IF FOOTBALL didn't already have enough problems to deal with, high-riding PHC this week made sure there was another one which was always going to spark more controversy.

The club versus country debate isn't new to Bermuda.

But there was something entirely different about the request by assistant coach Jack Castle, backed by the club's head coach Kyle Lightbourne and skipper Omar Shakir, to excuse all Zebras' players - all five of them - from national squad training for the next week.

It's understandable that all three, and the rest of those involved in the club, that having already won the Martonmere Cup, they're excited about the possibility of also winning the League title, FA Cup and Friendship Trophy to complete a historic quadruple crown.

But what's difficult to understand is that the request came from first Castle, who until a couple of weeks' ago was assistant coach to the national team before being fired, and was supported by Lightbourne, who only a few months ago was the national team's head coach.

If the shoe was on the other foot, would they have contemplated making the same request? Probably not.

No doubt, as they're both anxious to point out, the players are suffering from fatigue. With PHC involved in so many competitions, that's understandable.

Professionals these days are used to coping with a heavy schedule, but it's a different story for amateurs who have to combine work, family commitments and training sessions along with sometimes two matches a week.

Yet no matter what the argument, and even if the players were to miss just a week of national team training, it's the principle of the decision which can't be ignored. If Bermuda Football Association were to bow to PHC's demands, a precedent would be set which would allow other clubs to follow suit in years to come.

The club versus country dilemma is one that confronts clubs all around the globe.

Here in Bermuda we see it all too often. It's a problem which Lightbourne himself and his good friend Shaun Goater had to deal with while both were playing professionally in England, making decisions which weren't always beneficial to Bermuda.

We see it also in cricket. How many top players have said publicly that they consider Cup Match far more important than playing on the international stage?

While Bermuda Football Association have refused to comment on PHC's request this week (no surprise there!), there would appear to be a simple solution.

Rather than failing to attend national squad training, wouldn't it be better if the PHC players simply skipped club training for a week.

They'd get the rest they need, the BFA and the national team coaches would be happy, and they'd retain their fitness by working with players who, theoretically, are more skilful than those at club level.

Problem solved!

* * *

WHEN Glenn Jones returned from abroad to join The Royal Gazette's editorial staff, he appeared to be a very capable journalist.

He was an enthusiatic, gregarious and affable character (and I'm sure he still is).

But it wasn't too long, no doubt with dollar signs flashing before him, he departed to take on the post of Premier Ewart Brown's press secretary.

And all of a sudden he learned a different language, which nobody but he and the Premier seem to understand.

Asked this week by this newspaper whether the meeting planned between Brown and Saleem Mukkudem to discuss the current cricket crisis had been held, and if not why not, and whether such a meeting was still going to go ahead, he said: "No meeting with Saleem Mukuddem is currently planned. No meeting with Saleem Mukuddem has happened."

Straight answer please, Glenn. Preferably one we can all comprehend.

Either the two parties are going to meet, or they're not. And if not, why not? And we know a meeting was planned because we got that information from "the horse's mouth."

It was a simple question, begging a simple answer.

From someone who once embarked on a career in journalism, he should know more than anyone that such drivel is simply deceiving the sporting public, the same public who pay his wages.

And what those who follow cricket want to know is why the meeting still hasn't taken place.

In a lengthy article in this newspaper, Mukuddem, who proved to be one of the most talented and committed players during Bermuda's journey towards and during a historic first appearance in last year's World Cup, provided plenty of constructive criticism on what's wrong with the sport.

Having given Bermuda Cricket Board $11 million towards further development, the Premier would surely be interested in what more he's got to say.

Unfortunately, those around him and within the BCB seem to be afraid he might be furnished with details he'd rather not hear.

* * *

AS readers will see from the story above, all-rounder Chris Douglas is being sent home from the Under-19s World Cup for diciplinary reasons, the second time he's suffered such punishment.

But what for?

Who knows?

Bermuda Cricket Board issued a press statement yesterday confirming what we already knew . . . but failed to divulge exactly what it was the player did wrong.

Why the secrecy?

And the BCB wonder why they are continually criticised.

* * *

THERE were rumours this week that when the Under-19s national cricket team arrive home next week, they'll be greeted by an official Government reception at the airport.

They only won one match for goodness sake!

What would have happened if they'd won two? Would Government have declared a national holiday?

* * *

IF ANY national team deserves praise, it's that bunch of losers who took some terrible whippings at the Women's World Cup.

But to their enormous credit, after a horrible beating in their opening match against South Africa who needed just four balls to polish off Bermuda's paltry total of 13 (of which 10 were extras), they refused to throw in the towel.

Indeed, in every game that followed they continued to improve, posting a very respectable 112 against Zimbabwe.

Isn't that the fighting spirit which everybody in Bermuda would like to see demonstrated by the men's team?

- ADRIAN ROBSON