I can’t handle the dishonesty! Veteran Warriors star Carlos Edwards vows to quit Central FC

“They are too disrespectful in terms of how they treat and pay their players,” veteran Trinidad and Tobago international and Central FC full-back Carlos Edwards told Wired868. “And when they do pay, it is as if you have to beg for your own money. When you make a commitment and it comes time to produce and you’re not producing, we have a problem.

“Just deal with me straight up; and, if you can’t do that, it doesn’t make sense I give 100 percent.”

Photo: Central FC full back Carlos Edwards (right) tries to keep the ball from Cibao FC playmaker Charles Hérold Jr while coach Albert Benaiges gestures during 2017 Caribbean Club Championship action at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on 18 May 2017.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

Those are likely to be Edwards’ parting words as a Pro League player, as the former England Premier League and World Cup 2006 winger appears set to leave Trinidad and return to Britain.

Edwards should have been at the Hasely Crawford Stadium last night, as Central faced Árabe Unido in Concacaf League Round of 16 action. However, he boycotted the match in protest of the club’s management.

In the post-game news conference after Central’s 2-1 loss, the “Couva Sharks” assistant coach Stern John said Edwards was given time-off to attend to his ailing mother, Elizabeth.

“Carlos is away because he had some problems with his mom,” said John, who played alongside Edwards at the 2006 World Cup. “His mom wasn’t well so we gave him some time out to look after his mom.”

It was, Edwards explained, only a fraction of the story—and a conveniently selected part at that.

Photo: Sunderland and Trinidad and Tobago flanker Carlos Edwards (right) chases Chelsea and England left back Ashley Cole during a Premier League match at The Stadium Of Light, Sunderland on 15 March 2008.
(Copyright AFP 2017/Andrew Yates)

Edwards’ mother was unwell and was taken to the hospital as a precaution before being discharged after 24 hours. But that had little to do with his absence on Thursday night or his pending departure for Britain.

“I have a good relationship with Stern and Stern understands,” said Edwards. “But then Stern is just a coach [and] it is not his club. But when it comes to certain individuals…”

Central’s majority shareholder and managing director is another former 2006 World Cup player and ex-Sport Minister, Brent Sancho. Wired868 tried unsuccessfully to reach Sancho and operations director Kevin Harrison for comment.

At present, Edwards is owed just one month’s salary at Central, which is a distinct improvement from his time with Ma Pau Stars. But he explained why he felt disrespected by Sancho at the Sharks.

“I am one of the most easy-going people and I know the [financial] problems in the League,” said Edwards. “If you come and reason with me, I will understand. But don’t tell me something and then don’t do it and be all macho about it too.


Photo: Central FC managing director and ex-Sport Minister Brent Sancho (second from right) is flanked by then Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar (right) and former World Cup 2006 star and Central coach Stern John during the opening of the Irwin Park Sporting Complex in Siparia in 2015.
Sancho is TTFA president William Wallace’s most outspoken critic.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

“[…] If I tell you I will pay you on Tuesday, then when Tuesday comes you will be looking for me to pay you, not so? But when the day comes, you don’t hear anything and you still have to turn around, then what is going on?

“And then for him to tell me: ‘study the football, we will study that’. Well, if that is how you are moving with me, we will have a problem.”

Edwards’ concerns with the operations at Central are hardly unique. Last year, Shaka Hislop condemned Sancho’s treatment of former club captain Marvin Oliver, who was sacked and then slandered by the Sharks.

And Sancho was forced to flee the training ground on another occasion when defender Andre Ettienne tried to confront him over unpaid salaries.

Former Central attackers Marcus Joseph and Willis Plaza and coach Terry Fenwick also left under acrimonious circumstances while the high-profile departures from the club that won a record three Pro League titles in as many seasons include Jan-Michael Williams, Leston Paul, Darren Mitchell, Kevon Villaroel and Rundell Winchester.

Photo: Central FC goal scorer Jean-Luc Rochford (front) and his teammates celebrate with the 2015 Caribbean Club Championship trophy.
Looking on is Central FC operations director Kevin Harrison (top left) and Bankers Insurance CEO Vance Gabriel (top centre).
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

In September 2015, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) initiated a probe against Sancho and Harrison for: their conduct with regard to the transfers of Central FC forward Winchester, the signing of then 16-year-old winger Levi Garcia and the alleged misappropriation of CONCACAF funds and non-payment of bonuses to Central players.

