by Andrew Rogers

After the United States Under-17 Men’s National Team’s inconsistent showing in South Korea, USSF President Sunil Gulati turned to Wilmer Cabrera to strengthen the performance of the Bradenton Residency Program. 

The former Colombian international took part in 2 World Cups while earning 48 caps, and gained considerable international playing experience at youth level. USSF’s strategy was to add first hand expertise to the high level of coaching within the U-17 set up.

Cabrera’s impact was instantaneous as the side recorded their first win over Brazil in 6 years. Subsequent results have fluctuated, but Cabrera exuding calm authority at his Bradenton office, explained he is not surprised by the oscillation of his side’s fortunes.

“When I came to America there were many challenges for me, I have learned the language, gained experience and understanding of U.S Soccer at grass roots level, youth level, in the communities and know what it is like for ambitious and established pros in USL and MLS, it’s a massive honour and major responsibility.

“When I was offered this opportunity, I had made sure I was thoroughly prepared. I know the US player is capable of great things and beating the best in the world as we have done, but this is a learning process, a unique soccer environment.”

Using the principals that made Colombia one of the most feared and respected sides in the 90’s, Cabrera has sought the U.S.’s best technical players, with the expectation they will produce good returns should they progress to the highest level.

Cabrera took the field with the likes of Faustino Asprilla, David Beckham, and Michael Owen, and is well versed in the attributes required to make it, he feels his charges have the requisite skill but do need to be polished, he added:

“I knew I would find some players of very high quality, technically they are very good and we have to polish them. They do not necessarily have the tactical base, and the competitive environment is new for them.

“They compete in club tournaments but this is not the same as competing internationally it’s a tough process to adjust to. My side does not know the international scene yet, they know they were good at a local club, and were used to having fun, we have to educate them in this new discipline.

“It helps that I have gone through an international youth program myself, so I understand what they are experiencing: the frustration, the laughs, the loneliness, and we can tailor the program accordingly.”

The U-17’s started 2008 with a series of fixtures against U-18 MLS academies, and collegiate sides in preparation for the team’s tour of France in March. Cabrera observed:

“I was satisfied with our early performances domestically, but it was not good enough, so we have to find a balance to be become internationals, and learn the speed and tactics of the game at the highest level.”

In France the U.S took the notable scalp of England and narrowly lost out to Germany. Cabrera felt the performances neatly summarized U.S soccer at youth level:

“We came up against players the come from a tradition of practicing all their lives, and we had to adapt to that. We are proud to represent the U.S at the highest level and know what it means to play for the United States.

“It was good to get the exposure in France, the Germany game was positive but we lost, Against Japan (1-3 loss) it was a bad game we got exposed, but we got a good reaction against England who won the tournament and China.”

The impact of the international outing was keenly felt by the various academies and MLS club, the U-17’s posted a sequence of 4 wins and 2 draws in preparation for their 2 fortnight tours of South and Central America.  

The campaigns produced a record of 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses. Highlights included wins against Uruguay and Chile, but Cabrera felt his side was behind the curve against Argentina getting beaten heavily in Rosario, he said:

“There is a difference between the top teams and the middle teams, the kids from those countries practice at a high level at their own clubs every day. We beat the middle teams but when we face the top sides we still feel slightly behind, I think it’s a mental thing, and about capacity and desire to win these games.”

Current MNT assistant coach John Hackworth, has previously commented in this column that the residency program is something of a “vacuum.” The challenge is to compensate for the lack of competitive environment and intensity.

This is tough because a player can be coached through the fundamentals, but if they are not fossilized through intense competition at the highest level, the lessons take a lot longer to learn, and in some case re-learn.

In Europe children aspire to play in World Cups, and the best play in academy systems on a full time basis in a competitive league style program week in week out. The scholars become hardened to the realities of the game, and the stresses and strains of high level competition.

The Residency Program has long stretches without competitive international fixtures, and these are on a friendly basis, it will not be until next year’s World Cup in Nigeria where the experience will be white hot.

This point was emphatically realized against Brazil early this month. “I was pleased with the 2nd performance,” Cabrera said. “The Brazilians were asking for the game to be finished at the end, but in the first game we gave away the ball and that will hurt you at this level.

“The way we came back showed a lot of character but it highlighted the players have to experience themselves to understand. 2009 will be crucial, everything will start coming together, we will work on our weaknesses and work towards qualifying for the World Cup.”