The draw for most of World Cup qualifiers in football was made
today. The Dominican Republic has to get past the might of
Anguilla ( Wot??? Where???? Who??? ) first. After that they've
got a very tricky draw vs Trinidad & Tobago.
What's the current state of Dominican football? Does it have a
functioning league system? The national team must recruit its
players from somewhere.. The universities?
Does the national team prefer to play zonal defence, or to man-
mark? Has this great nation fostered any players worth
mentioning?
In a way it is strange how football seems so poorly developed
on that island. I'm aware of the American influence with baseball
and to a lesser extent basketball... probably one of the saddest
examples of American imperialism in Latin America, but still. It is
strange for the simple reason that football is the game of the
poor, all it takes to play it is a ball of rolled-up paper. It is also
highly inclusive with any male being welcome to join..
I never saw much football down there, not even in the news,
and those I saw playing were mostly Haitians.. The Dominican
that came closest was the one that sat down on the middle of
the playing field on Boca Chica beach, telling us all how
the beach was free for everyone ( though we were the only
ones there.... ). It never ceases to amaze me how hard I can
actually shoot when focused, and how well I can hit a target.....
today. The Dominican Republic has to get past the might of
Anguilla ( Wot??? Where???? Who??? ) first. After that they've
got a very tricky draw vs Trinidad & Tobago.
What's the current state of Dominican football? Does it have a
functioning league system? The national team must recruit its
players from somewhere.. The universities?
Does the national team prefer to play zonal defence, or to man-
mark? Has this great nation fostered any players worth
mentioning?
In a way it is strange how football seems so poorly developed
on that island. I'm aware of the American influence with baseball
and to a lesser extent basketball... probably one of the saddest
examples of American imperialism in Latin America, but still. It is
strange for the simple reason that football is the game of the
poor, all it takes to play it is a ball of rolled-up paper. It is also
highly inclusive with any male being welcome to join..
I never saw much football down there, not even in the news,
and those I saw playing were mostly Haitians.. The Dominican
that came closest was the one that sat down on the middle of
the playing field on Boca Chica beach, telling us all how
the beach was free for everyone ( though we were the only
ones there.... ). It never ceases to amaze me how hard I can
actually shoot when focused, and how well I can hit a target.....