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DIRECTV W Connection president and CEO, David John-Williams, is the new Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president.
John-Williams won after two rounds of voting at the Hasely Crawford Stadium’s VIP room in Port of Spain this evening.
In the second ballot, John-Williams, who is also managing director of the family-owned John Williams construction company, received 25 votes from the 45 delegates present while Raymond Tim Kee, who was pressing for a second term, received 19 votes.
Trinidad and Tobago Referees Association vice-president Clynt Taylor was a distant third with one vote while former World Cup referee Ramesh Ramdhan and Veteran Footballers Association vice-president Selby Browne were eliminated in the first round.
John-Williams’ slate made a clean sweep as Ewing Davis, Joanne Salazar, Allan Warner with 15, 23 and 20 votes respectively. In their wake were vice-presidential candidates: John Sabga (Ramdhan’s slate), Colin Murray, Keston Nancoo and Kamau Bandele (Tim Kee’s slate).
The day started out with four absences from a possible 49 delegates.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
As expected, there was no representation from the players and coaches associations, which are both defunct. Pro League representatives from the North East Stars and Point Fortin Civic football clubs also failed to show.
The turnout meant that 23 votes, which represented just over half of the electorate present, were needed to become president.
In round one, John-Williams led with 18 votes followed by Tim Kee (13), Taylor (8) and Browne and Ramdhan, who received three votes each.
Ramdhan and Browne were both eliminated for the second round of voting, which started five minutes later.
There were six votes up for grabs from supporters of Ramdhan and Browne and Tim Kee received exactly six more votes in the second round, which took his tally up from 13 to 19.
However, Taylor lost seven of his eight voters as John-Williams’s score soared from 18 to 25 and secured him the coveted post with two votes to spare.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
There were less delegates for the vice-presidential election as some voters simply did not bother to stick around.
Davis, a former Secondary School Football League (SSFL) president, got 15 of the 39 possible votes for the first vice-presidential spot while there were just 35 delegates left by the time the vote for the final vice-president was made. Salazar and Warner got 23 and 20 votes respectively.
John-Williams, who heads the most successful team of Trinidad and Tobago’s Pro League era, assured stakeholders that he would get the TTFA functioning again off the field. And he shared a comprehensive manifesto with Wired868, which he described as a road map for his tenure.
He will now have the support of his full slate as he tries to implement his “Imperatives for Change” with the support of the TTFA’s new board of directors.
Tim Kee, who is the treasurer of the ruling PNM government, had pointed to the TTFA’s reduced debt during his stewardship as well as the positive performances from the “Soca Warriors” at successive CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments and the ongoing Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying series.
But, in the end, Trinidad and Tobago’s football stakeholders decided to vote for change.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
TTFA presidential elections
Round One: David John-Williams (18), Raymond Tim Kee (13), Clynt Taylor (8), Selby Browne (3), Ramesh Ramdhan (3).
Round Two: David John Williams (25), Raymond Tim Kee (19), Clynt Taylor (1).
Vice-presidents: Ewing Davis (15), Joanne Salazar (23), Allan Warner (20).
Editor’s Note: Click HERE to read David John-Williams’ pre-election manifesto entitled Imperatives for Change.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
So RTK available to run fuh president of CONCACAF?Lol.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/sports/fifa-scandal-arrests-in-switzerland.html?_r=0
Best man for the job, he has grown an A class club with his own two hands. . .so I am excited about what he will bring to the TTFA in helping us become a footballing nation because we have the talent.
I am elated. Change soon come! , I posted my support of him for the post. He overcame the Naysayers
Congrats ?
Is it somewhat odd the new president (old boy of Naps) and the National Intercol Final was played in south, Whilst last season saw A team from central and two from south (1 deep south) travel to the National stadium to play the National final. Not a good start Mr.President!
The location for the SSFL final was set last week while Raymond Tim Kee was president. And the SSFL arranges its own fixtures with no input from the TTFA.
OK. Thanks for properly informing me of the situation.
This comment though
yes Ms Jamilia Wallace… is there a problem?
Mr. WotlessOutandbadagain Mengus I just think as Trinis we like to make comments about ppl without data.
Hence me thanking him for thus being informed… And not being arrogant about it.
Congratulations to Mr. John-Williams.
It is important to provide leadership and have a vision for all of football. Players , coaches ,clubs, administrators , referees , trainers and fans.
National teams are the focal point and it is there we tend to measure our standing in the game. The sport/industry goes beyond those men and women who wear the red white and black though they remain critical components.
It is my sincere wish that the DJW puts his work and skill toward developing football in a holistic way. Our national teams will improve if we get the other things right.
Congrats to Mr. John-Williams!
Wasn’t happy with the last one and not to happy someone who owns a team is TTFA head either
Honestly, the TTFA rules dictates that the president must come from within the football family.
Raymond Tim Kee was VP at Alcons. The thing was he never really involved himself with the club at all and it is a lower league team.
So it is just that DJW’s team is much more successful.
John-Williams promised not to interfere with the selection process for players and coaches and we intend to hold him to that as best as possible.
Incorrect. Raymond Tim Kee was a former TTFA VP, it was not his Alcorns membership which made him eligible for the Presidency.
And how did he become TTFA VP in the first place, Bakes? Yep. From his Alcons role.
You’re right… under the old Constitution they also had to come from among the membership. You know what they say about a broken clock…
Great Lasana thanks for that info, I now look forward to see what he has in store for the organization
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aS58wmLmDCs&feature=youtu.be
I willing to giveDJW a chance Timkee shot him self in the foot coming down to the end…apart from my concerned with DJW messing with the senior team setup and hearing that Jamal Shabazz made presentations on his behalf…..don’t want Shabazz no where near my national teams, I like his ideas
Congrats David