Latapy heads TTFA wishlist to replace Saintfiet; but Warriors want Hart, Fevrier or Fenwick

Former Trinidad and Tobago football legend Russell Latapy is believed to head the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) wishlist, as the technical committee ponders its replacement for outgoing coach Tom Saintfiet.

However, the Soca Warriors are pleading with the local football body to return Stephen Hart to the helm.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago coach Stephen Hart (centre) and goalkeeper Michael Maurice (right) interact during a practice at the Olimpico Metropolitano stadium in San Pedro Sula on 14 November 2016 before their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Honduras. (Copyright AFP 2016/Orlando Sierra)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago coach Stephen Hart (centre) and goalkeeper Michael Maurice (right) interact during a practice at the Olimpico Metropolitano stadium in San Pedro Sula on 14 November 2016 before their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Honduras.
(Copyright AFP 2016/Orlando Sierra)

Saintfiet, who lost both 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup playoff matches to Suriname and Haiti on 4 and 8 January respectively, informed the public that he had resigned his post on Wednesday morning, just one month into his tenure.

The journeyman Belgian, whose former jobs included the Bangladesh, Malawi and Namibia National Teams, blamed TTFA president David John-Williams for creating an environment that made it impossible for him to be successful.

Wired868 understands that, even before Saintfiet quit, Latapy—who served as the Belgian’s assistant—had already been offered the job. However, this was not confirmed by either party and, even then, the approach was said to have occurred after the Warriors lost to Haiti on Sunday night.

There is no suggestion that Latapy did not fully support Saintfiet during the latter’s short-lived stint as head coach. However, if Latapy does take over the top job, it would be the second time that he inherited the position after serving as assistant to his predecessor.

On 8 April 2009, then head coach Francisco Maturana resigned and claimed that there were “differences of opinion in the last couple of games with Latapy” and there was “never one belief” with his assistant.

Photo: TTFA president David John-Williams (right) has a word with Trinidad and Tobago National Under-17 Team coach Russell Latapy on the training ground before the CFU competition. (Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Photo: TTFA president David John-Williams (right) has a word with Trinidad and Tobago National Under-17 Team coach Russell Latapy on the training ground before the CFU competition.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

Then TTFF special advisor Jack Warner appointed Latapy on an interim basis with Zoran Vranes as his assistant. Vranes was subsequently replaced while Latapy kept his place for a total of 20 months.

In 13 competitive matches, Latapy led the Warriors to five wins, one draw and seven defeats and was eventually relieved his place after Trinidad and Tobago were dumped out of the 2010 Caribbean Cup at the group stage with defeats to Cuba and Grenada.

Latapy’s return to international duty, last September, was also a disappointment as Trinidad and Tobago were eliminated in the group stage on home soil in the Caribbean Under-17 Championship after losses to Haiti and Jamaica.

Latapy, a former World Cup 2006 player and Porto and Glasgow Rangers playmaker, barely had three weeks with the youth team before the competition.

And, if one of the country’s most iconic players gets the nod from the TTFA technical committee, it will be another devilishly difficult task with Trinidad and Tobago needing at least four points in Port of Spain against Panama and Mexico to kickstart their campaign on 24 and 28 March respectively.


Photo: Trinidad and Tobago winger Joevin Jones (right) battles with Mexico midfielder Paul Aguilar during a 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C match in Charlotte, North Carolina, on 15 July 2015. (Copyright AFP 2016/Nicholas Kamm)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago winger Joevin Jones (right) battles with Mexico midfielder Paul Aguilar during a 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C match in Charlotte, North Carolina, on 15 July 2015.
(Copyright AFP 2016/Nicholas Kamm)

Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene chairs the technical committee, which also includes Dr Alvin Henderson (vice-chairman), Muhammad Isa (technical director), Errol Lovell and Jinelle James. Former 1991 World Youth Cup coach Bertille St Clair has taken leave from the committee for health reasons.

Notably, Latapy is not the players’ choice—although nine members of the current Warriors pool ran out under “the Little Magician”, six years ago.

In an email to John-Williams and TTFA vice-presidents Joanne Salazar and Ewing Davis, the national footballers urged the local football body to reinstate Hart. The email was sent by Central FC goalkeeper and players’ representative Jan-Michael Williams but was said to represent 23 unnamed national players who all collaborated in the message.

“We, the players, come to you with utmost humility, asking for your consideration with regards to the selection of a new coach for the National Men’s Senior Team. We have accumulated a list of four names for special and serious consideration for the position of Head Coach and Assistant Coach.

