Ringgold coach, a Trinidad and Tobago native, says time right for U.S. soccer changes

When the United States lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup soccer qualifying match Tuesday, it sent shockwaves through the soccer community in America.
The United States will not be represented in a World Cup for the first time since 1986, instead watching from home as the tournament plays out in Russia in 2018.
For one area man, his view is a little different than most American soccer fans.
Ringgold High School boys soccer coach Steve Persaud is a native of Arima, Trinidad and Tobago.
“I watched the replay because our team had a match (Tuesday),” he said. “I had mixed emotions because I grew up in what is considered the golden age of football there.
“For the kind of players (Trinidad and Tobago) have, I would think the U.S. would win every time because of the work ethic and discipline is better here.
“I was actually shocked by the score.”
Persaud played at the youth club level in Trinidad until he moved to the United States in 1989. He eventually played at The Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.
“The club levels were different there from how they are organized here,” he said. “Every community had two or three teams that played in different leagues.”
The U.S. loss, coupled with wins by both Panama and Honduras, leaves the American team fifth in the qualifying group, outside of the automatic and playoff spots for the top-four finishers.
Persaud talked about what is hurting soccer in the United States.
“How the players are selected has to be revamped and U.S. Soccer needs to invest in the local community teams,” he said. “Soccer is a grass-roots sport and development takes place at that level.
“Right now, you have parents coaching their kids so their kids can all play striker and score goals, but the players aren’t learning the game.”
Persaud gave an example of how it works in local soccer.
“If you look at Western Pa., if you don’t play Cup and ODP (Olympic Development Program), which is analogous to AAU basketball, it is very hard to be seen,” he said. “And if you can’t afford (to play Cup and ODP), no one will know who you are.
“It is a pay-to-play system and is becoming a sport for the elite, unfortunately.”
With the American team being on the outside looking in at the 2018 World Cup, maybe now is the time to revamp the soccer system.
And Persaud would be at the front line of proponents for change.
“Something has to happen,” he said. “And the sooner, the better.”