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Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team coach Terry Fenwick has become the first technical staff member to share his thoughts on the power struggle at the helm of the local football association.
And the former England World Cup defender believes that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s technical programmes are in a ‘lose lose’ situation as president William Wallace battles Fifa for control of the local body.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)
On 17 March, the Bureau of the Fifa Council, which is led by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, decided to implement a normalisation committee in the twin island republic and simultaneously strip Wallace of his authority—just four months after he was elected TTFA president.
At present, Wallace is challenging the Fifa decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Fenwick was the first appointment of the Wallace-led administration, as he replaced Dennis Lawrence at the helm last December. And the former Portsmouth, San Juan Jabloteh and Central FC coach said Fifa has not given the current administration enough of a chance to show what it can do.
However, the Englishman suggested that he struggles to see a bright side in Wallace’s fight.
“I hear William Wallace [and] I am disappointed for him, because of how quick it was [that Fifa moved to get rid of him],” Fenwick told Wired868, “but I am looking at the ability of Trinidad and Tobago’s board of directors to raise funding for anything—I just can’t see it. Where does it go from here?
“If Fifa withdraws the funding, we crash anyway; and my first thought is not the politicians but the young kids who are striving to become national footballers.
“My concern is without Fifa funding there could be so many kids thrown under the bus. I can’t agree with that.”
(Copyright Concacaf)
Fenwick stopped short of saying, directly, whether he felt Wallace should withdraw his case.
“It is his decision to stop or continue the case,” said Fenwick. “Have they got the money to go to CAS? I don’t know. It will run its course.
“My side of the story is technical, to make the national team better again.”
Fenwick’s viewpoint, which he hinted at earlier to the Trinidad Newsday, brought a furious response from technical director chairman Keith Look Loy, who said the coach had no business talking about anything beyond his team.
“He is an employee of the TTFA and should not be commenting on executive matters as a general rule of ethics,” said Look Loy. “He is forbidden by the coach’s code of conduct and the media policy—both of which were aired, discussed and agreed at the two technical committee meetings that I chaired with national and regional coaches—from making public comments on general TTFA matters.
“He was present at both meetings.”
Fenwick is among roughly three dozen technical staff members who have not been paid since Wallace was elected president, due to Fifa’s decision to withhold funds from the TTFA.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-Images/TTFA Media)
At present, Fifa owes the TTFA US$2.5 million (TT$17 million), which represents their total annual entitlement under the Fifa Forward Programme. But Infantino and secretary general Fatma Samoura are stalling on making the payment, so as to ensure that it goes to normalisation committee chairman Robert Hadad and not Wallace.
Fenwick is yet to hold his first training session as Pro League clubs were playing as many as three games per week between January and March while Covid-19 restrictions have made full-time workouts illegal since then.
However, Fenwick said he has been busy tracking down and building relationships with potential players while, last month, he started holding online training sessions with local players including Defence Force defender Curtis ‘Boyo’ Gonzales, Point Fortin Civic playmaker Tyrel ‘Pappy’ Emmanuel and AC Port of Spain attacking midfielder John-Paul Rochford.
“First and foremost, I’ve been chasing players down from around the world and keeping that communication up,” said Fenwick. “Even today I was on the phone with [Sheldon] Bateau, [Khaleem] Hyland, [Kevin] Molino, Nick De Leon, Levi Garcia and Ryan Inniss. I’m trying to keep regular relations with my players before they even hit the ground in Trinidad—some of whom were born abroad and were treated badly when they were last involved with the team.
“[…] Yesterday, I had the [local-based] guys doing their fitness session, which has been consistent for the last two to three weeks. They had their phones or laptops facing where they were doing the actions. Some of them have had chickens and everything going on in their back yards; and we have had a joke about it!”
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/CA-Images/Wired868)
Fenwick is waiting on clearance from the Ministry of Health to start full training sessions.
However, Look Loy made it clear that he did not appreciate Fenwick’s sentiments and will not forget them anytime soon.
“The court case is still to be settled [and] Wallace might win,” said the TTFA technical director. “How he became [senior men’s national team] coach [was because] I, Wallace and the elected officers fought for him to be appointed. We believed he was the best candidate—all factors, including finance considered.
“[Pro League chairman Brent] Sancho and others he is hobnobbing with now were against his appointment.
“Time longer than twine. He living here long enough to know that saying.”
Fenwick declined comment on Look Loy’s statements. However, Wired868 understands that the Englishman is currently pursuing legal action against Sancho due to a breach of contract while he was head coach at Central FC.
Up to the time of publication, Wallace could not be reached for comment.
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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.
“My side of the story is technical, to make the national team better again.” But, like Gary Griffith, you feel you have to tell the world that, even if people think you are on their side, you don’t really agree with what THEY are doing.
And to leave–quite gratuitously, it needs to be pointed out–little doubt about your sense of solidarity with the cause: “Have THEY got the money to go to CAS? I don’t know. It will run its course.”
With friends like you, Terry, wtf needs enemies?
For years we have heard that Terry Fenwick is the number one coach in the country. On this evidence, protestations to the contrary notwithstanding, I am moved to believe that. He certainly seems to be looking out for Number One.
Terry Fenwick, “I hear William Wallace [and] I am disappointed for him, because of how quick it was [that FIFA moved to get rid of him],” Fenwick told Wired868, “but I am looking at the ability of Trinidad and Tobago’s board of directors to raise funding for anything—I just can’t see it. Where does it go from here?
“If FIFA withdraws the funding, we crash anyway; and my first thought is not the politicians but the young kids who are striving to become national footballers.
To quote Wired, “Fenwick stopped short of saying, directly, whether he felt Wallace should withdraw his case.”
Terry Fenwick, “It is his decision to stop or continue the case,” said Fenwick. “Have they got the money to go to CAS? I don’t know. It will run its course.
“My concern is, without FIFA funding there could be so many kids thrown under the bus. I can’t agree with that.”
Keith Look Loy, “The court case is still to be settled [and] Wallace might win,” said the TTFA technical director. “How he became [senior men’s national team] coach [was because] I, Wallace and the elected officers fought for him to be appointed. We believed he was the best candidate—all factors, including finance considered.
“[Pro League chairman Brent] Sancho and others he is hobnobbing with now were against his appointment.
“Time longer than twine. He living here long enough to know that saying.”
I have the greatest respect for Mr. Lok Loy and I do understand the TTFA’s predicament. Actually, I wait with baited breath to see the outcome although I have my thoughts on what is going to happen. I am not pronouncing to be judge or jury as to whether the fight against FIFA should or should not be. I do not understand the system and will not be able to comment on that as yet except to say that I admire the stance taken by the TTFA.
My beef is the comments made as quoted above by Mr. Look Loy. I am a Trade Unionist as Mr. Look Loy was and I find it is unfortunate. Mr. Fenwick was interviewed by the reporters and he gave his opinion. What is so wrong about that.
Are we seeing a Phil Simmons scenario here? Just asking as I am a keen observer in the nation’s business.
“Mr. Fenwick was interviewed by the reporters and he gave his opinion.”
And he did not of course have the option of saying, “No comment”?
Yeah, right!
Stick to trade unionism and hope nobody notices what an innocent you are.
Empty has been the money bucket for many-a-year – why be surprised! Empty has been our people resource – why be stunned! Empty has been our idea-creation and implementation – why be shocked! You Terry, have proclaimed to be a man of many means with your saddle fitting many an influential horse – pull up the buggy, harness the horses, and in tandem, ride into success’ path.