“We KNOW it is not our decision to make, neither is it our place to make such demands, but we—23 current players—have pooled our knowledge, resources and ideas together to come up with a few names for your immediate consideration.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago defender Sheldon Bateau (centre) is congratulated by teammates after grabbing the opening goal in a 6-0 win over St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain on 29 March 2016. (Courtesy: Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago defender Sheldon Bateau (centre) is congratulated by teammates after grabbing the opening goal in a 6-0 win over St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain on 29 March 2016.
(Courtesy: Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)

“We can all agree that we the players have interacted with these names at some level, so we can safely say our knowledge can be used in this regard.”

The coaches identified by the players are: Hart, W Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier and former Central FC and San Juan Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick.

Trinidad and Tobago national players are not usually given a say in the selection of coaches but there is precedent. In 2005, Warner hired Englishman Ron Atkinson to replace Bertille St Clair—three games into the Hex—and, as a matter of courtesy, informed the senior players before revealing his choice to the media.

However, the senior players, led by captain Dwight Yorke and goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, refused to play for Atkinson due to his previous run-ins with Yorke and racist remarks the controversial manager made about former France World Cup winning captain Marcel Desailly.

So, Warner did an about-turn and eventually returned with former Real Madrid and Netherlands coach Leo Beenhakker instead.

Photo: W Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: W Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

In this case, the Warriors are suggesting who they would like to have as coach rather than who they do not want. The 23 players stressed too that, although Hart was their first choice, they had not decided on the preferred candidate between Fevrier and Fenwick.

Fevrier, a St Lucian by birth, spent most of his adult life in Trinidad and coached in the local top flight since 1999. He spent six months as Trinidad and Tobago coach in 2003 but was replaced before ever leading the team into competitive action.

His record of two wins, three draws and three losses was seen as credible at the time against largely decent opposition like South Africa, Venezuela and Morocco.

However, Fevrier was replaced by St Clair at the supposed insistence of a few senior players led by star striker Stern John. Although the St Lucian is a widely respected local coach, his proximity to Connection owner John-Williams could potentially be a double-edged sword.

Fenwick, a former England World Cup defender and Tottenham Spurs captain, has never coached a national team but is a multiple Pro League Coach of the Year and is widely regarded as one of the best—if not the best—coach on the island.

Photo: Terry Fenwick (right) salutes the crowd after leading Central FC to the 2014 Lucozade Sport Goal Shield title. Looking on is Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene (centre). (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Terry Fenwick (right) salutes the crowd after leading Central FC to the 2014 Lucozade Sport Goal Shield title.
Looking on is Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene (centre).
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

His teams are athletic, aggressive and tactical flexible and he worked with most of the current squad including Khaleem Hyland, Kevin Molino, Sheldon Bateau and Williams. But his relationship with John-Williams is strained while his blunt, brash style has divided football stakeholders.

Interestingly, Fenwick and Fevrier were believed to have been on the technical committee’s shortlist, even before the appeal from the national players.

Serbian coach Zoran Vranes, who led Trinidad and Tobago at the 2009 Under-20 World Cup, and Colombian Francisco Maturana, who coached his native team at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups and is a former South America Coach of the Year, are also believed to be on the TTFA’s radar.

Fenwick, Vranes and Maturana all applied for the national post, two months ago, but were overlooked for Saintfiet.

Wired868 understands that Maturana, who steered Trinidad and Tobago into the Hex for the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, will not return as a stop gap measure and is only interested in the post if he has the opportunity to rebuild the national team.

Photo: Former Central FC head coach Zoran Vranes. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Former Central FC head coach Zoran Vranes.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Fenwick is believed to be also disinterested in a short-term appointment.

If the TTFA insists that its next coach—like Saintfiet—will only be guaranteed employment until the end of March, it is likely to thin their options even further.

At present, Latapy, who is already employed by the TTFA as a national youth team director, seems to be the preferred candidate. But the players have other ideas.

The Warriors stressed, though, that they would give full support to whoever is selected by the local football body.

“We pledge our full support regardless of who is selected to the position, even if it a person or persons outside of this list, as we know that we the players play an integral part in helping the team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.”