However, the TTFA action stalled under current president David John-Williams, who took over at the helm of the football body in December 2015.

Ironically, Sancho and Harrison were founding members of the now defunct Football Players Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) alongside interim president, Hislop.

Edwards, a former England Premier League player with Sunderland, said the Pro League desperately needs an operational players’ body, which he feels will be just as beneficial to the clubs and the standard of the competition as it would be to the players themselves.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Carlos Edwards (right) protects the ball from United States midfielder DaMarcus Beasley during 2010 World Cup qualifying action at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois on 10 September 2008.
(Copyright AFP 2017/Getty Images/Brian Kersey)

He suggested that local players face mental anguish from the non-payment or late payment of salaries—often delivered piecemeal—constantly changing training and match schedules and club owners who are not in tune with the needs of employees.

“I am not studying myself alone,” said Edwards. “Yes, I have four kids, a wife and a mortgage to pay but I really feel for the kids—some of whom have to travel from as far as Point [Fortin] to train all over the place—and don’t know when their next salary is coming.

“I can be greedy and tell Sancho I only care about my money but I always fought for the players as well.”

Edwards’ imminent departure marks a bitter-sweet end to his short-lived return home last year alongside former international teammate Jason Scotland, who once represented Wigan Athletic in the England Premiership as well as Dundee United and Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premier League.

“I think it’s about time, coming home to give back something [and help] put the Pro League back on the map,” Edwards told the TT Pro League in September 2016, “to help the younger guys try to emulate what I’ve experienced throughout my career.

“That’s one of the main reasons why I’m actually back home here.”

Photo: Wigan Athletic and Trinidad and Tobago forward Jason Scotland (right) tussles with Manchester City and France legend Patrick Vieira.

Edwards and Scotland opted to sign for Ma Pau Stars under then coach Ross Russell, who once played alongside the pair at Defence Force. But, off the field, it was a nightmare.

The two agreed deals with Bankers Insurance to meet their salaries at Stars, which went smoothly for the first two months. But then the payments stopped. When Scotland enquired about the status quo  with Bankers Insurance CEO Vance Gabriel, they were told that their deal was actually a fourth party one.

Bizarrely, Scotland and Edwards were playing for Stars with their salaries meant to come through Bankers Insurance from a contractor they had never heard of before. They were not paid again for the duration of their six-month spell at the club.

Things appeared to take a turn for the better when National Youth Team co-ordinator Russell Latapy, another 2006 World Cup teammate, called the duo to work as assistant coaches for the Under-15 and Under-17 Teams.

“Russell called me and put something towards us about how he wanted to start afresh with the younger boys and create a system leading them straight up to the National Senior Team,” said Edwards. “It sounded like a good plan.”

Photo: Then Trinidad and Tobago national youth team head coach Russell Latapy (centre) supervises a National Under-17 training session in 2016.
At his right are Mark Ramdeen and Kishon Hackshaw while Emmanuel John is on the far right.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

Scotland has his UEFA ‘B’ coaching license while Edwards said he is a few courses away from getting his ‘B’ license as well. Both men jumped at the opportunity.

After around two dozen training sessions without pay or a contract from the TTFA, Edwards and Scotland called time on their short tenure as international youth coaches, though.

“We started based on word of mouth from Russell and we coached for about six and seven weeks,” said Edwards. “Jason asked Russell about payment and Russell [said] he would see what he could do. By then, I smelled the rat but Jason was so passionate about the coaching side of things that he really wanted to stick it out.

“But there is only so much we could do, so we gradually pulled ourselves away.”

Scotland had tired of the Trinidad football scene by then and, soon after the Pro League season ended, he returned to Britain.

Photo: Ma Pau Stars striker Jason Scotland (left) holds off Police FC midfielder Kenaz Williams in the First Citizens Cup semifinal on 27 November 2016.
Stars won 3-2 on penalties.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Whereas the TTFA failed to offer him a job—and the local football body subsequently hired W Connection coaches Stuart Charles-Fevrier, Leonson Lewis and Clyde Leon to run its Elite Youth Development programme—Hamilton Academical manager Martin Canning hired Scotland as an assistant coach last month.

Canning told the Scotland Daily Record that he is using ‘Scottie’ to work the club’s attacking players and he said the former Malick schoolboy is off to a good start.

“I phoned him in the summer, met him for a coffee and asked if he would be interested [and] he jumped at the chance,” Canning told the Record. “Initially we were looking just to get him in once or twice a week to work with the strikers, but that has progressed to him helping with the Under-20s and doing striker work [there] as well.

Photo: Former Trinidad and Tobago and England Premier League forward Jason Scotland conducts a session with the Arima North Secondary football team in July 2019.
(Copyright Annalicia Caruth/Wired868)

“It’s good for him. He’s really keen and eager to help and hopefully, with his knowledge and the level he has played at, he can benefit the guys.”

Edwards, who started his professional career alongside Scotland and current Soca Warriors head coach Dennis Lawrence at Defence Force, hopes to follow the lead of his former teammates.

“I want to coach,” said the 39-year-old Edwards, who is still a member of the current Trinidad and Tobago international player pool. “That is one of the reasons I want to head back to England to finish up my UEFA ‘B’ license. I need my final assessment to finish.”

Edwards, who has 97 full international caps with four goals, said he will discuss his Warriors future with Lawrence soon. He still hopes to help out for Trinidad and Tobago’s four vital upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers in September and October. However, his Central contract could potentially stop him from playing at even Conference level in Britain—unless Sancho releases him.

Photo: Ma Pau Stars players (from left) Glenton Wolffe, Carlos Edwards and Jason Scotland stand over a free kick during the First Citizens Bank Cup final against Defence Force at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain on 2 December 2016.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

Edwards said his return to “Red, White and Black” colours was the one silver lining from his time back home. He played four times under former coach Tom Saintfiet before managing an additional five caps—including three in World Cup qualifiers—under Lawrence.

It ended a three-year spell in the international wilderness for Edwards who was not used by coach Stephen Hart after the 2013 Gold Cup, barring a friendly in November of that year that was supposed to be a farewell affair for Chris Birchall and Edwards.

“It feels real good to be back [on the international stage],” said Edwards. “I am vexed when Dennis puts me on the bench sometimes. [Chuckles] But I am not a 25-year-old anymore and I know he has to manage [my energy levels].

“It feels so good to be back representing my country and I will try my best to help the team for the next four games if selected.”

However, Edwards suggested that even the lure of international football could not compensate for his unhappiness at Central.

Photo: Central FC players celebrate lifting the 2015 Digicel Charity Shield title after a 1-0 win over rivals W Connection.
Despite onfield success, players were allegedly left missing salaries and bonuses by the club.
(Courtesy DPI Photography/Wired868)

“If I have to stop for the betterment of myself and my family, then I will have to do that,” Edwards told Wired868. “Anyone can tell you that when I train, I train at a 100 percent. I don’t say I am 39 so I will take a stroll across the park; I train hard!

“But if people are disrespecting me, then why should I?”

The veteran suggested that the Pro League administration was not doing enough for players or the reputation of the competition either and urged the administrators to lift their standards.

“A lot of people seem to be looking at a players’ association as a confrontational thing but that is not the case,” he said. “A players’ association would help advise on a lot of things that would be for the betterment of everyone. In all my years as a player, this is the first time I have been in a league where there are no fixed fixtures and sometimes you will get a text telling you about a game just hours before the game.

“I think the advertising of the League is the biggest downfall because the few fans we have don’t even know when games are… There is great potential but people need to put more thought into it and be honest.”

Photo: Pro League acting chairman and Central FC managing director Brent Sancho.
(via TTFA Media)

Edwards insisted that there were no hard feelings with Sancho or Central. He just knows that that environment is not for him.

“I plan to take my family back to England,” he said. “I thought at one stage I could come and settle back in Trinidad but it is too much… I cannot handle the dishonesty, and the lack of communication is too much.

“I now see why people say we are not First World; (it’s) because we don’t do things properly and with pride. I have no problem with Sancho but the communication side of it is an issue for me.

