Lawrence names Warriors coaching staff: Stern, Fevrier, Ross and Berdien included

Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team head coach Dennis Lawrence has appointed former 2006 World Cup teammate Stern John and W Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier to his backroom staff, which was finally released this morning by the TTFA.

John and Fevrier join former Arsenal legend and England captain Sol Campbell as Lawrence’s three assistant coaches.

Photo: Central FC head coach Dale Saunders (right) gives instructions to substitute Sean De Silva (centre) while assistant coach Stern John gestures during Pro League action against San Juan Jabloteh at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on 5 February 2017. (Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Photo: Central FC head coach Dale Saunders (right) gives instructions to substitute Sean De Silva (centre) while assistant coach Stern John gestures during Pro League action against San Juan Jabloteh at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on 5 February 2017.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

John, who is Trinidad and Tobago’s all-time record goal scorer, is in his second season as assistant coach at Central FC, which just won their third successive Pro League title.

Fevrier, a St Lucian by birth, is one of the Pro League’s most successful coaches and managed Lawrence during his own stint as national head coach, just over a decade ago.

Lawrence named Ma Pau Stars head coach Ross Russell as his goalkeeping coach. Russell played alongside Lawrence for Defence Force and, briefly, with the National Senior Team. Russell also serves as goalkeeping coach for the National Under-20 Team.

Israel Dowlat replaces Dr Terence Bawbah as team doctor although Dave Isaac keeps his place in the squad.

Babwah and Isaac were both embroiled in controversy after their perceived role in the dismissal of former head coach Stephen Hart and a letter from the Soca Warriors, which was delivered by national goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, called for both medical staff members to be removed.

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)

In another eye-raising appointment, the local football body has kept South Africa fitness conditioning coach Riedoh Berdien who worked under Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet.

Football Fitness Ltd, a South African fitness company closely associated with Berdien, mocked Trinidad and Tobago football’s football—just three weeks ago—and spoke disparagingly of Hart.

“T&T will never play a WC again,” tweeted Football Fitness. “Maybe qualify for the hockey WC [hysterical laughter emoticon].”

Berdien claimed the controversial tweets were not his own although the account regularly retweeted from the fitness trainer and displayed a close knowledge of Trinidad and Tobago football matters.

And now the South African is set to return to Trinidad for more employment, just days after national forward Cornell Glen blamed the pre-Gold Cup play off training under Saintfiet for a string of injuries in the camp.


Glen, Carlos Edwards, Hughtun Hector, Carlyle Mitchell and Maurice Ford all carried injuries into last month’s Gold Cup play offs when the Warriors were eliminated after home defeats to Suriname and Haiti.

Photo: Football Fitness Ltd takes on Wired868 reader Kendall Tull. Ex-Trinidad and Tobago football team fitness trainer Riedoh Berdien claimed he did not send that tweet.
Photo: Football Fitness Ltd takes on Wired868 reader Kendall Tull.
Ex-Trinidad and Tobago football team fitness trainer Riedoh Berdien claimed he did not send that tweet.

The rest of the technical staff comprises of: Saron Joseph (massage therapist), Stephen Bradley (evaluation science GPRS), Matthew Hawkes (match analyst), Michael Williams (equipment manager) and Shaun Fuentes (media officer).

Hawkes is believed to have worked with Lawrence at Everton while Bradley is a former Arsenal scout.
Trinidad and Tobago lost their two opening CONCACAF Hex matches against Costa Rica and Honduras and need a result at home to Panama and Mexico—on 24 and 28 March respectively—to revamp their chances of qualifying for the Russia 2018 World Cup.

Lawrence is believed to have a two and a half year deal with the TTFA, although neither the football body nor the new coach have revealed any details about their arrangement.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams (right) makes a ceremonial gesture to his new Men's National Senior Team head coach Dennis Lawrence at the TTFA headquarters on 30 January 2017. (Copyright Allan V Crane/TTFA)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams (right) makes a ceremonial gesture to his new Men’s National Senior Team head coach Dennis Lawrence at the TTFA headquarters on 30 January 2017.
(Copyright Allan V Crane/TTFA)

(Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team staff)

Head Coach: Dennis Lawrence

Assistant Coaches: Sulzeer “Sol” Campbell, Stuart Charles-Fevrier, Stern John

Goalkeeper Coach: Ross Russell

Fitness Conditioning Coach: Riedoh Berdien

Team Doctor: Israel Dowlat

Paramedic: Dave Isaac

Massage Therapist: Saron Joseph

Evaluation Science GPRS: Stephen Bradley

Match Analyst: Matthew Hawkes

Media Officer: Shaun Fuentes

Equipment Manager: Michael Williams

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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.

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97 comments

  1. ..In modern football EVERYBODY plays the same style. The differences between teams are merely tactical..