There was one other request from the players. They want team doctor Terence Babwah and paramedic Dave Isaac gone due to a supposed breakdown in trust, after the two staff members claimed that Hart used Williams against medical advice for Trinidad and Tobago’s last World Cup qualifier away to Honduras.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams is helped on to the stretcher by paramedic Dave Isaacs during their 2015 Gold Cup fixture against Cuba. (Courtesy CONCACAF)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams is helped on to the stretcher by paramedic Dave Isaacs during their 2015 Gold Cup fixture against Cuba.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)

“We would also like that the duo of Dr Terrence Babwah and Dave Isaac be replaced with IMMEDIATE EFFECT, because of the lack of trust that we the players have in them,” stated the players. “We look forward to working with you—the Federation—hand in hand to reach our goal, which is qualification for the 2018 World Cup.”

(Full statement from 23 Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team players)

Good day Members of the TTFA,

We hope this message meets you all in good health and spirits.

We, the players, come to you with utmost humility, asking for your consideration with regards to the selection of a new coach for the National Men’s Senior Team. We have accumulated a list of four names for special and serious consideration for the position of Head Coach and Assistant Coach.

We KNOW it is not our decision to make, neither is it our place to make such demands, but we—23 current players—have pooled our knowledge, resources and ideas together to come up with a few names for your immediate consideration.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team coach Stephen Hart (centre) and players (from right) Mekeil Williams, Daneil Cyrus, Kenwyne Jones, Radanfah Abu Bakr and Sheldon Bateau at a national training session. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team coach Stephen Hart (centre) and players (from right) Mekeil Williams, Daneil Cyrus, Kenwyne Jones, Radanfah Abu Bakr and Sheldon Bateau at a national training session.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images)

We can all agree that we the players have interacted with these names at some level, so we can safely say our knowledge can be used in this regard. We pledge our full support regardless of who is selected to the position, even if it a person or persons outside of this list, as we know that we the players play an integral part in helping the team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

We also ask that we be treated without prejudice, neither for the composition of this list nor for allowing it into the hands of the media, as we believe it will be treated with the seriousness it requires when we do so. The list is as follows:

Head coaches for consideration:

Stephen Hart

Stuart Charles-Fevrier

Terry Fenwick

Angus Eve (Assistant Coach)

Photo: Club Sando and Naparima College coach Angus Eve. (Courtesy Wired868)
Photo: Club Sando and Naparima College coach Angus Eve.
(Courtesy Wired868)

We would also like that the duo of Dr Terrence Babwah and Dave Isaac be replaced with IMMEDIATE EFFECT, because of the lack of trust that we the players have in them.

We look forward to working with you—the Federation—hand in hand to reach our goal, which is qualification for the 2018 World Cup.

More from Wired868
Corneal: Talent was not the issue! TD discusses T&T’s shortlived Concacaf U-20 adventure

“[…] We saw an array of talent across the board and not with just 20 players. I’ve said it before Read more

Eve: “We acquitted ourselves well!” Dour Soca Warriors eliminated 2-0 by Canada

The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team’s bid for an unprecedented place in the Copa America tournament stalled this Read more

Eve accepts underdog tag, wants Warriors to represent T&T’s crime victims

Angus Eve, coach of the Trinidad and Tobago men’s football team, accepts that his squad will be the underdogs against Read more

TTFA outlaws Toda-World FA and controversial ex-national youth coach, Marcelle

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has officially outlawed former national youth coach Terrence Marcelle and his club, Toda-World Read more

“David vs Goliath!” Eve speaks on Canada’s Copa challenge and his 23-man squad

Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve hopes an organised defence will give his team the Read more

Eve names Levi in 23-man squad to face Canada; Telfer, Muckette out

Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve announced his 23-man squad to face Canada in next Read more

About Lasana Liburd

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.

Check Also

Corneal: Talent was not the issue! TD discusses T&T’s shortlived Concacaf U-20 adventure

“[…] We saw an array of talent across the board and not with just 20 …

226 comments

  1. Is there a criteria checklist that the coaches have to meet? Or is it the cheapest for the shortest time possible?

  2. Hart but Dennis Lawrence would be a great asst

  3. Lasana Liburd they need to bring back Hart if Trinidad and Tobago stand a chance to qualify for world cup.He is the one that got us to the final stages and the players had somewhat adated to his system of play.The only thing the warriors need is key addition to the side.Firstly we need Strikers with an eye for the goal that can take on defenders.We have to play to our strenghts we have skillfull and speedy wingers, don’t you think we should have a Strikers that will be able to get into the box to be in the receiving end of those crosses,Kenwyn jones do not have the speed to be in that system.Secondly we need to be Physically and mentality fit for 90 min.Lastly we need to communicate better on and off the field from ttfa right down to the players,players should not worry about any distraction but play football.Remember this team under Hart stood up to the mighty Mexicans on a couple of occasion under Hart.This is not the Benchmark we want to reach?

