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Just six months into his tenure as Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president, David John-Williams has already turned his gaze towards higher office.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
The W Connection football club owner will run for the post of Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president on 23 July 2016. The election will be held in the CFU Congress in Miami, Florida.
The other two candidates are incumbent president and Antigua and Barbuda FA general secretary Gordon Derrick and United States Virgin Islands (USVI) president Hillaren Frederick, who is best known for wrecking ex-Trinidad and Tobago football captain David Nakhid’s unlikely FIFA presidential bid by nominating two persons for the 2016 FIFA Congress.
John-Williams’ own term as TTFA president arguably begun with an illegitimate election on 29 November 2015, as at least a third of the delegates appeared to be ineligible to vote according to the TTFA constitution.
And his bid for the CFU throne also appears to be mired in controversy from the start, as John-Williams stands accused of misuse of TTFA funds, a lack of transparency and being a willing co-conspirator to the political weakening of the region.
And, once more, the TTFA boss appears to have the support of FIFA—as well as UEFA and CONCACAF—in his grand designs.
On 3 June 2016, John-Williams invited all 31 Caribbean member associations to what he described as “a watershed moment in the evolution of Caribbean football” at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Port of Spain.
Ostensibly, the two-day workshop was supposed to chart the way forward for the Caribbean Professional Football League (CPFL). Caribbean delegates were assured that an economy return flight, accommodation, ground transportation and meals would all be taken care of by their host.
A follow-up meeting is carded for two days after the CFU Congress, which will decide the next regional boss.
“Both UEFA and CONCACAF are supporting this initiative and have provided the funding for the meeting,” stated John-Williams, in an email sent on a TTFA letterhead.
A representative at a local translation agency confirmed that they provided service—which included translators, equipment, PA, booth and technician—for a Caribbean football meeting at the Marriott on 17 and 18 June.
However, sources revealed that the invoices went to the TTFA.
Two TTFA board members told Wired868 that John-Williams never asked or even informed the local body that he was using TTFA money to help fund his Caribbean football ambitions, or that he planned to run for CFU office in the first place.
“In none of the [board] meetings did that come up,” said one TTFA board member, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “I don’t know anything about that. And that is of concern.”
Wired868 asked John-Williams whether the TTFA board agreed to pay—temporarily or not—the cost of his CFU meeting, if it was the start of his presidential campaign and if he would have the TTFA membership appoint an independent committee to probe irregularities in the 2015 election.
He had not responded up to the time of publication.
(Courtesy Wired868)
Newly elected CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani promised to chip in to offset costs for John-Williams’ meeting while, according to the TTFA president, UEFA vowed to help fund the event. In theory, both football bodies will reimburse the cash-strapped TTFA.
And, pointedly, the inaugural CPFL meeting was attended by UEFA legal counsel Veron Mosengo-Omba, FIFA professional football development manager James Johnson and CONCACAF club licensing and development officer Jonathan Martinez.
But why did CONCACAF, UEFA and FIFA agree to assist a Caribbean project by an individual candidate, without consulting Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president Gordon Derrick, on the brink of an election campaign?
Ironically, the cash-strapped CFU often holds its own AGMs during CONCACAF or FIFA Congresses to save itself the expense of airfare and accommodation.
Derrick emailed Montagliani and acting general secretary Ted Howard, on 7 June, for answers on how it had handed over a CFU project to an individual member—and funded it—without consulting the Caribbean’s governing body.
“The CFU general secretary and I met with you and other CONCACAF colleagues last Tuesday, covering myriad of aspects in what appeared to be a positive step towards cooperative engagement between both organisations.
“This purported CONCACAF-backed TTFA initiative was never raised, and I would appreciate if you could provide clarity as this, as originally proposed is a CFU project.
“The exclusion of the CFU ExCo at a session that purports to discuss proposal and implementation of a Caribbean professional league is alarming.”
Montagliani scoffed at the suggestion that CONCACAF was trying to influence Caribbean football politics.
(Copyright Prensa)
“CONCACAF has a fiduciary responsibility to consider any proposal or request of any member association and, in fulfilment of our obligation, we considered the request… Our only condition to providing support was that all 31 Member Associations in the Caribbean be invited to participate—this belies your accusation of divisiveness and favouritism.
“CONCACAF will continue to support football activities of any Member Association upon request, assuming the request is reasonable, financially sustainable and within our authority… In fact, supporting this effort is what we are supposed to do.”
Montagliani ended his email, which was leaked to Wired868, by offering to take Derrick for coffee. He appeared to miss—or pretended to—the fact that a meeting including all 31 MAs but without the CFU president is precisely what John-Williams would want if he was using the workshop as a platform for his presidential ambitions.
