Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
“The identical training programme for our national team—having them train in pockets, etc—is being conducted by almost every English Premier League team, as is being done by [Terry] Fenwick; and the restrictions were similar.
“Likewise, other national teams in Concacaf have also commenced such training, as they want to have a head start in upcoming World Cup qualifiers, since every session can count. But they are lucky, as they do not have backward thinking individuals who simply do not know better and always try to find excuses not to move forward…”
The following letter to the editor in defence of Soca Warriors head coach Terry Fenwick’s decision to start training the Men’s National Senior Team was submitted to Wired868 by Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith:
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images/Wired868)
Over the last decade, I worked closely with every football administration in this country, and always held a good relationship with each one.
It varied from being a security consultant, to supporting the national team’s technical staff both at home and abroad—inclusive of the last World Cup qualifying series when I provided the administrative and security briefs to the Fifa Match Commissioners. And this was done with the sole purpose of playing my part to help build our football.
Unfortunately, the biggest hurdle has always been ego; and those, who when not in authority, go with the motto of: ‘If I cannot control it, then I would be an obstacle’.
I make mention of this as it relates to the hilarious comments being made by a few mocking pretenders who, because of their dinosaur style of leadership and inability to be proactive, have an issue because the National Senior Team has commenced training.
The quotes made in a daily newspaper confirm all too clearly my earlier comment of those not being prepared to build and support, unless they are in control. To clarify, I am referring to the misleading comments by Mr Keith Look Loy, who had the audacity to make the most ridiculous comment that the National Senior Team head coach was breaking the law, because ‘the government said so’.
Look Loy is the current TTFA technical committee chairman.
(Copyright Annalicia Caruth/Wired868)
Let us refer to the dozens of persons who have entered the country in the last few months, even though ‘the government said’ that the borders were closed. Does this mean that all who entered broke the law? Obviously not.
In the same way that permission is granted for particular circumstances—based on the situation—likewise the relevant authority in government was briefed, and approval was given.
Additionally, by some going down the road of ‘Terry Fenwick is not one of us’ and saying that if this was England, it would not be done; it again shows that some need to read and educate themselves before making comments.
The identical training programme for our national team—having them train in pockets, etc—is being conducted by almost every English Premier League team, as is being done by Fenwick; and the restrictions were similar.
Likewise, other national teams in Concacaf have also commenced such training, as they want to have a head start in upcoming World Cup qualifiers, since every session can count. But they are lucky, as they do not have backward thinking individuals who simply do not know better and always try to find excuses not to move forward.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-Images/TTFA Media)
Look Loy is neither a minister nor a police officer, so he is out of place to fool anyone into believing that he can interpret the Covid Regulations and know who is breaking the law or not.
No one would know and understand the enforcement of these regulations better than I would, as I have been the one who had to make decisions as to the enforcement of the law dozens of times daily throughout the pandemic. So Look Loy should spare us with his perceived knowledge of the law or what the government stated.
To also make an irresponsible comment like: ‘well there is no tournament soon, so why train now’. Again this shows the dinosaur attitude, whereby for years—due to poor administration—national teams would start training only days prior to a tournament.
And when poor results follow, we try to blame players and coaches, when it is really administrators that are at fault.
So to those who condemn my actions to ensure pro-activity, simply show the old time arrogance and fight-down that has marred our football development for the last 15 years. They are dinosaurs, not understanding that the type of football structure that they used in the 1960s, is no longer applicable if we are to match with the best in the region.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
So to the few who condemned the actions by those who are trying to develop our football, I ask that they look in the mirror and ascertain if they are in football only for their own self-interest. Because it is mind boggling that a national team commencing training under trying circumstances is seen as an issue by wanna-be police officers who have foolishly misinterpreted the law—as well as those who criticised this decision but were the first to be there.
It is high time that those who want to be involved in our football understand that they need to lead, follow or get out of the way and stop being an obstruction to our success.
Editor’s Note: Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith has given the Soca Warriors permission to train at the Police Barracks in St James. His son, Gary Griffith III, a former National Under-17 attacker, is among Fenwick’s training squad.
Griffith’s involvement in football predates his son’s.
The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team will play for third place in the Unity Cup invitational tournament on Read more
Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Dwight Yorke looks set to give 19-year-old flanker Rio Cardines his Read more
Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Dwight Yorke vowed to field several new faces in the Soca Read more
“[…] Instead of relying on one-off screening sessions, the TTFA should establish a structured scouting network that monitors players across Read more
“[…] Anyone who has gone through this process knows the folly of trying to select the ‘best’ 20 players out Read more
“[…] Two days ago, it came to my attention, via the TTFA Facebook page, that screening for U15 boys were Read more
Want to share your thoughts with Wired868? Email us at editor@wired868.com.
Please keep your letter between 300 to 600 words and be sure to read it over first for typos and punctuation.
We don’t publish anonymously unless there is a good reason, such as an obvious threat of harassment or job loss.