    • Do you know harts record ?????

    • No I don’t, I know we are in the final stage of the hex and that is what is important.I know he had the country buzzing again after the gold cup.You dont think he did alot without much help from TTFA?

    • Shawn Lee… I agree with you 90%… But Hart’s system of play no matter what seemed to include Kenwyn Jones and ANY OTHER 10 though but yet u say “we need strikers with an eye for the goal… And Kenwyn Jones does not have the speed to be in that system”… But Hart insisted on using Jones clearly… The coach has to find the players, not the TTFA, the coach has to pick the right team, not the TTFA and clearly with Hart’s decision to constantly using Kenwyn without fail is what lead to his demise…

    • So Shawn Lee after 3 and half years he only 16 games from 43, is that great ??? Can that justify a rehiring ????

    • Bass Cleff. I think he would he would off made the change with Kenwyn Jones, but because of public opinion about Jones and numorous outside coaches I think TTFA move to hastily in there decision making to fire him .I guess they wanted him to make that decision to please the public but egoes bump head and this is the situation we in now.

    • Take note Shawn Lee of his record before coaching tnt !!! Any big club or top country ?????

    • Shawn Lee do you kenwyne record as a goal scorer for tnt ?????

    • Kj tally is about 89 games for tnt currently and not 83

    • Trini Don so you still think we should build a team around Jones? When most of the team is fast and Kenwyn is not up to speed and cannot last 90 mins in a game.Your captain suppose to lead by example with the way he approach the game.

    • Hey Shawn Lee my point basically is that Coach Hart is overated, and the results he received over the last 3 and half years has been poor, however Kenwyne Jones , is probably the WORST Captain tnt ever had. besides being slow and lazy, he has a very poor ball controll for a player at this level. He is not a dribbler, or a great shooter, passer etc, his football IQ in my opinion us very low, i think he should revert to a defender, as yorke reinvented himself as a striker to a holding midfielder

    • How can a coach be overated and he led the team to the doorstep to qualify for the world cup.I guess he had them playing at the right time.You cannot look at the past,Coaches are judge of what they did lately .

    • Shawn in 2016 he lost 8 out of 13 games, drew 2 and won only 3…..thats recent…. are u happy about that ….??? St clair tookbus to the hex also, and gally as well in 1989….you dont get a medal for hex ok

    • I am happy that we in the last six to give us a chance to the world cup.Does dont matter about record at this Point he was doing something right that led us to wher e we at now.Why change NOW? because certain people got power to do so.CRAZY.

    • Shawn Lee what shall i say, if you are happy with a mediocre coach and mediocre captain, please enjoy…..but football us a results business

    • Well he is no longer the coach.Hope that who ever they put will finish what he started. So far they are doing a terrible job.I wondér why the players are writing letters asking ttfa to hiring back?

    • Well the players should on being fitt, and continously improving on their game, and be prepared to wear that red white and black proudly, irregardless of the coach

  4. ..The players need to shut up with the public statements about who they want for coach and try to play some football. They could have an opinion, to be sure, but their job is to play football. They HAD Hart and let him down now they want him back? This player power business is a JOKE. They need to focus on their JOB and leave the selection of coaches to those who have that portfolio..

  5. Hart would be an idiot to come back here after being dismissed in the manner that he was. Especially with Isaacs & Babwah on the technical staff! In my opinion, if the TTFA and its President were really about getting the team to qualify for Russia 2018, they would have hired a coach who is already familiar with the players, the mandate being to get the team up & playing the kind of football that would bring positive results (see U.S. rehiring Bruce Arena). Instead they hired a “Saint” for obvious reasons (if only obvious to me).

  6. Carlos Lee: An anonymous player claimed the information in the players’ poll was misrepresented… Of course I don’t know that is true and Jan-Michael Williams stands by his letter:
    http://www.guardian.co.tt/sports/2017-01-14/maturana-among-five-candidates-interviewed

    • Lasana – Can’t say I’m surprised of that. I personally don’t think such a letter should have drafted to begin with. But as I said previously some players are simply trying to ensure their survival/selection. Anyway – hoping non of those listed in Jan-Michael’s shortlist and in the link provided get the nod. They would all make decent assistant coaches, but none are deserving of the head coach position in this situation. Let’s go after former Panama national team coach and player, Dely Valdez, or former US coach Bradley. I would even go after someone like Ryan Giggs or Paul Ince. Someone players would respect and be willing to give their all for. Someone with some name recognition and with connections that would make it easier for us to get decent friendly matches. And someone that spectators would align with, respect, and support.

