Hello Ton,
I trust you are well, and thank you for sharing your email address.
Before I begin, I want to stress that this is a friendly email with no intention of criticism. However, it’s essential that I understand exactly what is happening and who is responsible for certain decisions.
My first question is: Who is currently the coach or manager of the Badgs ? Is it you, Stiff, or Casperle?
On Monday, during the friendly match, the situation was very confusing.
Literally one minute after the game started, Jahnie scored a goal, and the team looked strong. The opposing team then equalized, and Casperle decided to pull Jahnie off.
Using all the logic and common sense I could muster, I still cannot understand why the team’s top-scoring striker was substituted after just 10 minutes of play, especially during the first half, while the opponents continued scoring. Jahnie was only put back in during the second half and managed to pull back a couple of goals, but by then, it was too late.
My concern isn’t just that he was pulled off—it’s the fact that during most of the game, Casperle seemed more interested in practicing his kick-ups and facing away from the pitch rather than orchestrating the match or guiding the boys, as you or Steve would do. While Steve tried his best, his influence was limited as he was acting as the referee.
I fully understand and appreciate that everyone must have equal playtime, but Casperle’s decisions completely disrupted the game, which affected the entire team. In this case, it wasn’t fair to anyone.
Additionally, I’ve noticed that whenever Casperle is in charge, Jahnie is either pulled off early or not played at all. For example, during the tournament against Enfield Town, Jahnie helped the team reach the final by scoring five goals, yet in the final, Casperle didn’t give him even a minute of playtime.
I’ve tried to understand the reasoning behind this. I asked Jahnie if he had been rude or disrespectful to Casperle, but he denied it. Therefore, I kindly ask you to speak with Casperle and hear his side of the story. If there is a personal issue between them, we need to address it. If Jahnie is lying and has behaved inappropriately, there will be severe consequences, and he will apologize to Casperle immediately.
Second Point: Progress Plan for Jahnie
I would like to request a progress plan for Jahnie, outlining clear goals he needs to achieve within a given time frame. We are happy to work on this, as there is little to no challenge left for him in the Blacks.
Playing in the third league with a B team is not aligned with our goals. While I fully appreciate your philosophy that the focus is on developing the best 18-year-olds rather than the best 9- or 12-year-olds, our plans are different. We aim for Jahnie to be signed—or at least pre-signed—by a professional club before he finishes primary school.
To achieve this, he needs to play in the top team, face constant challenges, and gain full exposure. A progress plan would be crucial to help him work towards regular trials, tournaments, and friendlies with the Ambers, so we can evaluate whether he has the quality to play in the first league with the first team. If he doesn’t meet the plan’s targets, there’s no issue—he’ll remain where he is.
I respect your view on Entiel Rovers. However, he plays for their top U10 team in the second league of the Watford League, where he is also the top scorer.
I understand there’s no space available in the Ambers and that players cannot be swapped mid-season, but I believe he could be used as a trailist in friendlies and tournaments without breaking FA regulations. Since joining, he’s had only five minutes with the Ambers, during which he managed to score a goal.
While I have no intention of interfering with coaching decisions, I believe that top players from the reserves should be given opportunities to measure themselves against the top boys.
Jahnie has sacrificed everything for football—karate, ballroom dancing, music—and trains five times a week with three different clubs, playing three matches weekly. He’s also been chosen to play for his school’s team, competing with Year 5 and Year 6 boys.
This is a significant sacrifice for us as parents as well. Neither his mother nor I were given the chance to pursue our passions growing up, and we want to do things differently for our children.
I’m not a huge football fan myself, but if Jahnie is determined to become a professional player, I won’t stand in his way. I’ll do everything I can to support him on this journey. I understand the odds of becoming a professional are slim, but Jahnie doesn’t seem to care—he works tirelessly day in and day out, which encourages me to help and support him in any way.
My role is to ensure he plays in the best team and league according to his progress and capabilities.
I know you’re a busy man and may not have time to respond in detail, but I felt it necessary to share my thoughts.
I had a very deep and constructive conversation with Gary on the phone which went on just shy off a half an hour, and he conveyed that I should communicated with you directly if I have concerns.
Please let me know your thoughts on the Casperle situation and the possibility of a progress plan for Jahnie when you have a moment. This will help us understand where things stand and make informed decisions for Jahnie’s future.
Kind regards,
Spliff