Stay away, Sancho! Central FC players protest possible Sancho/Harrison returns

Former Sport Minister Brent Sancho and his advisor Kevin Harrison were subjected to a new low today, as 24 of Central FC’s 29 football players signed a petition that urged their board of directors not to allow them back to the Pro League club.

Photo: Former Sport Minister Brent Sancho (right) greets fellow UNC member Glenn Ramadharsingh on the campaign trail before the September 6 general election.
Photo: Former Sport Minister Brent Sancho (right) greets fellow UNC member Glenn Ramadharsingh on the campaign trail before the September 6 general election.

The petition, which was addressed to “the management of Central FC”, stated that: “We, the players of Central FC, are not in favour of the former management team of Brent Sancho and Kevin Harrison returning to the club with so many allegations outstanding against them.”

The letter was signed by the majority of the squad including: Trinidad and Tobago international senior players Jan-Michael Williams, Willis Plaza, Marcus Joseph and Ataulla Guerra, national youth team players Nicholas Dillon, Nathaniel Garcia and Javon Sample and stand-outs Marvin Oliver, Jamal Jack, Elton John and Jason Marcano.

Sancho and Harrison were founding members of Central FC, three years ago, and continued to be involved in the club’s affairs over the past eight months, despite also working for the People’s Partnership Government as Sport Minister and Advisor to the Sport Minister respectively.

However, a series of exclusive articles on Wired868 showed suspicious behaviour by the pair, which was directly related to their stewardship at the “Couva Sharks.”

Photo: Central FC forward Rundell Winchester (far right) is congratulated by teammates (from left) Jason Marcano, Jamal Jack and Keion Goodridge during a previous Pro League contest. At present, Winchester is on loan to the reserve team of MLS franchise, Portland Timbers. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Central FC forward Rundell Winchester (far right) is congratulated by teammates (from left) Jason Marcano, Jamal Jack and Keion Goodridge during a previous Pro League contest.
At present, Winchester is on loan to the reserve team of MLS franchise, Portland Timbers.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

In one email from Harrison on 27 August 2014, the Englishman asked British football agent Steve Davies to “slip in a personal payment” related to the transfer of Trinidad and Tobago international forward Rundell Winchester to Belgium lower division club, CS Visé, which was to be split between Harrison and Sancho.

Davies rebuffed the request.

CONCACAF also confirmed to Wired868 that, on 16 June 2015, Harrison asked the football confederation to wire money due to the Sharks to Sancho’s personal bank account. CONCACAF’s statement directly contradicted assertions by Sancho, Harrison and Central that the request was made before his appointment as Sport Minister.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has opened a probe into both matters and also asked Sancho and Harrison to explain their behaviour in the signing of then 16 year old attacker Levi Garcia and the alleged non-payment of promised bonuses to Central players.

Sancho and Harrison were given a deadline of Friday September 18 to respond to the local football body.

Photo: Central FC goal scorer Jean-Luc Rochford (front) and his teammates celebrate with the 2015 Caribbean Club Championship trophy. Looking on is then Central FC operations director Kevin Harrison (top left). (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Central FC goal scorer Jean-Luc Rochford (front) and his teammates celebrate with the 2015 Caribbean Club Championship trophy.
Looking on is then Central FC operations director Kevin Harrison (top left).
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

“(The players) don’t want Sancho and Harrison back for the reasons that they are unscrupulous and dishonest,” a Central source told Wired868, on the condition of anonymity. “We are hearing that even potential sponsors are concerned about them being involved with the club. The players definitely want no part of them.”

In their petition this morning, the Sharks also hinted at a concern over contracts as they vowed not to be pressured into replacing their existing deals: “The players of Central FC are not prepared to sign new amended contracts to replace our existing agreements with the club.”


A well-placed anonymous source explained that Central players have been asked  by club management to sign new contracts, which make them responsible for paying tax on their income. Thus far, the players have refused.

Central FC is owned by SIS officials Daren Mohamdally and Ronald Ramlogan and Wired868 was reliably informed that they have been trying to sell the club for the past month.

Photo: Central FC players signed a petition this morning that protested the possible return of former club chairman Brent Sancho and operations director Kevin Harrison.
Photo: Central FC players signed a petition this morning that protested the possible return of former club chairman Brent Sancho and operations director Kevin Harrison.