  2. If you read DAS Reboot about how Germany reinvented itself football wise, if you examine the plans the Belgium put in place and the resurgence of a confident Brazil at the core and the beginning of those conversations are about culture and the style of football they will play. To hear this from the likes of Warren Archibald and Russell Latapy should warrant some consideration.

  3. This is the only style that we need to follow and it is many moons now that I have been saying that eh. steeuuppss. Them really good yes.

  4. This is what is needed in T&T, ever heard of Jinga style

  5. There seems to be a lot of talk from coaches recently about playing our style or our way. I agree that Germany, France, Italy, and Brazil play a style to match their culture and all national football planning starts with your culture. However, I am not sure exactly what our culture is and the style that will result. Thoughts?

  6. I must look back to see if England allowed Gary Neville to continue his job as Valencia coach while assistant. I think they did.
    In recent times, the role of assistant coach has not been a salaried job but one they got match fees for.

  7. Just read and article in the Newsday where the W connection coach said he will not be leaving his position at the club has he is only and assistant coach and the national team comes together a week before a game.

  8. Question, if Dennis turn down the head coach job, who would you give it to and why?

  9. am can someone please explain to me , in what way does stewupss qualify to be a assistant coach and how in Gods Good love and mercy did he get to be assistant, i doubt Dennis is so clueless? like really

  10. Lol. I was trying to understand myself Kurtwyn!

  11. The young lady was murdered by a demon in our sweet Tobago country and Coach Dennis said that he hopes that her family gets over what happened to her eh Steeuuppsss . Them really good yes.

  12. We’ll see how this combination works … Hope it’s not a case of “Two Bo Rats” …

  13. Lasana Liburd I think I missed something was this video meant to help me understand

  14. I really like the quality of experience put together,but the chain of commands would be tested and sadly if this house is built of straws..guess what will happen if a defeat or 2 blows our way.

  15. Stern is a finishing specialist … Camphell is a defensive specialist … not a bad option.

  16. We in Trinidad have the most ‘licensed’ coaches in all the sports. I can speak for athletics where we have hundreds of ‘licensed’ coaches. Do they all coach?
    NO.
    But every year they continue to go on paid coaching seminars and workshops to get more licenses. It’s a mimic society. ..where we like to flash credentials and not doing one arse with it.

  17. Eat ah food mentality friend thing again what credentials Stern hound has he will teach them how to get in 51 degree’s Zen etc what a joke

  18. Was the doctor giving bad medical advice ?

  19. Mamaguy and mimic…. we don’t intend to change. ..how come the controversial ‘doctor’ was replaced?

  20. So DJW gets his wish and has his choice foisted … I mean, selected … to be part of the coaching team after all. Does this mean that Fevrier is going to quit his post as W Connection coach to take up.this appointment? Or will he remain doubly in the employ of his life master King David, who as yet has not divested himself of his interests in W Connection as he is supposed to.have done months ago?
    Does this also mean that Stern John will similarly quit his roles at Central FC as well? Potential conflicts of interest in abundance …
    Nevertheless, I wish Dennis all the best in transforming this motley crew back into the feared CONCACAF that it was under the heights of Hart!

  21. Trinidad and Tobago football is real ???.

  22. That dude who only shaking ppl hands is a blight, get rid of him ,,, swear I don’t even kno his name ?

  23. It will be interesting to see what is the philosophy of play will be, I see opposing types in this line-up.

    This appears to be a line-up to appease everyone, in other words, politically inclined.

  24. Well you better don’t take to long to reload eh, because you is full of plenty wisdom and we will be waiting very patiently lol

  25. Brent, I believe I will in 2 days. I am in KC as we speak and this entire charade of ideas, choices, sacks, approvals, rejections, interviews, and you can add to list of descriptions, is mesmerizing, I need to recoil, before I uncoil, reload before I unload. Take care.

  26. I would love to make a comment here, but this situation is either too simple to explain or too out of reach even for the wise and I feel unequipped for either.

  27. Stuart Charles-Fevrier . What is he doing there. Terry fenwick is a better option. Was that call jW

  28. Any leader is as good as the people around them. Lawrence’s thought process seems to help in that direction. Good start.

  29. Ah wait and see approach… give me Hart any day of the week with his staff..

    My bad, the dictator didn’t want to give him a full staff lol

  30. Lasana Liburd, who is the team manager?

  31. I want to know if these fellas leave they clubs if no is the answer then we not serious about anything

  32. hahahahahahaha That head line should read “My dictator president appoints the most winning Coach in the professional league Prof Stuart Charles Fevrier , his head Coach of his team W- Connection professional team, along with Stern John and Ross Russel , so now W- Connection and Central F. C. will be running things, oh well I will also be waiting every patiently to see who will be the players from the both teams that will be representing our Soca Worries eh…..Congratulations . Them really good yes.

  33. What is stern credentials as a Coach besides being an asst at central fc ?

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