MARGAO
The Stars and Stripes only recently missed the 2018 FIFA World Cup spot after being eliminated in continental qualifying thereby ending the streak of consecutive World Cups at seven. Putting that in perspective, the hopes and solace to the sport was pinned on their Colts team that is participating in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Acknowledging that the absence of USA from the senior World Cup is tough news to digest, John Hackworth has taken the actuality on the chin. Adding to that is the responsibility with the U-17 side at the ongoing World Cup, given to the fact he took charge in the aftermath of their disappointing performance last time in Chile 2015 where they failed to go beyond the group stages, for the first time
since 2001.
Post their first training session on Wednesday in Benaulim ahead of their quarter-final encounter against England on Saturday, Hackworth agreed that the failing of USA senior team to the World Cup in Russia next year serves as an extra incentive for his boys to perform. "There is more responsibility now. That is the best way to put it at the moment. The team is playing for something very important and that is giving our country hope," the head coach told The Goan.
Formerly a head coach at MLS side Philadelphia Union, Hackworth dismissed the thought that MLS despite attracting international stars in their twilight years is pretty competitive with American football future used as a benchmark.
"If you look at our league it always looks better. I think the number of teams that would take a guy who is planning on going there and to retire with the MLS is getting lesser. It is a hard league. Like any growth, the MLS are in its early phases. The league is good. It is attracting a lot of young talented players. There is a shift which is very good for the growth of our League," he stated.
With a lot of talk over club over country in the ongoing World Cup, whereby an England squad player had to commit himself up to the Group stages of the big ticket event, Hackworth found the situation unwarranted for.
"My opinion is very biased. I am a national team coach. I always felt that this (pointing to the USA team insignia on his jersey) is the ultimate thing you can play. I do not get it why would someone take that away, especially for a young player (referring to Jadon Sancho who left his team in India for Borussia Dortmund)," the USA gaffer felt.
On another player, an integral member of his squad, he revealed that Tim Weah was as focused on the objective at hand despite a lot of talk that may surround his father contesting for Presidential elections in his native country (Liberia).
"Tim does not even think of that. This is Tim's life. He has wanted to be in a World Cup since the time I met him he was 14-years-old. It is always what we talked about. It is not even a problem to be honest. They are a real close family. Tim is very supportive of his father and his father is very supportive of him. It just works," Hackworth offered an explanation.
USA incidentally was here in May last year to participate in an AIFF Youth Cup (U-15) five-nation invitational tournament wherein they were runners-up to South Korea, in a tournament played at Tilak Maidan, Vasco. While he revealed that a majority of the squad from that point of time is retained, there have been a few obvious changes.
"There are a couple of young guys who are in Goa for the first time. They are asking questions because we told them a lot of stories (of Goa) when we went back last time. But the team for the most part have kept its core," the USA Colts coach revealed.
