Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
The Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team’s threatened boycott of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, due to a match fees row, hogged the sport media spotlight for the past two days.
However, the National Men’s Under-23 Team’s own managerial issues are arguably even more serious.
Gomez missed the 2016 Olympic qualifying series due to travel document issues.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Head coach Zoran Vranes left for Toronto yesterday with a squad that had three different players from the one that manager David Muhammad announced last week. And last week’s Under-23 squad was different to the one the TTFA submitted to the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) prior to that.
In fact, Vranes team has changed seven times in the past months due to Muhammad’s persistent inability to sort out passports, travel documents, registration and tournament rules within stipulated time frames for the TTOC, Toronto Pan Am Local Organising Committee (LOC), Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and the United States and Canada Embassies.
The latest alteration left Vranes without England-based goalkeeper Montell Joseph, who played in their resounding 5-0 win over Puerto Rico. Instead, he was forced to include teenaged Jabloteh custodian Aaron Enill, who conceded five times in their decisive loss to the St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Central FC forward Dwight Quintero and versatile San Juan Jabloteh defender Josiah Trimmingham were also replaced by Virginia Tech forward Ricardo John and ex-National Under-20 midfielder Duane Muckette.
In this case, the Under-23 staff ignored rules set in place for over two months with regards to sticking to players from its provisional squad. In the same way that the Warriors turned up in Puerto Rico with 21 players—inclusive of two goalkeepers—for a 20-man tournament which insisted on every team travelling with three goalkeepers.
Enil has been called up to the 2015 Pan American squad as a late replacement.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Ironically, Muhammad chided the CFU for its organisation, two weeks ago, and urged the Caribbean body to take a page from the Pan Am organisers.
“What the (Trinidad and Tobago) Olympic Committee did was requested a roster along with photographs, which were submitted to the Canada embassy,” Muhammad told Wired868 on 24 June, “and, through the Canadian Embassy, we got temporary accreditation which will have the same weight as a visa for the duration of the tournament.
“If the CFU wants to hold a tournament in a country where a visa is required, they could at least explore the possibility of something of that nature.”
Just over a week later, Muhammad ran afoul of the Pan Am rules as well. And, once again, Vranes’ squad will suffer for it.
“I read what you you said about it (but) I want to see Muhammad when they are through (their Pan Am campaign) because I didn’t want to exacerbate anything,” said Tim Kee. “When that is finished, there are some adjustments to be made.”
Muhammad served as manager under coaches Francisco Maturana and Russell Latapy between February 2008 and December 2010 but was relieved of his post after complaints by players and coaches.
Tim Kee, who is also the Port of Spain Mayor and PNM Treasurer, made it his first order of business as TTFA president to reintroduce Muhammad in 2013.
“I knew the MO of the previous advisor (Jack Warner) was that if he didn’t like you for any particular reason you would be out the next day,” said Tim Kee. “Everyone knew that. At that time, I felt that is exactly what happened and I objected to it. I felt the best thing to do was to fix it.
“Now that this thing has come out, the reason could be different…”
Tim Kee admitted that he did not try to ascertain information on Muhammad’s previous stint as team manager before re-hiring him.
“Nobody had come and said anything about (his previous stint as manager) including the general secretary at the time (Richard Groden),” said Tim Kee. “So I went by what David told me and because I knew David and I trusted him…
“I knew David from the Nation of Islam. I knew (Louis) Farrakhan mentioned David was his representative here. And based on that…”
(Copyright TTFA Media)
The National Under-23 Team faces Uruguay, Paraguay and Mexico on July 13, July 17 and July 21 in Toronto. The two team teams will advance to the Pan Am semifinals.
(National Under-23 Team run-down)
Pan American squad (revealed on June 29): Jovan Sample, 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, Neil Benjamin.
Withdrawn due to Gold Cup selection: Kadeem Corbin.
Failed to get accreditation: Montell Joseph, Dwight Quintero, Josiah Trimmingham.
Late inclusions: Aaron Enill, Duane Muckette, Ricardo John.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Olympic qualifying players excluded from Pan Am Team: Leland Archer, Akeem Roach, Martieon Watson, Jabari Mitchell.
Travelled to Olympic qualifiers but not properly registered: Adrian Welch, Keane McIvor.
Withdrawn from Olympic qualifiers due to visa issues and not recalled: Jibiri McDavid.
Unavailable due to Gold Cup selection: Rundell Winchester.
New Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron “Bo” Edwards is set to be installed as technical and development Read more
Kieron “Bo” Edwards is the new president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA). Edwards, the Eastern Football Association Read more
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has confirmed its list of candidates for the Saturday 13 April Extraordinary Congress, Read more
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has officially outlawed former national youth coach Terrence Marcelle and his club, Toda-World Read more
It turns out that the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team were not the only party unprepared for last Read more
The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 team got a lesson in humility at the Larry Gomes Stadium yesterday, as Read more
Only in dis Town oui.
Sad thing is Wallace was doing an excellent job. He also had a great rapport with the Ministry of Sport.
they will hire another icompetent friend, that is just how it is
Yeah…smdh!
Tim Kee and them really jokey yes stessuuppss
Madness!
Holding my head and bawling. Everyone from Tim Kee go down should be fired on the spot but THAT and God face i will never see. SMDH.
I shudder to think of what will happen if the PNM wins the forthcoming elections and this Tim Kee man becomes, as must be a distinct possibility, a minister of government. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t, oui!
Gross incompetence all around. These guys have no shame. Previous coaches and players will tell you that he is the worst manager in the history of football. Several players have told me this yet the first thing Tim Kee does is rehire him without checking?
More in this Mortar than the pestle. Both should go.
Sickening to the highest degree. These people should be hung and quartered.
Because it is a money making venture for the officials.
I know God (cyar get bigger than that)..he is my personal friend..By your “rum shop logic”(couldn’t help myself) I should get a job!! And a damn good one too! Tim Kee boy..I ain know what to say na…I really don’t know…Mr. Rowley..Mr. Imbert…allyuh genuinely serious about dis fella?
Why does our football continuously involve so much bacchanal???
Something is very wrong in a country when straightforward news reporting reads like parody. This stopped being funny some time ago. It’s criminal. What frustrates me most of all is the powerlessness to stop the madness. The options being we either joke about it or ignore it, SMH! Thanks Lasana because of your efforts we’ll never be able to say we didn’t know, even if all we seem to be able to do was watch from the sidelines.
Tim Kee admitted that he did not try to ascertain information on Muhammad’s previous stint as team manager before re-hiring him.
“Nobody had come and said anything about (his previous stint as manager) including the general secretary at the time (Richard Groden),” said Tim Kee. “So I went by what David told me and because I knew David and I trusted him…
“I knew David from the Nation of Islam. I knew (Louis) Farrakhan mentioned David was his representative here. And based on that…”
lol lol lol
So he is admitting that he is incompetent and did not do any due diligence whatsoever as part of the hiring process. So because someone is affiliated with Farrakhan, he gets hired with no questions asked?
“Tim Kee admitted that he did not try to ascertain information on Muhammad’s previous stint as team manager before re-hiring him.
“Nobody had come and said anything about (his previous stint as manager) including the general secretary at the time (Richard Groden),” said Tim Kee. “So I went by what David told me and because I knew David and I trusted him…
“I knew David from the Nation of Islam. I knew (Louis) Farrakhan mentioned David was his representative here. And based on that…””
” And Muhammad is his messenger perhaps??”
Wow! What a country.
When ah read things like this, ah wish ah could follow Ian Alleyne’s advice when he say “doh hut up yuh head”, but …
Unbelievable… really
At the least, we know these guys are properly accredited. I expect the TTOC would have ensured as much. It is a lucky thing they didn’t have to travel with 15 players.
Sigh and steups….. I wonder if these inclusions will be allowed to play, or of it is just a waste of money and time as with the puerto rico guys. For tim kee to say he was unaware of reports from other teams on this Manager’s performance he had to have been negligent in is role within ttfa, all written reports would have been completed… It is simply a case of excuses, and excuses and more excuses…… I think I need to go an plant peas in Tobago….
WDA does Nation of Islam have to do with football?
Just because he is a Muslim he was given the opportunity to once again F UP our football
Is Tim Kee a real person? Because, at times, it seems as if he is from another world.