SELMA — Brent Dukhie watches the World Cup to learn tactics he can employ while coaching Concordia’s soccer team.

Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, he also has an interesting perspective on how to improve the U.S. soccer fortunes.

“It had to be a grassroots effort,” Dukhie said. “It’s like basketball here. You have guys out playing in the street, learning on their own. It works better than a coach telling all the players how to do it his way.”

The U.S. lost to Ghana after advancing from group play, but it was an earlier game that did more to increase the visibility of soccer in the U.S, than that one.

In a tie with Slovenia, the U.S. had a goal waved off in a call that has universally been panned as bad officiating.

Dukhie agrees with the critics.

“It was an aweful call,” Dukhie said. “But that negative was a positive. That game helped get more support for the game against Ghana.”

The U.S.’s loss likely won’t stick with too many Americans and the team will continue international play unlike Nigeria, a historic African power hoping to capture the World Cup title in its home country.

The team was banned for two years by it own president to make sweeping changes and reverse its fortunes after being eliminated during group play.

Lekol Kordha, a Concordia soccer player from Nigeria said the move had to be made.

“They had no offense, and you can’t win if you can’t score,” Kordah said. “it was a really big disappointment. No one goes to work (during the World Cup). There are a lot of things that need to be changed.”

Kordah said the move is understandable considering how important the sport is in Nigeria, and said nothing compares to it in the U.S.

“It’s like food and drink,” Kordah said.