“Be straight with me and (it’ll be) smooth sailing.”

For now, it appears that Edwards, a former Chaconia Medal (Gold) recipient with the 2006 World Cup team, will be sailing straight out of the struggling Pro League.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago flanker Carlos Edwards gallops into open space during 2006 World Cup action against Sweden in Dortmund, Germany on 10 June 2006.
The two nations played to a goalless draw.
(Copyright AFP Photo/Sven Nackstrand)
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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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157 comments

  1. “Those fellahs don’t mean good to young players,” said Oliver. “I can say plenty about what goes on at Central but the Father says a still tongue is better. What happened today hurt but the joy is greater. I can walk with my head high.

    “I know Brent (Sancho) from when we played National Under-12 together. Dale Saunders and I played National Under-23 football and Stern John and I played in the EFA (Eastern Football Association) together.
    “Now, they can’t watch me in my face. They got opportunities I didn’t get as a player but I have more class than those fellahs.”
    http://wired868.com/2016/01/26/central-sack-marvin-oliver-veteran-playmaker-lifts-lid-on-toxic-sharks/

  2. Malik the players like that shit after all the nonsense sanko did players went back and sign

    • Dion … if you’re a pro player and you have limited opportunities what would you do?. Everybody have to eat ah food …..Sancho know that which is why he uses it against them. Their desperation means they’ll take far less than they’re worth and he knows it. Sancho aint worth the spit out of Hitler’s mouth ….

  3. Earl doh laugh these things off ….that’s our problem. Doh take these things lightheartedly ….this is a serious issue ….it’s too easily turned into some ol talk and brushed under the carpet. The future of TT football is seriously being undermined by corrupt, incompetent buffoons. If you want to do something a committee with the right mix of people need to be in it … current players, ex players… coaches …people who care …business men …who care. People need to mobilise. People who are locally based they’re right there in the fire

  4. Carlos the more u live the more u see

  5. Well I suggest that we plan a football revolution coup eh and get some tips from meh Prof Jamaal Shabazz in order for it to be very successful eh. Them really good yes.

  6. Ah F***it!! What can we do? What legal moves can we make to remove these corrupt leaders …any ideas? We always talking about these f**** …. do some research get some ideas ….m

  7. When will we grow….all the talent available just hadda work together on mutual terms….

  8. Carlos did you expect anything better from him?

  9. And they are paying my players $3000 a month and even less eh and want them to train very hard and play like the real professionals in my foreign base real football countries eh Them really good yes steeuuppss.

  10. All of this about the pro league and people still find the government should be giving these teams 50k every. single. month.

  11. Well I’m glad that there’s one more professional individual (nit just football) willing to call a spade a spade. Nationally and generally we lack that integrity. Given this to be the way the league and some teams are run, how can anyone be disappointed when turnout and support is low or poor ? Madness!

  12. This is so sad….on so many levels….. steups

  13. You really expected different from a person that was a part of the Yellow Slime UNC?

  14. Well the ex corrupted sports minister got 5 million from his ex corrupted government so of course he can pay his players plenty of monies and he and his right hand men want to have a bootleg professional team instead of finishing what they started the Professional Players Association to always defend my players rights eh steuupps eh Them really good yes.

  15. Allyuh unfair tuh Sanko man, de government eh pay dem dey prize money. How he supposed to pay players, out ah he own pocket??

  16. Very appropriate name – Sharks

  17. Indictment on the rest of the competition.but this season they won’t be winning nutten eh MR Live Wire. Them really good yes

  18. One thing I will say is that the technical staff at Central FC know their game. Because for that team to continue to do well despite all the problems off the field is saying something.
    Or maybe that is partly an indictment on the rest of the competition.

  19. Yeah and like how the Super League interim president and owner and Coach of Santa Rosa who is about 60 yrs old and is trying to hold on to the power of being the president of the upcoming elections eh and saying this and that about the 30 yr old candinate who is running against him that have plenty vision to get our football back on the right track before it is finally doomed forever eh I don’t know why he doesn’t allow the young blood to do his thing and just be there to give him some positive vibes eh, but they want to run the organizations until they are 100 yrs old Them really good yes Kirwin Weston

  20. Sport, like everything else in this country being ruined due to dishonesty, ego, and arrogance.

  21. “Russell called me and put something towards us about how he wanted to start afresh with the younger boys and create a system leading them straight up to the National Senior Team,” said Edwards. “It sounded like a good plan.”