At least one CFU source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused John-Williams and Jamaica’s CONCACAF vice-president Horace Burrell of plotting against the Caribbean and claimed that both men campaigned to have Montagliani, a Canadian administrator, elected as CONCACAF president on 12 May 2016.
It was the first time in 26 years that CONCACAF elected a president from outside the Caribbean.
Now, the informed CFU source thinks FIFA plans to finish the job of neutering the Caribbean with John-Williams as their weapon of choice.
“I have never seen a [CFU] member host all the MAs for the Caribbean and have representatives from UEFA, CONCACAF and FIFA at an individual meeting. It is the first time.
“John-Williams sold out the Caribbean to Victor [Montagliani]. One of the few things we have in the Caribbean is our political strength and he sold it for what? To be president of the CFU?
“I am very very disappointed at the results from [the 2016 CONCACAF Congress in] Mexico. It is clear that they were able to divide us, aided and abetted by John-Williams and Burrell, who are [from] the two most powerful football nations in the Caribbean along with Haiti and Cuba.
“Burrell said to one of our members that, if he couldn’t be CONCACAF president, then let Victor [Montagliani] get it.”
John-Williams did not respond to the accusation while Wired868 failed to reach Burrell for comment.
The blueprint for the new CONCACAF was done before Montagliani’s ascension, though. Three notable revisions to the confederation’s statutes were announced on 25 January 2016:
(Copyright AFP 2015/Kevin C Cox)
“The CONCACAF Council shall include three “Independent Members”—in addition to the president, three vice-presidents, three “Member Association Members”—and one “Female Member”, who are nominated by the CONCACAF Council and must qualify as “independent”;
“Candidates for the CONCACAF Council, each standing committee and judicial body must pass an eligibility check carried out by the Ethics Committee.
“Deletes provisions providing that the CONCACAF Representatives to the FIFA Council have no voting power at the CONCACAF Council.”
Derrick said he fought United States Soccer Federation (USSF) president Sunil Gulati consistently over the proposed changes to the make-up of the CONCACAF Council.
But it was for nought since Burrell, who is the Caribbean’s representative to CONCACAF, accepted it.
(Courtesy Jinelle James/WOLF)
“They were trying to dilute the voting strength of CFU,” said Derrick. “Before, you had a president from the Caribbean, three vice-presidents and three ordinary members [with one] from each region [of North America, Central America and the Caribbean] and a female member who was from the Caribbean.
“So the CFU had four votes [from a total of eight]. That was our strength and they were hellbent on changing it…
“If you add three more members and give them a vote each, then we would have five and they would have six. And they would control the ExCo (executive committee).”
Derrick was furious at CONCACAF’s executive changes. But he soon became familiar with one of the other amendments, which allowed FIFA to strike down potential candidates on ethical grounds.
On 12 April 2016, then FIFA Audit and Compliance Committee chairman Domenico Scala revealed that, following integrity checks, Derrick would not be permitted to run for the office of CONCACAF president.
The CFU president said FIFA informed him that his ban was due to his part in the 2011 Mohamed Bin Hammam bribery scandal and an Antigua FIFA GOAL project investigation, which begun on 6 March 2015 but still remains inconclusive.
Five years ago, FIFA ruled that Derrick failed to pass on information of wrongdoing at a CFU meeting, chaired by disgraced ex-CONCACAF president Jack Warner, in which bribes were paid to Caribbean delegates.
Derrick, who was not found to have collected a bribe or played an active role in the wrongdoing, was reprimanded and fined CHF 300. In contrast, FIFA banned Burrell from all football-related activity for six months and placed the Jamaican on a two year probation for his part in the affair.
Yet, ironically, Burrell returned as CONCACAF vice-president—he also kept the post after the 12 May 2016 Congress—and sits on FIFA’s organising committee for the Olympic football tournament.
(Courtesy Jinelle James/WOLF)
“FIFA said it banned me because I attended that meeting in Trinidad as part of my duties as [ABFA] general secretary and I must have seen something which I did not tell them. So I got a reprimand. But Burrell got a ban and a fine, yet he is okay and he is still the vice president of CONCACAF.
“How can I be ruled out and not him? It is absolutely unbelievable.”
Insideworldfootball, a Europe-based football blog, claimed that Derrick had actually been cleared by US law firm Sidley Austin, which conducted integrity checks on CONCACAF’s behalf, only to be overruled by FIFA.
In his 6 April 2016 email to Scala, Sidley Austin lawyer Samir Gandhi said there was: “nothing that would rise to the level of making a recommendation to reject. As such, we believe that he has passed the eligibility check notwithstanding numerous outstanding negative issues.”
Derrick’s appeal of the FIFA decision is before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) at present.
