2026-10-17, 02:41 AM - Word count:
This past week has been very busy, as the various organisations within the SSL prepare for the prospect draft. This concept of a draft is new to me, we do not have such things in Burkina Faso, nor did I see them in France. Though when I have learned more about them, I think maybe we should. The way it was explained to me is that the weakest teams get to choose first from all the newest prospects in the academy (including me, this time). They do it this way so that the talent is distributed more evenly, and the strongest teams do not become so strong that they cannot be overtaken.
This way of thinking is much fairer than what I have experienced in football so far. The stronger teams win more, which means they have more money. Teams with more money can sign the best players. Those teams then win even more, and get even more money. It is a kind of sickness in football, in some ways. The kind of thing Captain Sankara probably would not have liked very much. Of course, success should be rewarded, but what glory is there in victory when no others can truly compete? The draft provides a feeling of balance, I think, and feels very fair.
Before the draft, academy players do not know who will select them, and so I do not know where my next club will be located. But what I do know is that I will do everything I can to help my new team compete for trophies. Even if it means we must have a later pick in the next draft. Because this way, I know our opponents have also had the opportunity to strengthen, and the victory will be sweeter.
This way of thinking is much fairer than what I have experienced in football so far. The stronger teams win more, which means they have more money. Teams with more money can sign the best players. Those teams then win even more, and get even more money. It is a kind of sickness in football, in some ways. The kind of thing Captain Sankara probably would not have liked very much. Of course, success should be rewarded, but what glory is there in victory when no others can truly compete? The draft provides a feeling of balance, I think, and feels very fair.
Before the draft, academy players do not know who will select them, and so I do not know where my next club will be located. But what I do know is that I will do everything I can to help my new team compete for trophies. Even if it means we must have a later pick in the next draft. Because this way, I know our opponents have also had the opportunity to strengthen, and the victory will be sweeter.
