Whatever happens in Jamaica’s ongoing campaign to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, it’s safe to say there are many of us with a strong sense of dissatisfaction at the slow progress in the sport’s development here.

Those of us who are old enough remember Jamaica’s historic qualification for the 1998 World Cup Finals in France. The euphoria following that 0-0 draw against Mexico in late 1997 which ensured qualification was not only about the grand achievement, but expectations of greater things to come.

It’s disappointing that since 1998 no other senior Reggae Boyz team has replicated, though a number of age-group teams have made it to World Cup tournaments. More disappointing perhaps, has been the failure to develop a truly competent and professional club structure, capable of nurturing the kind of talent that’s needed to compete consistently at the highest level.

Don’t get us wrong. This newspaper believes there has been progress in Jamaican football since 1998, as scores of Jamaican professionals now ply their trade across the globe.

However, the expectation among many back in 1998 was that by now the professional structures, basic infrastructure and standard of play in the local leagues would have been much higher than is currently the case.

Our position is obviously supported by new technical director of football, Brazilian Mr Alfredo Montesso, who has been part of Jamaica’s football, on and off, since the 1990s.

“I am not that happy because it has been 15 years since we qualified for the World Cup and at this point I think we should have better quality football in Jamaica…” Mr Montesso told this newspaper recently.

He identified Jamaica’s weak youth structure as among the main reasons for the inadequacies.

Mr Montesso wants young Jamaican football talent to be identified and nurtured by clubs far earlier than is now the case. As it now stands, it is the popular school competitions that throw up the bulk of Jamaican talent.

He insists that this is not good enough.

He, noted for example, that the exciting young Brazilian, Neymar, who was recently traded to Barcelona for 57 million euros, had been attached to the legendary Brazilian club Santos since he was eight years old.

In other words, once his immense talent was recognised at that early age, a proactive and sustained initiative was taken to condition Neymar mentally, psychologically and physically, to become the impressive player he is today. Much the same can be said for many of the great professionals on the football circuit, including the celebrated Argentine, Mr Lionel Messi.

Will the day ever come when Jamaica’s football enjoys a similar developmental approach? Gradually, we suspect, it will happen — nurtured in no small measure by the growing recognition that football, like so many other sports, provides legitimate career paths.

Our more progressive clubs, supported by the Jamaica Football Federation, the wider football fraternity and the media, must not be shy in attempting to guide and educate the public. A similar approach should be taken for other sports.

Crucially, it must be understood at all levels that academic schooling will not be neglected in the nurturing of young talent.

It will take time, but we believe that Mr Montesso’s dream is achievable.