An email sent by Howard to the CFU president, on 10 March 2016, was the first sign of a dirty presidential campaign:
“It has come to our attention upon a review of our financial records that the monthly payments of US$45,000 has made for the benefit of the CFU for support of its administrative and overhead expenses, is now being made to an account that is not in the name of the CFU.
“Rather, the account into which the payments are being made is to a different entity, called the “Caribbean Football Union, Inc.”
Howard went on to list, with great detail, the various statements needed by CFU and warned—in bold writing—against the destruction of any documents needed by CONCACAF’s investigators.
“Until this matter is resolved,” stated Howard, “CONCACAF will suspend payments to the CFU.”
In fact, the CFU informed CONCACAF that it was changing bank accounts on 27 August 2015, via email correspondence shared with Wired868.
Derrick explained the change of banks became necessary since the previous CFU account was set up by former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb at the Fidelity Bank where he served as director.
After Webb’s indictment, Fidelity refused to accept television money meant to be relayed to the CFU. And Derrick was unable to make any changes to the account without authorisation from Webb and another signatory, Canover Watson, who was convicted of fraud in the Cayman Islands.
The CFU general secretary Damian Hughes immediately began moves to open a new bank account for the regional body in Antigua, since it was the homeland of the president and general secretary designate, Neil Cochrane.
Cochrane said Antiguan banks do not allow accounts for companies that are not registered on the island. The CFU is headquartered in Jamaica.
So, after a regional executive committee meeting in Saint Martin in August 2015, a decision was made to register another CFU branch in Antigua. That also failed since some of the directors listed at the Office of the Registrar in Jamaica, which included Webb, were no longer members of the body’s executive.
(Copyright AFP 2014/Alexia Fodere)
So a new company was formed, which is fully owned by CFU.
“The articles within our statutes gives the ExCo the authority to register in all 31 countries of the CFU if we require to do business,” said Cochrane. “So we were not going ultra vires to the constitution… [Derrick and I] were the first two directors and since then we updated to include [CFU vice presidents] Cheney Joseph, Lyndon Cooper and [legal advisor] Anthony Johnson, who had [all] taken forever to send the documentation to the bank.
“In Antigua when you open a company, the company must have shares and the common practice is to say you have 10,000 shares. So the company was registered with 10,000 shares but initially they were not issued to anyone…
“In March or April, the shares of the Caribbean Football Union Incorporated were issued to the Caribbean Football United Limited in Jamaica. At no point were there shares owned by anyone.
“There are two CFUs but with the same directors and owners… CFU Inc a subsidiary of CFU Jamaica and 100 percentage owned by CFU Ltd.”
Trinidad and Tobago won 6-0.
(Courtesy: Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
Derrick said the CFU’s stand-off with CONCACAF barely lasted a month. And, by the time all parties met at the Congress in Mexico, the CONCACAF hierarchy greeted him warmly.
Derrick suggested that Howard’s email was part of a North America campaign, aided by FIFA, to seize power.
“That [CONCACAF] letter came out a week or two after I announced my candidacy for CONCACAF president and immediately they cut our funding. No one but God can say that wasn’t orchestrated to cause confusion in the CFU… At the time, they were speaking to us in a hostile manner but after [the CONCACAF Congress in] Mexico, you would think we were the best friends ever.
“So this was all done to make sure they got what they wanted.”
Intriguingly, Howard’s accusatory letter to Derrick resurfaced on 17 June when it was read verbatim by a radio host on I95.5FM. There was no suggestion to listeners that CONCACAF resumed funding the CFU, two months earlier, and no wrongdoing was found.
The Trinidad radio broadcast happened hours before John-Williams hosted 17 of the Caribbean’s 31 delegates, which was paid for—at least in part—by the TTFA.
John-Williams was elected as TTFA president on 29 November 2015.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
The W Connection owner vowed that the CPFL will start in two years time and will comprise of 14 teams.
Nothing if not ambitious, John-Williams claimed the regional league will target a television audience of 65.9 million—the total population of the CFU member countries and their diaspora to the US and Canada—and planned to land three year sponsorship deals for a combined US$35 million from a title sponsor (US$15 million), television company (US$15 million), beer company (US$2.25 million) and soft drink company (US$2.25 million) respectively.
In return, interested clubs must pay a one-time television production fee of US$350,000 and a franchise fee of US$150,000 while guaranteeing 2,500 replica sales, 2,500 season ticket sales (US$125 each) and an approved club structure including a youth academy.
A history and playing record at CFU and CONCACAF were described as “assets.”
John-Williams was listed as the chairman of the interim steering committee for the CPFL, which also included John Krishnadath (Suriname), Fabrice Baly (Saint-Martin) and Jorge Pulido (Dominican Republic) as deputy chairmen, and Larry Mussenden (Bermuda), Didus Fedee (St Lucia), Ignacio Argote (Puerto Rico), Theresa Pitcairn (Cayman Islands), Randy Harris (Barbados), Maurice Victorie (Martinique) and Joanne Salazar and Jamaal Shabazz (both Trinidad and Tobago) as its ordinary members.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Three CPFL teams will advance to the CONCACAF Champions League, which will immediately relegate the TT Pro League and other domestic competitions to the role of feeder leagues.
The CPFL will have 26 league matches and nine knock out games while there would be no relegation or promotion for the first three years. Two teams will be added in the fourth, fifth and sixth years to bring the competition up to 20 teams.
John-Williams promised US$28.3 million to each club—over the initial three year period—as “guaranteed income and prize money.”
His plans raise the intriguing possibility of a TTFA and CFU president who also owns professional clubs in the very league that he runs or has an influential role in.
There is little discernible difference with the operations of his compatriot and ex-CFU president, Warner, whose Joe Public club played in local, regional and CONCACAF competitions while using the CONCACAF Centre of Excellence as its home ground.
(Courtesy UK Telegraph)
“John-Williams is compromised and he isn’t operating in the best interest of the CFU,” said Derrick. “He is operating in their interests… I don’t say I am the greatest leader and God’s gift to football management but I am 100 percent for the Caribbean. Everything I do is for the benefit of the Caribbean…
“As long as we controlled the presidency, the Caribbean would have been fine but they decided they didn’t want that.”
Derrick said CAS gave FIFA until the first week in July to respond to his appeal against his disqualification from the CONCACAF presidential election. He is wary that FIFA might try the same trick again.
“Some members are telling me that CONCACAF is pushing FIFA to disqualify me from running in this election,” said Derrick, “and they are just waiting on me to make my public announcement that I would be running.”
Ironically, although CONCACAF and UEFA promised to pick up the tab for John-Williams’ Trinidad gathering, the CFU must pay for its own translators and meeting room for the 23 July election.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
As a cost-cutting measure, the Caribbean Congress will be held in Florida and CONCACAF has promised to help with airfare and accommodation.
Perhaps it is fitting that the Caribbean president will be named on North American soil. Montagliani’s election further shifted the balance of power to seven votes for North and Central America and four to the Caribbean.
Now, FIFA and CONCACAF appear to be angling for a Caribbean delegate of its choice.
Rumours suggest that FIFA may despatch a representative to Trinidad and Tobago, after Wired868’s exclusive report on the controversial TTFA elections of 29 November 2015.
It is uncertain whether the governing body will come to do damage control or to make the first step towards imposing a normalisation committee, as happened in Argentina earlier this month.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)
In the meantime, John-Williams is aiming to become the Caribbean’s new godfather, albeit one who was set clear boundaries by his FIFA overlords.
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Lasana Liburd i sure u invoice companies before eh so right now u playing dumb!!! U invoice the ppl and wait for them to pay!! Fifa CONCACAF who ever have to write a cheque to someone to pay the ppl who is the best person to write the cheque to? Ttfa, David John Williams, or w connection so who the ppl provide services should invoice eh?
I don’t want to talk about the population of the Caribbean Gordon. Focus. I’ve given you a question to answer.
I’ve asked Jamaal about the Caribbean proposal because he is on the steering committee. That question was for him not you.
I can answer that bc for years i have been begging the proleague to tap d diaspora overseas!! I ain’t c d proposal but know that is d way forward i have friends who i does have to send games for bc they interested and i not talking about trials or scholarship tapes eh!!
If someone says to your their target tv audience is every man, woman and child in the Caribbean. And you find that makes sense…
What can I say. Let’s focus on the other stuff yes.
As i say it’s just a proposal and we could punch holes in most proposals. I will love to c the CPL or IPL proposals that we all hail as successes
I know but Google and c what comes up! So its researched figures now a proposal is just that so it might or might not come to reality as any businessman knows!!
So Gordon Pierre and Jamaal Shabazz, if I’m a RBC manager and I know my salary cheque is coming on July 31… Guaranteed…
Are you saying it is okay for me to dip in RBC accounts and use their money without asking because I figure I will have no problem repaying?
Is that your idea of ethics here?
And you can use the analogy of a parlour too if you prefer that.
You are working in a parlour. You don’t own. Should you be able to use its money or use it as guarantee as a debt without consulting the owners of the parlour?
