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“We are taking full responsibility for the error of sharing an unauthorised letter of support from the Junior Sammy Group at our presentation on Saturday 2 November…
“Further investigation has revealed that we received this unauthorised letter due to an administrative error on the part of our supporter.”
The following is a press statement by Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) presidential candidate William Wallace, which is meant to clarify a false statement of support from the Junior Sammy Group of Companies used in the media launch of the ‘United TTFA’ slate:
(Copyright Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)
The true mark of leadership is the willingness to take responsibility for things that go wrong, to acknowledge your mistake, to learn from it, and to move on and remain focused at the job at hand. This is the brand of leadership that United TTFA is bringing to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association.
We are taking full responsibility for the error of sharing an unauthorised letter of support from the Junior Sammy Group at our presentation on Saturday 2 November.
This unauthorised letter was one of the three (3) letters of support that we received from corporate Trinidad and Tobago through a third party and supporter of the United TTFA. These letters were actually sent to us on the morning of the presentation (Saturday 2 November).
At that time, and until yesterday’s press conference held by the TTFA President, United TTFA had no reason to question the authenticity of any of these letters. While two (2) of the submitted letters have proven to be authentic, it is now public knowledge that the Junior Sammy letter was an unauthorised letter. It must be emphasised that this letter was not crafted by any member of the United TTFA but by a supporter of the group.
Presidential candidate William Wallace responded last evening to members of the media based on the information available at the time. Further investigation has revealed that we received this unauthorised letter due to an administrative error on the part of our supporter.
United TTFA has taken the following action since then in our quest to clear up any misunderstandings and to put this matter to rest as we continue to focus on reaching out to various corporations, both foreign and local, to get help for the game in Trinidad and Tobago.
- A letter of apology was sent to the Junior Sammy Group by United TTFA
- We have asked the person/s who provided the unauthorised letter to United TTFA to also issue a letter of apology to the Junior Sammy Group
- A letter of apology has been issued to the United TTFA
All of the above was effected without prejudice.
We must share our concern with the way this matter was handled by the TTFA President, and how this can affect the international assistance that will come to the TTFA post-24 November. We understand that there is an election at hand, but we must be cognisant of the fact that in whatever we do, we do not negatively impact those entities that are willingly pledging assistance to Trinidad and Tobago football.
(Courtesy Nicholas Williams/Wired868)
Further to all of the above, United TTFA also wishes to explain the existence of two (2) letters addressed to Raymond Tim Kee in its Saturday presentation, who had initiated a search for foreign corporate support for a 2019 TTFA election campaign. Discussion with members of United TTFA resulted in the slate of four (4) persons who have been nominated by the group, led by William Wallace.
Moreover, the foreign commitments already secured by Raymond Tim Kee were transferred to William Wallace and United TTFA. Unfortunately, two (2) letters bearing Raymond Tim Kee’s name were inadvertently included in Saturday’s presentation by the person who prepared it, alongside revised letters of commitment bearing William Wallace’s name.
United TTFA assures the football fraternity and the general public that since yesterday’s events we have reconfirmed the commitment of all foreign companies revealed in the presentation.
In closing, United TTFA notes and highlights the fact that the TTFA President has completely ignored the proposals advanced by United TTFA for the restructuring and salvation of TTFA to focus on an attempt to cast doubt on United TTFA and its members’ credibility. The TTFA electorate will draw its own conclusion on his approach.
William Wallace, for and on behalf of United TTFA
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Nice move, guys, but…