    • My foreign base Coach Bradley from my second sweetest country will be coming to where eh Carlos Lee, not until the bootleg corrupted TTFA really gets their act together eh, and you and I know that won’t be happening anytime soon. Them really good yes.

  7. . . .we can’t pay for a good coach but we fired the best we had. So where do we go from here? Our players to need to understand talent is not enough.

  8. Too many tin pot tyrants. Dr politics not dead.

  9. Ive been saying for a while now….latapy is who they setting up to bring it

  10. Latas failed to deliver before, and his current stint with the youths not going well.

  11. Why is it that every Sport governing body in Trinidad & Tobago have confusion? Is it the way we think?

  12. Joey like you get entangle in the flag? You really good yes.??????

  13. 8 games left guys come on man het yall sh8t together.. Usa is there to beat.. We can hamdle panama .. We need to get our sh8t together man. This is depressing!!!!!

  14. Yuh mean on the road to Russia 2018 Joey Richardson. hahahaha

  15. Or selris figaro n ian clauzel

  16. Everad gally cummings is d man for the job

  17. I like the players really dont care who is the coach but i care about players total commitment to team country and coach ah cant take another Morineo best coach uncomitted players i also want unconditional statement vowing their total commitment leaving the partying for when with their clubs they come here to work hard all of the foreigners can afford to party their own way party not on my time and $$$$ fellars agree about that medical team too they served thier time well on and off the field so all i want is the same energy and effort i put out in the stands paying to do from those who getting paid to play every one is surprised to see me paying to enter games who does be in most games at airport alone to meet the team win loose or draw or dropped i there so i feel i could demand a greater effort moving foward together on the road to Germany

  18. Lasana did the technical staff meet with the potential coaches? Any updates?

  19. Everything reads as a MASSIVE ball of confusion. Where is the LEADERSHIP? and I do not mean PERSONS occupying leadership positions. As with everything else in Trinidad, it is a straight case of EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF.

  20. Please latapy he have d record for d worst coach in Trinidad football ,,,,never win a game

  21. SCF track record in champions League should be be enough to disqualify him as a fair measure of competence….d man track record in concacaf level not good…….at all

  22. But at the same time all TTFA leader ship has to go .. their policies suck..no plans

  23. Fenwick. Hart took us to another level but we someone who will finish the journey.

  24. Best allyuh did take lara cuz apparently this football is ah joke
    Latapy is no stranger but we need more experience man come on ??

  25. What we need is top class players. Problem not really with coach.
    Just so much you could do with what you working with.

    Keeping it real.

  26. Would love to see the objective scoring criteria everyone and the TTFA is using to select the “best” coach.

  27. Though not mentioned by the players I think Gally Cummings did a fantastic job with the Strike Squad and has the capacity to successfully lead the national team. With the assistance of Brian Williams and Latapy as the coaches of the the under 20 and 17 respectively. This would ensure some continuity in the coaching of the Senior Men’s Team.

  28. In 2005 senior members of the team objected to the appointment of Atkinson but accepted Leo so this is nothing new.

  29. No coach, try something new, let them just run unto the field and play just so, call it indiscipline football, they might do better, cause that’s what T&T football is about.

  30. Latapy does not have that kind of experience and expertise. Our teams needs a Fitness expert to start any kind of rebuilding process.

  31. Players should never be allowed to pick a coach as some may get the idea that the selection would be bias as loyalty to players who asked for them to be the coach. I want the best side not any bias selection. Cause even with Hart we saw some players under sanifiet that never got a look in under hart and played better than some of these players calling back for hart. I want an unbiased coach who only want good results and not picking players cause they are good with them

  32. Latas will not work under Hart … his ego is too big for that

  33. Latapy has a poor coaching rep ….so disaapointing to me because he was such a gem of a player ….think him with hart would have been a good idea but Hartie aint coming back to this bs

  34. Pride of the ttfa is most likely going to keep them from reinstating Hart. But he’s the best choice I find. And somebody tell Williams to keep his hands out of the day to day running of the team.