The figures I posted were from the proposal Gordon Pierre
The proleague will continue bc the proleague have not been able to tap the diaspora regionally and internationally. U quoted figures that if u Google u will get as the Caribbean population 69 million it is that figure that will make the Caribbean proleague viable!! I have said it for ages its tv rights but locally regionally and internationally that is going to save football in the Caribbean and i hail anyone with the foresight and fortitude take up the challenge!!
Lasana Liburd anyone who runs a parlor will know if FIFA and CONCACAF promise to pay u can’t tell the ppl that they have to invoice someone who in this case is d ttfa bc it is them fifa and CONCACAF will b writing the cheque to
So the TTFA funds were used with expectation of reimbursement? Is that what you’re saying??
That’s what Lasana Liburd saying read the story properly note CONCACAF president answer as well
What are you saying? The invoice isn’t going to be paid until funds come in?
Yes sir!! I am sure u don’t want fifa or CONCACAF writing a cheque to w connection or djw
Brian Jordan I am sure you can see that doesn’t make sense. But I will just leave it now.
I moved on last night man..
What doesn’t make sense? Even if d fifa money coming after it coming and u as a business man know u have invoiced ppl and wait for ages to b paid!! I thought u really was fighting a just cause but d more u reply d more u show how u trying to spin d facts!! And to Brian Jordan if all that Lasana Liburd saying and explain make perfect sense i want u to judge d dana seetahal case and Lasana to b d defense attorney cazy!! Smh
If monies never come or come next year, what happens Gordon? You know these happen in business as well right? There is a guarantor of payment assumed by TTFA under the law.
Simpler than that Brian Jordan. DJW doesn’t own the TTFA so he can’t use TTFA as he chooses without going through the proper channels.
But if I can’t explain that in five minutes, then I won’t be able to in five days of conversations.
Right. That is also quite true
Jamaal, I don’t wanna discuss Gordon much. I care more about our TTFA president.
So I have some questions for you after your rest:
Is it okay for DJW to tell companies to invoice TTFA for his Caribbean football project that is almost certainly part of his presidency bid?
Is there a conflict of interest with DJW as club owner, TTFA president and CFU president?
Do you really believe Caribbean clubs will make about US$24 million income in first three years, or are those false promises?
What happens to pro league when this Caribbean league takes their Concacaf champions league spots and more?
That’s not a bad place to start on this topic I think.
You know why I ain’t saying much on this topic Lasana Liburd – but I have to say not only would it not look right but surely it got to be against FIFA rules for DJW to hypothetically be a club owner, TTFA Pres and potentially CFU pres
HE SHOULD BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY! IS THERE NO ONE LEFT IN TRINIDAD WITH INTEGRITY ANYMORE?
Hmmm, players still waiting for their monies from winning the first million dollar league, for real snake ah snake 🙁
But I have learnt that viewpoints are from where you see it . Because I listened to Andre Baptiste disclose some info about Gordon Derrick and offer one perspective and you using that same info and offer a totally opposite perspective. And both has its merit. The one who believe in someone will always present their case on behalf of that person more plausible
Consequently those who removed Gaddafi, Mubarak, Saddam and Co must be considering if they preferred to treat with those men or ISIS
etc cause the so called Arab Spring and removal of these leaders gave rise to ISIS
And that example of Mubarak ….careful of how you classify the Mubarak, the Gaddafi
further when I see a man like you being a mouthpiece for Gordon then I getting worried so if I have a certain information since I know that your sources on this Issue is a bit misleading I say my part.
How come you did not interview any of the CFU Presidents who went to the meeting.
Also I cannot make DJW become more accessible to the media but I can advise him as a brethren …..star information need to be more forthcoming.
I have u back in Jamaal Shabazz u run a great leg go rest i will run with the baton!! Forward ever backward never!! A new dawn is broken down with the naysayers!!
I wish to retire hurt on this matter since I had a long day. Please excuse me for the rest of the night I get enough blows . Gordon Pierre help me here. Salaam folks
I wish I could go the next TTFA Exco meeting to see the conduct of the members cause I maintain if the leader is proving to be a run away horse should these issues not be raised within the Exco.
I came into this thread to suggest first that Gordon Derrick was invited to the meeting. 2. That Gordon Derrick never pushed the discussion of Caribbean Pro football until ironically when he announced his then Concacaf Presidency.
To suggest that he never called for a collective discussion and viewpoint for the CFU to vote en bloc until after several persons came out ….one being DJW…despite calls from members to have such a convo.
I agreed that DJW must not be allowed by the Board to by pass them on major decisions . But unlike you I am placing culpability not just on the President but on the Exco members as well.
I think DJW has shown ability to get things done, network and get the ears of Fifa and Concacaf.
When Jack Warner had the ears of Fifa and Concacaf some of the persons who touting people on CFU sell out …..were not so eloquent them.
When according to David Nakhid under Warner CFU was a reference for a vote.
