Latapy tells national prospects ‘get in shape’

More players are showing a great interest in representing the Barbados senior national men’s team and while head coach Russell Latapy is delighted, he wants those that have a desire to play to focus more on their fitness.

During a virtual press conference this morning via Zoom, Latapy urged the players to help give themselves a chance of gaining selection by showing up to training in top physical shape. Especially at a time when there is no premier league, Latapy said the onus is on the players to remain fit.

“I think what we have noticed in the past is that players come to train with the national team and they expect us to get them fit on the national team. I think I want to change that idea around a little bit in the players mind. So, if they can understand how we play, then they can be better prepared when they come. I want to say that the physical fitness of the players, that is their responsibility.

“I think when players come to the national team they have to be ready for us to select them to play straight away. Not come to the national team for us to get you fit for you to play on the national team. You have to come physically fit, healthy and ready and then what we do is prepare you tactically for how the team want to play. So, we teach you our structure, our philosophy, how we get the ball and so forth. How we want to utilise spaces, this is our job to teach you this but you have to come with your fitness,” the national head coach said.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, the Little Magician as Latapy is often referred to, explained that there was no excuse for players not to be on the road or at the beach doing their own individual training.

“I know that we have the pandemic going on but it doesn’t say to players that they can’t get out there on the road and get training or go down by the beach or whichever way they choose. So, they can maintain their physical fitness and then once they come to the national team physically fit, then we can fine tune them in terms of what is required and how we play.

“Not coming to the national team thinking that it is the coaches and staff responsibility to get you fit. What we do is fine tune you so I just wanted to make this is clear because in the past we have had players who have come to have a look at the national team but they were coming unprepared. So, this is my way of saying to the players we want to see everybody, we want to give everybody a chance to represent their country but we also want to say give yourself a chance by coming and being prepared to represent your country,” Latapy stated.

“One of the things that we always say to the players is that we know that we always have a chance playing against anybody if we don’t get out worked and if we don’t get outfought. The only way we cannot get outfought is if we are fit,” he added.

Latapy said he wanted to see what was being done at the national level passed down to the clubs. He stated that this could be beneficial in terms of producing quality players.

“It is really good that we can have coaches from the clubs who are seeing what we are doing on the national team and it gives them an idea of how we are working and how better to prepare their players to represent the country at national level,” Latapy stressed.   

As many local football enthusiasts anxiously await the return of the premiership, BFA President Randy Harris said it must be managed properly when that time comes even if it means clubs are only allowed to train for the time being.

“This preparation must be managed properly and there are a number of things that must be in place in order for anyone to resume training. Basically you must have an entrance gate and an exit gate and basically with most of our grounds we don’t have a fence. There is no fence, there is no gate. So basically clubs will have to get permission from the protocol unit and once they can satisfy the unit I believe that training can resume.

“We were told at a meeting of the national associations of Barbados that the reason why they said training can resume was mainly intended for the national teams of cricket and football. That is why the other games were not allowed to resume,” Harris said.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb