Sports is serious business

THE EDITOR: TT's participation in the recently concluded Concacaf Gold Cup shows poor performances, with a 0-2 loss to Panama; a one-all draw with Guyana; and a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of the USA, to which the response of our coach was that he believes he still has something left in his tank.

It reminded me of a gas advertisement we had in the 60s about some "tiger in yuh tank!" Other commentators remarked that the players must take some responsibility for this disastrous performance. I always thought that the position of the coach on whether he goes or stays was the call of those who hired him!

On the other side of the world, Egypt, which is hosting the African Cup of Nations, was knocked out following a "humiliating defeat" (as described by Egyptian newspapers and commentators) against South Africa in the round of 16, by a 1-0 margin.

The Egyptian national team manager Javier Aguirre was sacked and most of Egypt's FA board members have announced their resignations Heaven alone knows what might have happened if Egypt was given a 6-0 drubbing! See why some say sports is serious business in serious countries?

Laurence Percival via e-mail