:37:50 GMT 10
From TWG.
Would love to see better facilities, perhaps the FFA is going to do some pitching for special government grants on facilities. There is definately a short fall of facilities from the ground up.
Baan's pitch for better facilities - EXCLUSIVE - Philip Micallef
Photo Getty
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Australia will never become a football country unless it improves its sub-standard sporting facilities, warns FFA technical director Rob Baan.
:: VIDEO - Olyroos preparations
:: Les Murray - Our pioneer Olyroos
:: Half-Time Orange - If Advocaat pulls out, what now for the Socceroos?
A successful A-League and youth policy won’t make Australia a real football power because the bottom line is that facilities are not up to scratch.
"Our facilities are very poor," Baan declared.
"We have parks that we can use for only half a season because after that you have to stop because cricket and rugby take over."
"That is the major problem facing Australian football because we are talking here of a season of half a year. In Europe they play 11 months a year."
"If we don’t change this situation we will never be able to compete with the big football nations."
"We should create typical soccer stadiums and typical soccer training grounds."
"In Sydney, for example, there is one artificial field yet back home in Holland if you go to a small amateur club near Rotterdam you will find six artificial fields for 1100 members."
"And, remember, Australia is 200 times bigger in size than Holland. Yet over there you will find 200 times more fields than there are here."
Baan, who came to Australia in December 2006, won't get frustrated by the lack of an adequate infrastructure and says he is thrilled with his latest coaching assignment that will end in January 2009.
His areas of responsibility are the national teams, the A-League, youth development, talent identification and international contacts on a technical level.
A former technical director at Eredivisie giant Feyenoord, Baan has been around long enough to realise that the lack of facilities is the major stumbling block to the game’s progress.
"The FFA is reviewing this problem but unfortunately it is not rich enough to do much about it so we have to go to governments,” Baan explained.
"There is an enormous growth in the number of small boys and girls playing small-sided games. And governments should be wise enough to acknowledge the value of providing facilities for kids and keeping them off the streets and out of trouble."
"In Europe we are now coming to terms with the fact that we did not do enough to protect our children from the violence and criminality that are a way of life in our big cities."
Game’s progress
Baan is clearly unequivocal about his views but he also is excited about the way football in Australia is progressing.
"The game has taken many steps forward with the A-League," he said. "But now we must look at the future to fill the gap between the league and youth development."
"I am very happy that we are trying to implement a national youth league and if that works as well as we all hope, our best young talents would be able to stay in Australia a bit longer before seeking a career abroad."
Olyroos
This is a big week for Australian football. The Olyroos face Iraq in a must-win Olympic Games qualifier in Gosford on Saturday evening and a few hours later in London the senior team under the guidance of interim coach Baan meets Nigeria in a friendly in London.
"I am very positive about these Olyroos," said Baan, who led the team in its first stage of qualifying before handing over the reins to Graham Arnold.
"When I started in January nearly 70 per cent of the players in the squad were not having match experience. Many players, among them Kristian Sarkies and Leigh Broxham, did not have contracts."
"But now the boys have become important players because they are playing regularly with their clubs and making a lot of progress."
"It’s a win-win situation. In January those same players could not play 90 minutes because they did not have enough game time with their clubs."
Generation next
Baan confidently expects the current Olyroos players to be the next generation of Socceroos.
"If you look beyond Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka there are not many top stars coming through so we have to be very careful how we groom our young players because we do not have the numbers," he said.
"Hopefully the Olyroos will qualify for Beijing and actually go on to become the new Socceroos because we do not have too much depth."
Multicultural Australia
Baan believes multicultural Australia can provide a platform for a brand of special footballer.
"I think the cultural mix makes Australia strong and special," he said.
"In the 1950s we had immigrants from Italy, Greece, Scotland, England and Croatia and at the moment we have a significant Asian influence."
"In the national team you have Kewell and Viduka who play in distinctly different styles that illustrate their backgrounds."
"This aspect comes across also in the Olympic team."
Baan believes Australia’s football fraternity should be patient with the Olyroos team and not heap too much pressure on any lad who shows special promise.
His message to Australia is loud and clear: Keep up the good work...but make sure you fix the facilities problem.
Last modified: 12 November 2007 08:54:41
Would love to see better facilities, perhaps the FFA is going to do some pitching for special government grants on facilities. There is definately a short fall of facilities from the ground up.
