NC announces TTFA posts for Solange Gomes and Michael Ragoonath—no CVs or details provided

The Fifa-appointed normalisation committee announced two more appointments today, as Solange Gomes and Michael Ragoonath were named as Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) finance manager and interim head of refereeing department respectively.

Ragoonath, a former Fifa assistant referee who officiated at the South Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup, replaces Boni Bishop while Gomes steps in for the outgoing Tyril Patrick.

Photo: Former World Cup assistant referee Michael Ragoonath (centre) is the TTFA’s new interim head of the refereeing department.

The TTFA membership was ‘advised’ of the appointments by acting general secretary Amiel Mohammed via email. Mohammed did not provide CVs for either hiring or give details about the length of their contracts or any other information.

“They are both eager to assist the Association and are available to offer guidance on any relevant matters,” stated Mohammed.


That was the sum total of the information provided on Gomes and Ragoonath.

On Friday, normalisation committee chairman Robert Hadad declared, also via email, that Angus Eve had been hired for two years as Men’s National Senior Team and Under-20 Team head coach. Hadad did not explain why he had not allowed applications for either position, as he had initially promised, and no member of the normalisation committee attended the subsequent press conference with Eve.

The normalisation committee comprises Hadad, Judy Daniel, Nigel Romano and Trevor Nicholas Gomez. Despite having been appointed on 27 March 2020, the Hadad-led body is yet to hold a single press conference to answer questions on their tenure so far or on their plans for local football.

Photo: Fifa-appointed normalisation committee member Nicholas Gomez.

The normalisation committee has promised to hold its first annual general meeting with members on 26 September 2021.

Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association (TTFRA) president Osmond Downer and T&T American Youth Soccer Organisation (AYSO) president Dale Toney declined comment on the recent appointments until after the scheduled AGM.

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