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San Juan Jabloteh utility player Josiah Trimmingham has been selected to replace St Ann’s Rangers attacker Kadeem Corbin in the Trinidad and Tobago National Under-23 Team for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
From right are his teammates Jabari Mitchell, Neveal Hackshaw and Jesus Perez.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Corbin was essentially ruled unavailable for the Pan Am tournament since June 20 when National Senior Team coach Stephen Hart picked the versatile 19-year-old attacker in his 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad.
However, Under-23 manager David Muhammad took another two weeks to inform the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) of the change in its travelling squad. And, in the process, the “Soca Warriors” missed another deadline.
It is believed that Trimmingham was on the initial Under-23 provisional squad, which means the former San Juan Secondary student should have already been vetted by the Toronto Local Organising Committee (LOC).
Once Trimmingham is proven to have passed earlier security checks, TTOC president Brian Lewis said it is very likely that he will be accredited to play in the Pan Am Games. If not, the Warriors, who were unable to register a full 20-man squad for last month’s Olympic qualifying tournament, will again travel shorthanded.
Lewis made it clear that he did not intend to single out Muhammad or any particular sporting body for shoddy management. But he admitted to his frustration in the administrative work of some sporting bodies, which, he felt, do a disservice to their athletes.
“There are some sports we have perennially had issues with and, from where I am sitting, this has to stop,” Lewis told Wired868. “This is just not how the TTOC wants to be operating. We want our athletes to have peace of mind and this is not the preparation we want athletes and teams operating through the TTOC to go through.
“I am not pointing blame, I am trying to look at the end result. We have to strive to ensure that our athletes are giving the best environment and opportunity to perform at their best and succeed.
“Everything else is excuses.”
The Under-23 outfit was eliminated from the Olympic qualifying series after just 90 minutes following an opening 5-3 loss to St Vincent and the Grenadines in Puerto Rico.
Muhammad’s tardiness in applying for US visas was felt to be a big blow to the squad as coach Zoran Vranes was forced to replace eight members from his original 20-man squad, who could not get travel documents.
The players who missed out were former National Under-20 captain and right back Shannon Gomez, who has two senior team caps, as well as striker Dwight Quintero, attacking midfielder Nathaniel Garcia, defenders Jibiri McDavid, Maurice Ford, Triston Hodge and Dario Holmes and goalkeeper Javon Sample.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
TTFA general secretary Sheldon Phillips said the local football body was “concerned” about the team’s performance and was awaiting reports from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) tournament committee as well as Muhammad and Vranes before deciding on the next course of action.
“People are focusing on the visa issue but the fact of the matter is St Vincent had to go through the same issue,” Phillips told Wired868. “One can argue that (St Vincent and the Grenadines) had a more difficult time (than us) and they were able to overcome it and we didn’t.
“Obviously, (as regards) the latest issue with the US embassy, we have to reiterate that they bent over backwards to accommodate us and make sure our players got over there.”
Lewis explained that the TTOC will holds it Delegates Registration Meeting (DRM) tomorrow, which is the curtain call for the Pan Am Games.
However, the TTOC president pointed out that some administrators prefer to act as if deadlines do not apply to them and it causes unnecessary stress on the TTOC, the tournament organisers and, worst of all, the athletes.
(Courtesy Sinead Peters/Wired868)
“There are people who constantly operate with deadlines as if the world revolves around them but there are over 6,500 athletes (the Toronto LOC is) dealing with,” said Lewis. “We have to keep stepping up our game… What we have been striving for is about being athlete centred and we operate on a no-excuse philosophy at the TTOC.
“Whatever challenges that arise, we have to strive to get over them. If we want to demand the best from our athletes, we have to endeavour to do our best too.
“Stop making excuses and trying to rationalise failures and mistakes.”
At present, five unspecified members of the Under-23 squad are awaiting Canadian visas, since they were not included in the initial provisional list for accreditation.