    Scotland has his UEFA ‘B’ coaching license while Edwards said he is a few courses away from getting his ‘B’ license as well. Both men jumped at the opportunity.

    After around two dozen training sessions without pay or a contract from the TTFA, Edwards and Scotland called time on their short tenure as international youth coaches, though.”

    ehhh…pure madness…

    This thing running like a fete match squad from top to bottom.

    Sport has only gone down across the board in this country.

    • Sad to say but the two young men clearly were not briefed on how to go about your business in Trinidad and Tobago. What you think Travis?
      Once people feel they can get you for free here, they will not pay.

    • One part of this absurdity is they went by Latapy’s word… Second part is TTFA officials seeing these Scotland and Edwards assisting. What was the communication like with TTFA and then assistants?
      I highly doubt TTFA officials would’ve seen them assisting and not ask a question as to thief input and expectancies.

    • Scotland is a former international player with a UEFA B license but just ignored by the TTFA. I wonder how many former foreign based internationals are in the same boat.
      Raises further questions about the way the TTFA hires coaches. And the whole TTFA board would need to take blame for that.

    • Well my dictator president is making certain that Leoson Lewis and his other bootleg South Coaches eating a food the same eh $ 6000 a month eh and he continues to say that he can defend his moves. Them really good yes

    • Why is no one mentioning the director of football in all this madness or you guys just giving him a pass as usual.

    • Muhammad Isa? Hard to keep track of the titles…

    • Yes Lasana Liburd, I am amazed how many people hear about an individual and still decides to go find out. I can tell you as a coach you want the opportunity to advance your career ,but the crap some coaches willing to take is inexcusable. Then you have people like yuh pardner Fenwick talking about the skill sets taught in Europe not being taught in Trinidad. Ask him why he don’t teach dem skill sets to the people children in Football Factory who paying $600 a month for coaching. I sure not a FF player heading to Barca ????

    • And while yuh asking him that question eh ask him why he had to run with his tail between his legs from Belgium to return to our sweet, sweet country, leh meh go in meh closet and get meh court clothes ready eh. Them really good yes.

    • By the way Coach Travis Mulraine I hear that yuh coaching the team down there in Central eh so meh bound squad Petit Valley Super League team will be paying alyuh a visit later on today to beat up Alyuh team bad, bad, and meh baller for life Keron “Ball pest” Cummings will be bussing up alyuh nets to eh plenty of monies on him hahahahaha

    • We put Ball pest in they back pocket when we met and Lasana Liburd wrote that we wasn’t good enough to disturb him from grazing.

    • Them good yes Earl Mango Pierre ???

    • But I thought that they told me last night that the game is today in Central eh or this is a second time alyuh playing them eh Them really good yes.

    • Nah we on a bye today, is 3 teams from central

    • Well they really big up your name in the Valley last night eh I went down there to play some of meh styles for them for their opening of their City Corporation 7 a side tournament that officially starts on Monday eh Them really good yes.

    • Scotty has a uefa B license and we have a women U-17 team in need of a coach and he wasn’t even deployed to the elite program? We have qualified nationals out there. The problem is squarely the administration running ttfa football.

    • But it is long time that madness has been taking place with respect to the administration, even 30 yrs ago and nutten has changed Them really good yes.

    • Travis Mulraine stick to the point on hand and when you trying to be tricky at least do that well. The fee is actually 500 at football factory and 50 kids come for FREE. None of which are his nationality BUT MINE AND YOURS. Any of YOURS Heading to Barca or any.of YOURS you got on.Scholarships?

      Oh yeah and one more thing, you see those real nice goal post on cic grounds that cic and other schools use for FREE for intercol. Again, they belong to Football Factory

    • LOL , Reyna since he sent you to fight on his behalf. I will be nice , don’t like fighting with Ladies. There is nothing good about Fenwick if you benefiting in any way from your association with him and you think you need to defend him be my guest. Have a nice day Reyna Kowlessar.

