Robbie Slater: New boss James Johnson must get the game back on the right course
We have lost our way and we need to right the ship. The kids — from grassroots, talented ones and ones trying to make a career — must never be forgotten again, writes Robbie Slater.
Football
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The past 15 years have been an unprecedented era in Australian football.
The game has enjoyed more exposure, had more sponsors and a broadcasting deal that has pumped in more than half a billion dollars over that period.
We have made the past four World Cups, we have hosted and won an amazing Asian Cup, the Matildas have become one of Australia’s favourite teams and we have a professional league that is a bit of rollercoaster but it’s there and strong, despite what some people might say.
Stream over 50 sports on-demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
So everything must be great, right? Wrong.
On the football side, let’s start from the qualification for the 2006 World Cup, when we threw the keys to the Dutch and other foreigners in technical director and coaching roles. A long list of them came here and changed the way we played at junior and youth level.
When Football Federation Australia chief executive James Johnson appoints a new technical director, he needs to address the situation as to why the Skill Acquisition Program (SAP), which has been in place for more than a decade, has produced barely any players of class who can go and play in the top leagues in the world, let alone our own A-League.
I’ve said for years it is disgraceful that parents have to pay thousands of dollars to put their child into rep football.
In the past four World Cups the Socceroos have been paid tens of millions of dollars and have been one of the highest-paid national teams at each. We have won two games in those four World Cups and haven’t won a game in the past two tournaments.
During this Socceroos cash frenzy, the young national teams were left to rot. Coaches of these teams had no chance because they had no preparation with no money for them. This meant rarely qualifying for major tournaments.
The National Youth League is not a competition, it’s a tournament — eight games. Is that the best we can do?
The money from the FIFA World Cups was for the whole of the game. A lot of the Socceroos at those tournaments were already successful and the national team is not supposed to be a cash cow.
Some of that money might have been used to find a home for the game.
The FFA rents for a ludicrous amount on the 22nd floor in the city, and the administration doesn’t get off here, overpaying so-called experts and paying salaries way above its means. All this while the Socceroos and Matildas have no home. Unbelievable.
As I have sat in lockdown all these weeks and looking back over the past 15 years, one phrase keeps popping up in my mind — where did it all go? We have lost our way. The kids — from grassroots, the talented ones and the ones who are trying to make a career in our game — must never be forgotten again.
So where to now? I believe Johnson is the man who could be the game changer moving forward. He has unified the game, he is now the voice. With the states and the clubs behind him, this is our chance to reset.
MORE FOOTBALL
PLAY ON: A-LEAGUE ‘EYES RETURN IN THREE MONTHS’
VIRUS FEARS: ‘WE’RE AFRAID TO RETURN TO PLAYING FIELD’
ROBBIE SLATER: NEW CHIEF MISSES FROM THE SPOT