Baan's pitch for better facilities - EXCLUSIVE - Philip Micallef
Photo Getty
The World Game Tipping Comp
Test yourself against the best. Join The World Game tipping competition now. Click here and start tipping
Related Stories
>>Benitez cautious over Kewell 11 November 2007
>>Young Socceroos thrash Guam 11 November 2007
>>Olyroos near full strength 9 November 2007
>>Australia to join annual comp? 6 November 2007
Australia will never become a football country unless it improves its sub-standard sporting facilities, warns FFA technical director Rob Baan.
:: VIDEO - Olyroos preparations
:: Les Murray - Our pioneer Olyroos
:: Half-Time Orange - If Advocaat pulls out, what now for the Socceroos?
A successful A-League and youth policy won’t make Australia a real football power because the bottom line is that facilities are not up to scratch.
"Our facilities are very poor," Baan declared.
"We have parks that we can use for only half a season because after that you have to stop because cricket and rugby take over."
"That is the major problem facing Australian football because we are talking here of a season of half a year. In Europe they play 11 months a year."
"If we don’t change this situation we will never be able to compete with the big football nations."
"We should create typical soccer stadiums and typical soccer training grounds."
"In Sydney, for example, there is one artificial field yet back home in Holland if you go to a small amateur club near Rotterdam you will find six artificial fields for 1100 members."
"And, remember, Australia is 200 times bigger in size than Holland. Yet over there you will find 200 times more fields than there are here."
Baan, who came to Australia in December 2006, won't get frustrated by the lack of an adequate infrastructure and says he is thrilled with his latest coaching assignment that will end in January 2009.
His areas of responsibility are the national teams, the A-League, youth development, talent identification and international contacts on a technical level.
A former technical director at Eredivisie giant Feyenoord, Baan has been around long enough to realise that the lack of facilities is the major stumbling block to the game’s progress.
"The FFA is reviewing this problem but unfortunately it is not rich enough to do much about it so we have to go to governments,” Baan explained.
"There is an enormous growth in the number of small boys and girls playing small-sided games. And governments should be wise enough to acknowledge the value of providing facilities for kids and keeping them off the streets and out of trouble."
"In Europe we are now coming to terms with the fact that we did not do enough to protect our children from the violence and criminality that are a way of life in our big cities."
Game’s progress
Baan is clearly unequivocal about his views but he also is excited about the way football in Australia is progressing.
"The game has taken many steps forward with the A-League," he said. "But now we must look at the future to fill the gap between the league and youth development."
"I am very happy that we are trying to implement a national youth league and if that works as well as we all hope, our best young talents would be able to stay in Australia a bit longer before seeking a career abroad."
Olyroos
This is a big week for Australian football. The Olyroos face Iraq in a must-win Olympic Games qualifier in Gosford on Saturday evening and a few hours later in London the senior team under the guidance of interim coach Baan meets Nigeria in a friendly in London.
"I am very positive about these Olyroos," said Baan, who led the team in its first stage of qualifying before handing over the reins to Graham Arnold.
"When I started in January nearly 70 per cent of the players in the squad were not having match experience. Many players, among them Kristian Sarkies and Leigh Broxham, did not have contracts."
"But now the boys have become important players because they are playing regularly with their clubs and making a lot of progress."
"It’s a win-win situation. In January those same players could not play 90 minutes because they did not have enough game time with their clubs."
Generation next
Baan confidently expects the current Olyroos players to be the next generation of Socceroos.
"If you look beyond Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka there are not many top stars coming through so we have to be very careful how we groom our young players because we do not have the numbers," he said.
"Hopefully the Olyroos will qualify for Beijing and actually go on to become the new Socceroos because we do not have too much depth."
Multicultural Australia
Baan believes multicultural Australia can provide a platform for a brand of special footballer.
"I think the cultural mix makes Australia strong and special," he said.
"In the 1950s we had immigrants from Italy, Greece, Scotland, England and Croatia and at the moment we have a significant Asian influence."
"In the national team you have Kewell and Viduka who play in distinctly different styles that illustrate their backgrounds."
"This aspect comes across also in the Olympic team."
Baan believes Australia’s football fraternity should be patient with the Olyroos team and not heap too much pressure on any lad who shows special promise.
His message to Australia is loud and clear: Keep up the good work...but make sure you fix the facilities problem.
Last modified: 12 November 2007 08:54:41