    • I know exactly what benefits me or not and you definitely don’t. I.know you are used to having women as a doormat . Don’t confuse me with your doormats. Nobody SENDS ME TO FIGHT. Again careful with your allegations. Cause I have no problem using my intellect as a weapon which I know you can’t

    • O and mines you talk about are as follows:
      Denzil Theobald, Kerwyn Jemmott,
      Radanfah Abu Bakr,
      Attaula Guerra, Jomol Williams to name a few . We have produced scores of national senior and youth players a trip to Barca is not our priority. We look at the big picture.?

    • You seem to know alot about me and my women. That’s y I don’t fight with ladies.well at least I thought you were one.

    • Who says Barca is anyone’s priority Travis. Since you know. You should make a greater effort.

    • Greater effort to do what may I ask?

    • I sure do know a lot . I’ll let sleeping dogs lie for now. Your reputation precedes you. As I said words not weapons. Do more for your country . So foreigners wouldn’t have to

    • Have yourself a wonderful day Mr. Mulraine.

    • LoL, well I thought you knew me if you can say do more for your country then you don’t. I wouldn’t bother to tell you what I have done or is willing to do for my country. I Kno your type worship the white man sorry to upset you

    • You don’t have too, Wikipedia,Google doesn’t say much. But you definitely in my law books and the Hansard

    • LoL, law books ,so you’re a lawyer? Not impressed, lawyers do research you have done none before attacking me. I can get your life story by tomorrow around this time if I need to , so I can give you a few tips on your job ?

    • There you go again with your generalization. Your mere words shows no depth, your observations lacking. You think in a vacuum. You are actually quite boring and not worth the effort. Sad that was your come back. I didn’t think my life was a secret . But thanks for wanting to take the effort to find out. You are one of the reasons football is the state it’s in today. You did so much really? You busy with your doormats. Your prowess or not, is all over the net buddy. Careful with those cameras . They are clearly focusing on the wrong things. Enjoy your day Travis, your responses are really not worth one more second of my time

    • LoL , I hope on day you don’t get walked all over ,since you continue with your doormat talk, and your little bubble bursts and your illusions disappear because you are the one generalizing come and say it be a woman. Muslim men treat women like doormats that’s what you wanna say ? Say it I want to be certain when I take off the gloves LoL.

  22. Distasteful yet again by Sanko and Central FC

  23. Lasana Liburd you believe me now that the league is on life support??? Skeene is toothless because the board of directors are the team owners and he is not about to put his salary in jeopardy for a player. But you know what? Just it have people out there still praising Jack as a hero , people will still go and work with Central take licks complain and go back , maybe it’s a result of slavery

    • You see the stage for coaches is very limited, 10 teams in the pro league. Then the national senior team , nobody pays attention to youth teams or the super league teams. Then you have the burden of hearing that it have no good local coaches , so I empathize with the coaches he eat shit to stay in a job . It’s the players I don’t feel sorry for, they are the ones not putting out the product to bring out the crowds, only studying boat ride, minor league, and all kinds of shit not beneficial to their careers. Today a player can get a friend to come to his games with a smartphone and tape him ,edit the footage and send it out to a team and get a trials once he is able to pay for airfare and accommodation. That is investment for a footballer into his short career . How many players in the pro league willing to make that sacrifice, that means no Jordans, nice phones, brands and boat ride for let’s say one season,how many willing to make the sacrifice?

    • The Pro League doesn’t act on stuff like this. As was the case with Lyndon Andrews, for instance. For the sake of their League’s reputation, they have just got to do more for the players.
      I know Central FC got most of their prize money for winning the League on the first occasion, for instance. And many members of that squad–including Marvin Oliver–never got a cent. That’s wrong.

    • Did anybody get anything of the prize monies, bonuses, anything????

    • Travis Mulraine that means it’s our mind set have to change..

    • Sheldon, Harrison said some players were paid. I don’t know. I’d have to assume that they would say something if they were not.

    • Players do not speak up for they fear not getting another contract, not getting paid, another team blacklisting them because they stood up for themselves.

      Nobody here will go and live in Enterprise of their own free will, but players are housed there. And say nothing. Broken down beds etc, nobody has even gone to see the place.