My take is I would like to see more collective consultation from DJW with his Exco but I think he has some sway with major stakeholders in world football and that cannot be a bad thing.
you assume I talking for DJW so them you talking for Gordon Derrick if that’s your argument. I giving my views on the chat like everyone else and I think my views offer a different perspective. I never say fire the TD and put anyone I chose my words I say examine the contracts and you know what star….You write on info you know let me also talk on info I know.
I have offered no comment on the TTFA election and whether it legal or not .I did not read your article on same as yet. So don’t vex with me Lasana if you choose to pelt stone at a man and in instances where I feel I have a view I offer it. I thought I was a Wired like you star.
Hahaha. We are just exchanging robust ideas Jamaal. I’m not trying to make you feel unwelcome. You’re a member of the steering committee for the CPFL. So some questions I’m assuming you’re capable of answering.
Otherwise I can’t ask you to answer for DJW. I am only giving you the option in case you know what I don’t on that topic.
It doesn’t make any sense for me to be a Gordon Derrick man. I’m just doing my job as best as I can.
Lol. Ok. But what do we learn about the allegations against David John Williams? What do they teach us about the direction we are heading in?
You never mentioned that but I know that is what is being sold to you especially with those 5 emails but not everyone that throws worms in the river is a friend of the fish
Jamal
I would like to introduce you to the term below:
Psychological projection is a theory in psychology in which humans defend themselves against their own unconscious impulses or qualities (both positive and negative) by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others.[1] For example, a person who is habitually rude may constantly accuse other people of being rude. It incorporates blame shifting.
When I read your post regarding Lasana and others in defense of those you support, its shocking how much you are projecting your actions on others. You really can’t see and feel that?
How come todd wasn’t there?
Ehheh
Heaven help us all one day it will b over trust me
T&t football will benefit greatly if a trini is on fifa board .the strike squad did not advance solely on performance.having someone in fifa pulling strings benefited us believe it or not but that is the case
Hmm again?
All big countrys are gaing by it those that are on top are so solely due to its members being on fifa. in general most sporting country benefit from a countryman being on a international council
I don’t think the Strike Squad would agree at all. Their chance was gone because a man who wanted to get into FIFA stood to benefit more from their failure than their success.
People aren’t pulling strings when they get up there. They are looking for what they can get for themselves.
over ambitious,we must question the commitment ,if the TTFA is just another obstacle to pole vault over,next stop FIFA headquarters Zurich.i hope not to be a passive bystander.
Jamaal, you are boasting about replacing Kendall Walkes with Muhammad Isa?
Your argument is that Walkes’ contract is invalid. Time will tell if that is true or if DJW just put the TTFA into further debt by his actions. But it is funny that you use that to justify the sacking of the last technical director. But then you don’t use that same reasoning to call a fresh TTFA election.
Because I don’t know if Walkes’ contract is bad. But I know that the TTFA elections that led to DJW’s presidency is.
And it is odd to blame the victims for a runaway dictator.
So the real criminals in Egypt were the people and not Mubarak then? We are changing history here Jamaal.
But you’re talking good. Since David John-Williams is unable or unwilling to talk for himself, you’re the next best thing. 😉
From everything I’ve seen so far, DJW seems to believe that he IS the TTFA and the TTFA is him.
Lol
Check the people who have been appointed to the Elite Player Development Comm. some of us attended a Player Development Course For Caribbean Coaches a few years ago. How many persons on that committee attended?
How many persons on that committee are coaching or have more than five years coaching experience at all levels.
I am up set because this has to do with my country about selling a the country short, deliberately doing something that cannot be in the best interest of Trinidad and Tobago
Lasana Liburd Is the current Pro League even marketed properly and profitable? What has been done to ensure its success? Increase game attendance? If the Pro League isn’t managed properly how exactly will a new League that’s even bigger, be managed properly and made self sufficient and profitable?
I suppose the principle is if a guy cannot handle a small thing, give him a big thing. :-/
Clearly… #AssBackwards
Brian here me well DJW have more than passion. Did you see the TD issue and the men who sign that TD and the contract…Is nothing short of frank james jesse james and the what yu calll them brothers…Information need to be disseminated but him holding press conferences is not the only form of communication. ….He has not bypassed the current CFU president in that issue….I know better…..and it seems like you know more than the CFU Presidents who went to the meeting. The man get invited. If is a strategy to win CFU the electorate will decide.
