Dear Editor: Where is Arnold Murphy’s national women’s coaching post?

“[…] In local women’s football history only the outstanding Robbie Greenidge of Rossi Potentials fame has a better track record than Arnold Murphy. I might add that Murphy is catching up and may soon surpass the achievements of Greenidge.

“[…] Ms Jinelle James […] please tell Trinidad and Tobago why Arnold Murphy is not involved at any level in the coaching programmes of the women’s game…”

The following is an open letter to TTFA director of women’s football Jinelle James from Ronald Brereton of Cunupia, who is a former manager of various national women’s teams as well as the National Futsal Team:

The 2023 Trinidad and Tobago WoLF football Season is now in its closing stages with the only outstanding fixture being the final determination of the overall national champions, to be contested by the top two teams in Trinidad and the top two Tobago teams.

That being said, it is to be noted that the top Trinidad women’s football team is Club Sando, admirably coached by Mr Arnold Murphy.

Petrotrin Sports Club Ladies played unbeaten for three consecutive years, Debe High School played unbeaten for four consecutive years and this year’s victory makes it two years that Club Sando played unbeaten.

Of some significance is the fact that in 2023 only one goal was scored against Club Sando—a penalty at that. Club Sando conceded no goals in open play thus far in the 2023 season.

I am to inform you that all the teams referred to above have been coached by Arnold Murphy.

In local women’s football history only the outstanding Robbie Greenidge of Rossi Potentials fame has a better track record than Arnold Murphy. I might add that Murphy is catching up and may soon surpass the achievements of Greenidge.

This letter will not get into any name calling or bashing of any local coach involved in the women’s game because that is counter-productive. Moreover, the recent results of all of our National Women’s teams speak for themselves, in my view.

Ms James, I was driven to appeal directly to you because you are the head of the women’s football in this country. Please tell Trinidad and Tobago why Arnold Murphy is not involved at any level in the coaching programmes of the women’s game.

No active coach in the local women’s game has the kind of success he attained. By my own observation, players who only recently retired from playing are given coaching assignments at the national team level (development teams at that)—with no known or tested coaching experience—and coach Murphy is left out in the cold.

If you are serious about lifting the level and the further positive development of the women’s game in Trinidad and Tobago, you should agree with me that coach Murphy deserves some consideration.

It is alleged (I am not saying this is true) that you described him as only a “grassroots coach”. If this is true, then this is certainly an unfortunate position to hold.

How can a so called “grassroots coach” be this successful in the local women’s game?

In closing, let me state clearly, I am not seeking to engage you in any war of words or war in the general sense. I am only seeking some transparent explanation of what to me is clearly an oversight by the administration of women’s football in Trinidad and Tobago.

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