Dear Editor,

Allow me some space in your well-read newspaper to comment on the article written by Mr. Barendsen in the Wednesday, March 3, 2010 edition of this newspaper titled "St. Maarten soccer."

First of all, I do respect Mr. Barendsen's viewpoint. I do, however, hope that he will respect mine.

After reading his article, I came to the conclusion that no matter what is heard about "the godfather of youth soccer" in St. Maarten, Mr. Barendsen will still find excuses and reasons to defend him. The example that he gave in this article about his boss, Mr. Hoekstra, is a good example of the kind of persons he is dealing with and defending in his articles. Isn't it a wonderful world Mr. Barendsen, where a person can be extremely critical of another person based on what another person says about that person? With all the respect I have for Mr. Barendsen and always will, I wish to ask him if he had ever spoken to Mr. Forsythe. Does he know the gentleman? Does he know this person's back ground, education, character and personality?

Before going to the newspaper and writing about a person, based on hearsay, I believe (and this is my suggestion to him) that he should call Mr. Forsythe, sit and talk to him, and find out his point of view. I know for a fact that I have never stopped speaking to Nickie. I still speak to him when necessary. He does not. Why? I know why - (you will read that in my next article).

I also know that Mr. Forsythe was not the one who had stopped speaking to Nickie or Jean Pierre Romou. Find out the truth from Mr. Nickie about why he and Mr. Forsythe do not speak but before asking him to tell and let him confirm it. Sit down relax and read what had taken place. Mr. Nickie had stopped speaking to Mr. Forsythe because Mr. Forsythe had decided to join the SMSA. According to Mr.Nickie, (his godfather of youth soccer in St. Maarten), Mr. Forsythe joined Mr.Romou. That is how Nickie sees things. His words were always "I don't have anything to do with that man" (Romou). Mr. Forsythe had worked with Mr. Romou for the love of football.

He stopped speaking to me because Stars Search Foundation, in a meeting we held in October 13, 2004, we (board) had decided to join the SMSA. Oh, and by the way, I just remember that you were one the founders of Stars Search Foundation from (1994 – 2006), before merging with SMSEF. As a result, Mr. Barendsen started out with writing about soccer falling under the island's soccer association to personal attacks. What is really his goal and objective?

Mr. Barendsen was once considered the best goalkeeper I have seen in the Antilles. Why doesn't he dedicate his time training youngsters to goal-keep instead of wasting his time listening to mischievous persons who live in darkness?

My next point to Mr. Barendsen concerns the children, ages 4 -12 who do not play or train on real-size field, 11 against 11 as it is called. I think he should know better than that. Johan Cruyff, the absolutely most talented Dutch player, even trained and played on fields of that size the primary school competition is being played on. Who is anyone to question the quality of the training facility for children of that age group? The key to the size and numbers is called time on task and repetition. Is Mr. Barendsen aware of the Dutch 4 vs 4 system?

The way that Mr. Barendsen is going about making peace does not work. Making peace is listening to both sides of a story and coming to a conclusion. A good leader gets his/her people together. A leader, who does not know how to manage and get things working the right way, does not deserve to be a leader. The reference to what Mr. Hoekstra explained to Mr. Barendsen was not to show that he was incapable of performing his duties. It was just that he wanted to see results and results were taking to long to be seen.

Last but not least, let me say to Mr. Barendsen that everything that is seen is not real.

Bernard Marks