(Team)
T&T’s Under-23 Pan Am squad: Jovan Sample, Montell Joseph, Shannon Gomez, Alvin Jones, Dario Holmes, Maurice Ford, Jesus Perez, Tristan Hodge, Jelani Felix, Neveal Hackshaw, Xavier Rajpaul, Jomal Williams, Aikim Andrews, Nathaniel Garcia, Shackiel Henry, Dwight Quintero, Neil Benjamin.
Late inclusion: Josiah Trimmingham.
Withdrawn: Kadeem Corbin.
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Until Managers understand that they are in positions to ensure that the players have only one thing to focus on and that is football, we will continue to have these ” Mistakes & excuses”
I agree completely with Brian Lewis if you cannot create the right environment for the athletes, then the rest is excuses.
Get it right or get out.
Everything is about the right timing my player for life. Blessings.
Manage just say the word. U know where to find me.
Nice man
The only thing that I will be helping with is the Players Association that it seems that nobody wants to start up to help the players with respect to making the right decisions and also to give out books, balls, football boots, and other equipments to some of our under privileged communities so that we can some what stop the crime situation that is fogging up our sweet country. Them really good yes.
Mango may have to ship u back in to help too…
Savitri Maharaj….yes…on my team too
Brian lewis, david john williams, tony Harford, I should have them guys on my team every day…andre Baptiste….yep quality business business…no time for jokers
You know how many moons ago Brian Lewis , Andre Baptiste, Fazeer Muhammed, Hugh Henderson, Gregory Trujillio, (R.I.P.) Keith Shepherd (R.I.P.) Prof Jamaal Shabazz,and Lasana Liburd use to be writing about the problems with our football and what had to be done to fix it eh, but the corrupted Jack Warner and the corrupted TTFA wasn’t listening because they had their own agendas that destroyed our football over the years and they were all finally exposed. Steeuuppss Them really good yes.
HR Manager Savitri ? House Repairs Manager ? Steupseee
Brian Lewis is one of the few administrators I have huge respect for. The man knows what he’s about and can maneuver very professionally through challenges.
The athlete comes first ! Wait…not in Trinidad
Something really fishy here yes apparently like somebodies what meh foreign base Coach to fail or what eh and this wouldn’t surprise me et all because the same was done to other previous Coaches when players were hidden from them to be seen to represent our sweet country. Them really good yes.
Yes Che, we been saying that forever on this forum. Only lies and deceit and the worse thing is those young men’s future going up in smoke while these dunces getting fatter. They cyar get a job in the real world nah.
Savitri Maharaj I really do not know where we are headed…. Worst is no one will take responsibility for anything, only excuses… And most times, lies…..
Che, you said the Manager eh? Not the same David Muhammed? Trial in August for what?
Just talking to John Thomas “bago”, was wondering how he was not called for u23….. Especially when we had players’ visa problem etc, and him being is US, active in college league with very good results… He told me the Manager whatsapped him, and he was advised he has to have trial in August…. What really going on????? Carry two players who was not eligible… But….
Yeah because everything does be a joke for them and not doing the things the right way eh, why yuh think that meh corrupted uncle Jack Warner quickly got rid of them eh, he wudda get lock up a very long time ago along with the other corrupted politicians and the BIG Fish and them because we are not into all that foolishness and nonsense eh, and we don’t stick . Them really good yes.
Uncle Earl, yuh know Trinis doh like no foreigners teaching them the right thing, yuh see how they treated meh Canadians.
All the administrators, managers, and coaches with the highest coaching Licenses , job experiences, statistics should be from my foreign base countries England and the America, because ah really tired of all these bootleg local folks in our sweet country who thinks all this is about themselves and doing the same things over and over no matter who gets the job. Steeeuuppss. Them really good yes Savitri Maharaj
Steups ent uncle Earl…makes you wonder
He needs to do like meh uncle Farakan and just be the head of his muslim organization in our sweet country. Them really good yes.
Ent! What he really doing there?
Buh Lewis is correct, “Stop making excuses and trying to rationalise failures and mistakes.” I thought David Muhammed was an HR manager or sumthing like that?