In Goal: Retreat is Escape, Not a Solution

I do not know what drives this mindset that periodically emerges, calling for the suspension of Kuwaiti clubs’ participation in international tournaments whenever results decline or performance fluctuates, as if the magic solution to rescue our football is to shut our doors on ourselves, confine ourselves to local competitions, and then convince ourselves that everything is fine!

It is natural to feel frustrated when our clubs fail to achieve the expected results at the continental or regional levels, and the public has every right to be angry, criticize, and hold clubs accountable. However, when defeat becomes a justification for demanding withdrawal and retreat, that is where the real problem lies. Do we want to address the flaws plaguing our football, or do we simply want to avoid confronting their consequences?

International participation is not merely about seeking victories and returning with trophies; it is an opportunity to engage with different footballing schools, gain experience, test the capabilities of players and technical staff, and identify the gaps between us and others. These are aspects that our local competitions, no matter how important, cannot provide in the same way. Moreover, these participations yield significant financial benefits that cannot be ignored, as clubs generate revenue from their involvement, with potential gains multiplying when positive results are achieved and progression to subsequent stages occurs. Is it reasonable to demand that clubs forfeit these artistic and financial opportunities simply because the results displeased us?

Even more puzzling is that some treat international participation as a privilege that our clubs do not deserve unless they guarantee victory! As if other clubs in the continent and region never lose, never experience downturns, and never face failures. The difference is that ambitious clubs treat their defeats as lessons requiring review and development, not as excuses to escape competition. Had every country whose clubs’ results declined decided to retreat to local competitions, football would never have developed, nor would the technical disparities that push federations and clubs to review their programs and correct their mistakes have emerged. International competition is a mirror that reveals your reality, even if the reflected image displeases you.

On this basis, we must recognize that the requirement is not to halt participation, but to eliminate the causes of failure. We need serious technical and administrative review, better preparation, planning that transcends a single season, and genuine accountability for those who fall short. Withdrawal will not develop a player, create a team, or fix a flaw. If our international results are unsatisfactory, the solution is not to disappear from the scene to avoid losing, but to work hard to return to competition. The easiest thing in sports, and indeed in life generally, is to withdraw; the hardest and most important is to understand why you lost, then return in a better position. Not every defeat means raising the white flag.

The problem arises when those expected to lead the public and public opinion toward the right path and serious solutions instead embrace naive and superficial views: “Instead of developing our clubs and investigating the causes of their failure, we can rest easy and halt international participation.” Thus, we ensure no losses, preserve the prestige of Kuwaiti football within our borders, and live as champions in a local league, far from “headaches” and result scandals... “Goodness, what a footballing mindset.”