    • Sheldon Scipio, what you said above is a fact of life in T&T, not just football. How many people see nonsense and remain quiet becuz they fraid they get fired? No one stands up for what they believe in…steups

    • See my comment above.
      I amused how we talk Trinidad in every regard and sphere..it is the same.
      The matter is not football, its Trinidad

  24. There have been numerous complaints about Central FC. If this the way Carlos was treated, imagine the way the average player treated, the conditions he lived under in Enterprise etc. Yet because he is under contract, and loves his sport has endured.

  25. The big boys pay themselves and don’t care about the real issue : Human Resource, (similar to employers)

  26. And just imagine that his (Skeene) salary is $ 30,000 a month eh and his bootleg professional league is still owing the teams their plenty of monies for wining the bootleg professional league Them really good yes steeuuppss

  27. How many times I’ll say this…. Trinidad have a Pro League? The administration and owners are not professional so how do we expect the players to develop any kind of professionalism. FIRE Dexter Skeene….he is the root of these problems…. he knows about it and stays silent.

  28. O Ye of little Faith God is great and never forget that son.

  29. No one should ever have to justify why they need to get paid.

  30. Mango like your still asleep partner

  31. Slowly but surely it will be up and running in our sweet country the same and it is all about the right timing. Them really good yes.

  32. Carlos already experienced an international flavour so he knows what’s professionalism when it comes to salaries but I feel sorry for an up an coming player who plays for one of these clubs, no payments for months…i say press the reset button with this so called Pro-league

  33. I was a part of the last association running around doing shit all of a sudden I get replaced by high profile jokers who only interest is running down jack for money not the overall well being of football in Trinidad

  34. Carlos trust me when I tell you that association will be a total waste of time for many reasons the main one being players have no balls to stand up for their rights the culture in Trinidad is take shit take more shit and continue to play / train month after month, so who going and hot up their head for these ungrateful don’t care players

  35. bacchanal again and its always about MONEY. the same ole story

  36. Listen, yuh see this thing where people not getting paid, I take issue with that.

  37. People will believe it now that Carlos is saying it.

  38. Lasana – what’s the holdback with the Players Association? Why can’t it get off the ground?

    • The only person who seems really interested in it is Shaka Hislop. And he has helped a bit like with Marvin Oliver. But his distance from Trinidad has probably restricted him.
      I don’t know why no one else has tried. Probably everyone just focused on their own lives.

    • When I read threads like this, in areas that I might not know much or everything, I marvel for it always strikes me how the conversation, charges, issues and problems are the same of other areas, and everything that is Trinidad identity.

      So the title quote from Carlos : “I cannot handle the dishonesty ” and to me , dishonesty can be swapped to Trinidad
      And that’s what I read in my mind that he was saying, and him leaving, is essentially validating that direct mirror translation.

    • A player’s association can’t come off with only one retired player showing initiative. The players who are being affected need to mobilise as well …wtf!!! Is this zombie land or something …where is Uriah Butler when you need him???

    • Definitely a national mindset that has been tolerated for too long Maven

    • Buh wait a minute, didn’t uncle Earl Mango Pierre try to get players interested. I think he must have given up now

  39. Players keep ranting about the need for a Players Association, but no one wants to get their hands dirty and do the legwork to organize and form the association.

    • Maybe they don’t know how.
      I learned that living here. People will call a need for a thing, amass and collect people behind issues, but they don’t know how to build a thing into sustainable existence, or functional institution. It is why so many new political parties and social efforts rise up in offices, and soon die.

      People don’t know how to build movement, groups and systems beyond their cliques.

  40. Lasana Liburd I vote you President of the Players Association

  41. He more evil than Jack at least Jack gave back he only thieving and spending on ho ho ho

  42. Why you guys surprised at anything that crook does he is the ultimate hyprocrite

  43. You know the most amazing thing? What Carlos said that Sancho told him is almost word for word what Jack Warner told the Soca Warriors in 2006 when they asked about the bonus money!
    Warner told the players they should be thinking about football and not money.
    Astounding to see Sancho’s metamorphosis over the years.

  44. He touched on a couple of the things we were talking about wrong with the p
    League Lasana Liburd. Sad to see though.

  45. Brent Sancho is a total disappointment.

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