Poortvliet: Sport is all about winning and losing (From Daily Echo)

Poortvliet: Sport is all about winning and losing

7:00am Monday 30th June 2008 in

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SAINTS head coach Jan Poortvliet is surprised by the Football Association's decision to ban under-eights from playing competitive matches as of next season.

Poortvliet's homeland, the Netherlands, is renowned for producing high-quality young players, with Ajax's academy one of the most famous example in world football.

The 52-year-old was playing competitively from the age of six and was encouraged to do so.

He added the concepts of winning and losing, as well as chasing silverware, were important values for young players to learn.

"I saw it and I was a little bit surprised, because you have to play for a win and I think that is sport," he said.

"It is okay to say at the ages of six, seven and eight you start just to enjoy the game.

"But sports, for myself, is all about winning and losing and the earlier you start with that the better it is for you I think.

"When you do something, whatever you do, you want to win."

For full story see today's Daily Echo.