I not saying accept poor leadership I saying how come the people who are on the Exco not saying anything and Brian none of you addressing that point. In meetings say DJW we not accepting that but they not doing it . All I hearing is some little schreeches and seeing men taking out the purse resembling my grandma own and waving it . And not even at DJW. How could we have a strong Federation or Association if the members not correcting the leader in the meetings if he going off
I am in agreement that the TTFA board and Ex Co seems to be a rubber stamp. No argument there. Strong arm tactics and dictatorial tendencies do not impress me though.. Bring people together through dialogue and leave out the unprofessional and arrogant behavior we have seen reported. Noticed you ignored: Media communication and his treatment of the last TD and his going around current head coach to players though.. these are not good signs, even beyond the realm of imperfect and passionate..
Jamaal Shabazz i now read d story was going and put on my gloves but i c u have it covered!! So i will go in d cover and shout jab and move and when they drop their guard knock them out!! Forward ever!!!!! Is 2016 new ideas unity is strength if the plane moving to fast for stay home!! The old foggies do what u want but stay out the way the train have left the station and nothing and no one stops that train!! On ward to victory soldiers
Gordon you are a clown! HAHA
Good points Jamaal, but what does it take to make a good leader?? I keep hearing DJW has passion as the only defense. A good leader has to have more than passion, in my opinion. He must be respectful of others, be a good communicator, be professional and be a person who can build consensus and unite different factions, among other things. I dare anyone to add characteristics beyond passion to the current TTFA President. From all accounts, he rarely if ever consults his executive committee, including his General Secretary. He rarely hosts the media at press conferences. He doesn’t seem to respond to questions sent to him from the media. He has insulted or tried to insult or go over the head of both the last Technical Director, the current national head coach, and the current CFU President. I can go on and on, and it has only been a few months. If this is what we accept as good leadership, then God help us!!
..Emails. TTFA letterhead. TTFA funds. CONCACACF funds. UEFA funds. Blah. Blah,. Blah. Overweening ambition, treachery and thirty pieces of silver are as old as Mankind. Powerful forces don’t want a strong, independent CFU. They have successfully subverted the organization and have found ready internal allies to help them take control of it. Everything else serves that objective..
I remember there were a few people some are bloggers on Wired today ….were strong enough to tell Jack Warner chief you wrong I dont agree….It is my feeling when the led do what actions they can do to pull the coat of the leader….God does the rest. If the leader takes the admonition ….good but if the leader continue to oppress even in the very example of Jack Warner we see how God deals with the leader
Jamal
With all the things wrong in this world, you really think God have time to deal with Football administrators.
Unless God tell you he have time for that, please stop assigning it to him.
Poverty, ISIS, unemployment, global warming but you giving God football administrators, come on nah.
Social media has given mankind a say in how affairs should be run and issues are now debated ….thisbis great but are we now just making major issues a talk shop….heap scorn or blind praise and not engage in an action to improve a concept or an approach ..We see many brilliant points with high intellectual capacity but what of the rank and file to affect the change?
Further is the League is a tactic by DJW to garner support for a CFU Presidential bid ….Its better than the low down tactics I am seeing from the other side. …..And the question is asked if Gordon Derrick what prevents anyone else in the Caribbean from harbouring a feeling to do better? I can think of 4 or 5 people in TT and 9 or 10 in the CFU I think should run.
We often glorify or attack leaders especially when the operate in a high handed manner but oft times it is that quality that drives one to become a leader. The challenge is those who are led or who voted playing their role to ensure we get leadership not dictatorship. When the led do not pull the coat of the leader ….that is a bad as a dictatorial leader.
As a wanna be could da I remember moments in Caribbean history people sit and say that cyar happen here …
And it happen ……The bringing into fruition an idea or an ambition is possible through the grace of God and the efforts of man (women included ).
I do not think that opening up a discussion regarding a professional league in the Caribbean backed by Fifa can be detrimental to the TT Pro League. There are two issues here ….the specifics of making it a reality and should a discussion …a research take place? It seems like you are heaping scorn that there should be neither a discussion. ..nor a league.
Its gonna be very difficult for me to keep up with the canters because most people know I am a wanna be could da.
For the Pro League owners who continue to put in their own resources and struggle through the next two seasons, God willing, how will the Caribbean Professional Football League affect them?
Who knows maybe Fifa will reward us for our valiant efforts.
How could FIFA reward the Pro League while presumably investing in the CPFL? You must have considered the ramifications as a Pro League founding member, Jamaal.
So what are you saying that people cannot consider a pro league in the region because there are leagues in member states ? I frankly am a supporter of both
It is not for DJW or anyone person to have all the answers but a discussion has started and an interest shown
The economics geographic etc must now be critiqued analized etc .
Infact if it will kill the pro league then those who wants to see its demise should be happy campers. So now men are going to be prevented from attempting a difficult project. Wow
Jamaal, what I’m saying is that the various nations in Europe (for instance) have resisted the idea of a European Super League that takes Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, etc out of the respective leagues. The reasoning there is obvious.
