Football Federation Australia has put forward the proposal to diminish the number of foreign players A-League clubs can register from five to four for the 2011-12 season.
FFA technical director Han Berger believes that if Australian football is to progress to the heights of our direct competitors like the J-League, then we need to give our locals the upmost chance of competing in the highest division of our domestic league.
Accordingly, is this a positive approach to reduce the amount of foreign spots available in the A-League?
Let’s review the scenario.
Some of you football fanatics may have a selective memory, although from seasons 1-4 of the A-League competition, the original rule stated that each A-League squad could sign up to four imported players.
The cap was put in place in order to encourage teams to promote the local sector of their geographical areas, with also the option of having imported stars like Dwight Yorke coming onto our shores. The formula worked well and was deemed an initial success.
As the saying goes, why play around with a formula that works well.
However, the FFA then decided that from season 5 (2009-10) the import quota would be expanded from four to five players.
There was really no merit to this decision. A considerable influx of failed imports had arrived onto our shores since the inception of the newly branded A-League. Some examples include Brian Deane (Perth Glory 2005/06), Leandro Love (Melbourne Victory 2007/08) and Mario Jardel (Newcastle Jets 2007/08).
We need to query why the FFA expanded the quantity of foreigner spots after a considerable amount of failed ventures throughout the early history of the competition? Only Ben Buckley and co can answer those questions.
Nevertheless, there can be many encouraging aspects to come out of this new development. With less foreigner spots available, it can only encourage clubs to promote the youth sector from their local state league competitions.
FFA technical director, Han Berger is a massive advocate of promoting Australian youth from the local competitions onto the main arena.
He believes that there are a minimum of 30 players available at the moment who have the potential to step up the heights of A-League. There is really no reason as to why this isn’t believable. Without question, the A-League is much more technical, faster paced and requires a higher level of fitness.
But who is to say local talent can’t step up to these requirements?
This season we have seen young players make the transition. Melbourne Heart defender Nick Kalmar is a perfect example. Nick was plying his trade in the Victorian Premier League representing Altona Magic and then Oakleigh Cannons during the 2010 season.
Ever since his first game against Central Coast Mariners on the opening night of the season, he has not looked back, making an exciting impression on his coach John Van’t Schip and the football public. This is what can happen when local talent is harnessed and given a fair go.
After all, that is the Aussie way isn’t it?
I am sure there are many other locals out there who just haven’t been given the opportunity yet.
The youth league is a great stepping stone for many of our young stars of tomorrow, however if we are able to take a leaf out of this good-feel story, then we must be able to take a chance on our local talent if we want Australian football to develop in a positive direction.
With the introduction of the International Marquee player this season, there can be many encouraging signs to come out of the import saga which seems to be on an endless merry-go-round. The new concept of a marquee addition can be seen as a positive step for the game in this country.
This is obviously a long-term plan which will hopefully encourage star players possibly towards the later stages of their careers to ply their trade in the A-League.
A perfect example is Robbie Fowler.
Fowler not only brings the big name status all the way back from the UK, he creates an avid interest amongst the league domestically and internationally, helps promote the game within Australia, has boosted attendances and probably the most important aspect of his stay in Australia has exhibited an exceptionally creditable standard of football which will only benefit the A-League in more than one way or another.
Robbie Fowler is the perfect example of what we want from our international marquee players. Although, some clubs are struggling financially at the moment, the option for this marquee status is one which can only have several advantages for a league still trying to cement their product on the Australian sporting calendar.
An idea which could be adventurous for the A-League committee is to have the option for the international marquee as the fifth visa spot. Therefore, the exception to the rule could be that each squad can sign one more imported player under the restriction that they are an international marquee.
Hence, there would be four foreigner sports, plus the international marquee. We don’t want players like Robbie Fowler being pushed away from our shores because clubs have already signed the allocated four import spots.
This option will give A-League clubs that little bit extra freedom, with still a concentration on the promotion of local talent from our several state leagues around the country.
This is a system which would satisfy both the FFA as well as the competing clubs, similar to a bargaining agreement. It gives the franchises that added incentive to compete with the best around Asia, while also attempting to produce the best local talent in their geographical regions.
Talent is just waiting to be snapped up; hopefully clubs wake up and look in their own backyard before travelling the globe for something they may already possess.
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