Football uninterrupted: TTFA responds to Warriors

The following is an unsigned release from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association:

The recent communication from the 2006 World Cup players to “wind up” the TTFA, has been noted by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association. But we wish to assure the public that our operations will continue uninterrupted.

The TTFA also wishes to advise that over $10 million dollars has been given to the players since the new TTFA administration reached settlement in June 2013.  $1.2 million of the scheduled $3.1 million payment was made and the remaining balance of $1.9 million is scheduled to come from development funds.

We have the assurance of FIFA and CONCACAF that all our obligations will be met in the interest of football.

The TTFA is also engaging partnerships with FIFA, CONCACAF, the Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Tourism and our corporate partners to move football forward in Trinidad and Tobago.

Through such collaborations, Trinidad and Tobago can expect to see the creation of a National Training Academy, an expanded and exciting National Super League, increased amount of development programs for coaches, referees and players, and the emergence of an unprecedented merchandise and licensing program.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association is also poised to present one of the most robust and substantive periods of international football in Trinidad and Tobago history following a 2013 which saw the most amount of international football played since the build up to the 2006 World Cup.

In May, the Senior Men’s National Team will begin preparations for their matches against Argentina and Iran, while our Senior Women’s National Team will begin their Campaign To Canada 2015 with proposed matches against Venezuela in June and the hosting of the CFU Championship in August.

On the youth side, the U-15 Girls and U-17 Boys national pool is currently working towards final team selection for the CONCACAF U-15 Championship in August and CFU U-17 Tournament in late July, respectively. The Men’s U-20 team will soon be assembled for the CFU Championship in September which will be hosted in T&T.

Recent and unprecedented community-based campaigns such as our Grassroots Youth Clinics, coaching courses as well as the steady progress our teams have made toward re-establishing regional dominance and significance outside of CONCACAF are clear indications that the TTFA under its new leadership is moving in the right direction.

The momentum of our progress will not be deterred and the TTFA vehemently rejects any attempt by any entity or person to undermine opportunities for younger generations of footballers to reach their potential and achieve the heights of international competition.  In light of this, we are fully aware of the obligation to the past players, coaches, and other vital members of the football family and are making our best efforts to meet those obligations while managing the operations of a football association.

The TTFA would also like to address other erroneous assertions attributed to the 2006 player case, namely the narrative that our organization has the ability to target past leaders and advisors of the former TTFF to recoup $100 million in funds accumulated during the 2006 World Cup campaign.

Firstly, even if the TTFA was inclined to engage in an expensive and resource- draining legal battle to recover any amount of funds from the 2006 world cup campaign, the statute of limitations to engage in such an endeavor expired some time ago.

Secondly, between 2007 and 2012, international football in Trinidad and Tobago was adversely affected, in large part, to the protracted legal battle that took place between the former TTFF and the 2006 players. The TTFA is of the firm belief that it would not be in the best interest in Trinidad and Tobago football to engage in another protracted legal struggle.

Lastly, the TTFA and its current President; who in good faith initiated the overture to aid the 2006 players soon after coming into office, is not the target of any further action linked to their case.

The TTFA has taken the initiative to successfully engage members of the 2006 players group in various initiatives to advance football; including Brent Sancho as part of an overall collaboration to enhance Central FC women’s football programs, Shaka Hislop through his inclusion to the Independent Football Reform Commission, and Atiba Charles in the coordination of the recently announced charter tour to Argentina. We will continue to reach out to all past national team players when opportunities to benefit football arise.

We will continue to seek ways to work together for the betterment of football in Trinidad and Tobago and apply our best efforts to reach resolution in this current issue, but we will not be intimidated by the threats and personal attacks that have defined the approach some of the 2006 players have taken over the past several months. 

Editor’s Note: Wired868 understands that the figure given as owed to the 2006 World Cup players was meant to be in US dollars.

The press release was unsigned although it appears on this website with Raymond Tim Kee as its author. Click HERE for more context and information on the TTFA release.

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