  35. A genuine crisis, a wise man once said, is a situation in which whatever you do is wrong. Using that definition, the current situation in national football qualifies,

    So, if I were in charge of the TTFA, what I would do is between now and March 28, take NO action likely to affect the national team’s performance in the next two WC qualifiers except provide such funding as I can.

    Leave the “prima donnas” to fend for themselves, setting up their own schedules, “hiring” their own coach(es), selecting their own teams. That way several problems would be solved, including the very real $$$ problem that few are admitting exists.

    And we can then start with a clean slate and a clear vision on the evening of March 28.

    Might as well be slaughtered for a flock of flocking sheep as for a lone lamb.

  36. If DJW can put aside his ego and bias and if the members of the Technical Committee can grow a pair then we have hope that history will not repeat itself with another rediculous selection…Terry Fenwick is the BEST way to go at this point in time…Let’s not forget in 2005 we ALSO lost our first 2 games vs USA at home and vs Guatemala away so all hope is not yet lost.

    • Brian….what has Terry Fenwick actually done to make you believe he is the best way to go at this time?

    • Brian Springer everyone is beating the Terry tune now. Why do you think he makes such a good candidate?

    • I’ll give you 10 reasons Kester Lendor 1. He KNOWs the players having coached many of them before so less learning curve and we don’t have much time for a new coach to get familiar a la Tom DeFeat 2. He’s been following the team via game commentary and identified areas where we could improve so he’s practically been on the job already 3. He’s familiar with our opposition having Coached in CONCACAF CL 4. He’s a DEFENDER and THAT is the area we need a lot of work 5. He’s a no-nonsense Coach that will instill a lot of PASSION into team-play…NO-ONE will be allowed to “Coast” and think they are an automatic pick 6. He has a history of unearthing and developing a lot of YOUNG players from his time at Jabloteh and continues to do so now with Football Factory so expect some new faces for the future 8. You can rest assured DISCLIPLINE will NOT be an issue under HIS watch 9. He’s already in the country and can start work tomorrow 10. He should be affordable

    • P.S. I don’t join bandwagons i START them 😉

    • Yuh know Andre errol baptiste, Lasana Liburd, Ross Russell, Mike Mc and just about everyone on wired qualifies according to ur requirements.
      1. He know the players
      2. Follows the game via commentary
      3. Familiar with opposition
      4. We need help up top, centre field, defence, in goal, transition from defense to attack and attack to defence. Priddie much everywhere on the field.
      5. They’re no nonsense. (Actually Tom was too and look at the team he ended up with)
      6. Unearthing new talent aka scout at the NSL, zones U20 programs & overseas.
      7. New faces in the future. Well i do hope the current bunch wont play into their 40s (lol)
      That is exactly why i asked the question. Maybe Terry is the man but just wanna know what are the reasons.

    • Well unlike those names you mentioned Terry has actually PLAYED in a Senior Men’s World Cup so knows what it takes to get there.

    • So too did Russell and Dennis Lawrence champ.

    • Lawrence I can say give a shot Latas tried and FAILED miserably first with Senir Team then more recently with the U-17’s

    • …and you left out Dwight Yorke.

  37. the players need to do what they not doing right now playing good football an not pick who they want this gold cup fiasco was staged by the players because they hate discipline .they not worthy to rep tnt

  38. Pleased to see the players speak up as this is not quite standing up, I would have preferred all 23 players who support this position take the similar risk as Jan Michael by publicly adding their names. The absence of their names hints of a symptom of the problem within the TTFA and our football. Ironically, its not too difficult to figure out a large pool of the 23 so why “hide” behind Jan gloves. I hope that I am not being too critical but I think in our culture we need to see those 23 Men willing to Stand UP(sorry for the caps LL)

    After all you are leaving your families and risking your careers on National duty often to NOT get paid and you are not speaking up much less standing UP. How can we expect you to fight for your country if you are not fighting for yourselves?

    For those who asking the players to be quiet and just play, the last question above is for you.

    Regarding hiring a coach, I have no damn idea only one thought do NOT hire anyone with your primary reason being Russia 2018. Hire a coach who can prepare for 2022 and 2026 that is prepared to work with this group, U20, U17 and establish a serious technical committee with a serious technical director. I am not saying abandon 2018 because you cant when games are left to be played but approach it with the future in mind.

  39. This is real jokes, yes! I wonder where in the world you, as an employee, can make a request for a preferred boss. Dem fellas ain’t ready and might never be! Dem on jokes this morning.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.