Instead the Champions League allows a harmonious relationship.
Yes, some people want the death of the Pro League. But you know I have never been one.
So you all sold me a dream then?
If Europe created such a super league, it would severely damage much of the local leagues. So I’m wondering about the fall out for the local Pro Leagues.
You are saying to let’s discuss it. But I find it hard to believe that you or DJW haven’t already considered implications. Because you both have Pro League clubs.
So I’m guessing that you don’t really want to share your ideas on it here. I think you are well placed to tell us the reality of this CPFL. Then we can discuss it.
Going to board a flight but trust me no ill intents
Jamal
Passion can be defined as:
a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something
a strong feeling (such as anger) that causes you to act in a dangerous way
a strong sexual or romantic feeling for someone
a strong and barely controllable emotion
Which passion are you saying he has?
If FIFA, UEFA and CONCACAF were serious about Caribbean Football development they would not float this to 31 associations in which not one of them have a profitable pro league with a viable television rights contract. They would identify money to work with CFU to stabilize the operations of the clubs through the development of their local leagues.
The strength of football in the top leagues are 1. the Clubs and 2. the leagues and 3. the Associations We do not have either but we doing a region wide league. This is not ambition or passion, its irresponsible.
The infancy state of most Caribbean Pro Leagues warrants a Champeons League format NOT a Caribbean Pro League. This is putting an EMPTY rotten cart before the horse, for some Caribbean Football administrators to seriously be considering this is embarrassingly laughable. However, it shows that North America and Europe playing chess while our administrators not even playing draughts; them playing checkers.
North America and Europe have recognized the characteristics in individuals that will give up true power in the short term for the promise of peas and rice. Do some of our administrators think they are more special than Jack Warner? They will be afforded certain benefits by North America and Europe then discarded. I always believe Jack Warner was a perpetrator but equally a victim of a culture within an organization of global sophisticated corruption he could not imagine the depth. I hope our administrators take sometime to study history or it will soon be repeated.
I say soon(very) because when Jack was operating he did not have the pervasive arm of the media, social media, blogs and 24 hr instant communications. Information can be shared throughout the globe in an instant, some of our administrators do not appear to be ready.
If the League starts I’m gonna be happy
Wrt champions league they could merely reserve the top 6 for entry
So wait he complain about the election and then he wins and then he’s illegitimate ??
I see the merits of Caribbean Premier League idea for football, just don’t make the same mistakes that the WICB does with the PCL and CPL though ha
Yuh mean where that money going. Last time men had accounts set up with official looking names but were really comingling funds in order to abscond with them…..
Yeah I have some reservations about that sum. where is that coming from? The demographics not there, and that league is going to be a hell of a logistical problem
I want it to start and flourish but where is that money coming from?
“John-Williams promised US$28.3 million to each club—over the initial three year period—as “guaranteed income and prize money.”
I don’t know where to start with this… Almost US$10 million a year for Caribbean clubs?
Jamaal, I have to sing Black Stalin for you. “Keep the chalice blazing…”
There might be some European clubs trying to join if this figure is accurate. 🙂
Since there are a few leagues already in existence, couldn’t the CFU work with them instead? Or maybe make a Caribbean Champions League that runs in tandem with local leagues in the way that it happens in Europe?
The infancy state of most Caribbean Pro Leagues warrants a Champeons League format NOT a Caribbean Pro League. This is putting an EMPTY rotten cart before the horse, for some Caribbean Football administrators to seriously be considering this is embarrassingly laughable. However, it shows that North America and Europe playing chess while our administrators not even playing draughts; them playing checkers.
North America and Europe have recognized the characteristics in individuals that will give up true power in the short term for the promise of peas and rice. Do some of our administrators think they are more special than Jack Warner? They will be afforded certain benefits by North America and Europe then discarded. I always believe Jack Warner was a perpetrator but equally a victim of a culture within an organization of global sophisticated corruption he could not imagine the depth. I hope our administrators take sometime to study history or it will soon be repeated.
I say soon(very) because when Jack was operating he did not have the pervasive arm of the media, social media, blogs and 24 hr instant communications. Information can be shared throughout the globe in an instant, some of our administrators do not appear to be ready.
Blinded by ambition and ego Sean. Very true.
Btw, Jamaal Shabazz. We were speaking about the future of the Pro League just a few days ago. The Caribbean Professional Football League is going to take away the Pro League’s chance to compete in the CONCACAF Champions League.
It will probably siphon away the top players. So how does the Pro League survive now? Does it make sense to continue the Pro League?
Won’t the Pro League clubs be wasting their investment as this is going to blow them out of the water?