It is uncertain whether SIS’ apparent haste to abandon the Sharks is due to the September 7 election results—SIS is a major financier of the United National Congress (UNC)—or the recent revelations about the conduct of the club chairman, Sancho. Or a combination of the two.

But Sancho, who was said to be in a precarious personal financial situation at the start of the year, is now believed to have put together a bid for the club. Central officials remain tightlipped on the matter.

Central manager Kevin Jeffrey said he could not comment on the possible return of Sancho and Harrison or the sale of the football club. He did not know about the players’ petition either.

“I’ve been busy with our (CONCACAF) Champions League business whole day,” Jeffrey told Wired868. “I don’t know anything about a petition signed by the players. But I will definitely call now to find out.”

Jeffrey asked Wired868 to ring him back in 10 minutes. However, he did not answer subsequent phone calls or return our calls.

Wired868 also tried unsuccessfully to reach Mohamdally.

Photo: Central FC players (from left) Elton John, Darren Mitchell, Kaydion Gabriel, Uriah Bentick, Jason Marcano, Leston Paul, Ataulla Guerra and Akeem Benjamin celebrate during their penalty shoot out win over Montego Bay United in the 2015 Caribbean Club Championship semifinal. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Central FC players (from left) Elton John, Darren Mitchell, Kaydion Gabriel, Uriah Bentick, Jason Marcano, Leston Paul, Ataulla Guerra and Akeem Benjamin celebrate during their penalty shoot out win over Montego Bay United in the 2015 Caribbean Club Championship semifinal.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

The Sharks, who are the reigning Caribbean and Pro League champions, will face Guatemalan outfit, Comunicaciones, from 8 pm tomorrow in a decisive CONCACAF Champions League fixture at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.

Fellow Pro League outfit, DIRECTV W Connection, hosts Costa Rican champion, Deportivo Saprissa, from 8 pm today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Central FC, in an unusual move for the club, did not put its players in a live-in camp before the Champions League fixture. And there is internal suspicion that SIS is trimming its budget, as Mohamdally and Ramlogan prepare exit strategies.

Sancho and Harrison always maintained their intention to return to Central if defeated at the polls and the former Sport Minister said as much in a phone-in to Andre Baptiste’s sport programme on I95.5 FM on Saturday 12 September 2015.

Harrison watched Central FC edge W Connection 1-0 last Friday to win the Charity Shield at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. But it is now clear that the players do not wish to see much more of them.

Photo: Former Sport Minister Brent Sancho (second from right) is flanked by ex-Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar (right) and former World Cup 2006 star Stern John during the opening of the Irwin Park Sporting Complex in Siparia. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Former Sport Minister Brent Sancho (second from right) is flanked by ex-Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar (right) and former World Cup 2006 star Stern John during the opening of the Irwin Park Sporting Complex in Siparia. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

The Central players’ show of disgust continues a remarkable fall from grace for Sancho and Harrison, who were key figures behind the now defunct Football Players Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT). Sancho was a founding member of FPATT while Harrison, a former voluntary member of Britain’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), was its “special advisor.”

It is uncertain if either administrator will watch the Sharks play Comunicaciones tomorrow, although Harrison rarely misses games.

Arguably, the TTFA probe might be of more concern to Sancho and Harrison. If the two men are found guilty of improper conduct, the local football body can impose a range of disciplinary measures, which range from warnings to being banned from entering any football stadium and taking part in football-related activities.

Wired868 understands that the pair’s response—or non-response—to the TTFA’s questions will be forwarded by general secretary Sheldon Phillips to his executive committee for consideration.

The TTFA executive committee could then choose to send the case to its Disciplinary Committee, which is chaired by Newton George. Or it can put the issue before its Ethics or Player Status Committees, which are to be implemented soon under the new constitution.

Photo: TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee (centre), ex-2006 World Cup player Brent Sancho (right) and TTFA general secretary Sheldon Phillips address the media in 2013. (Courtesy Wired868)
Photo: TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee (centre), ex-2006 World Cup player Brent Sancho (right) and TTFA general secretary Sheldon Phillips address the media in 2013.
(Courtesy Wired868)

Sancho is a former litigant against the TTFA and, as Sport Minister, repeatedly criticised the football body for a lack of transparency and empathy for its football players.

 

Editor’s Note: Brent Sancho and Kevin Harrison have both written blogs for Wired868 and participated in Wired868’s annual football festival.
However, Wired868 will not waver in its goal to provide honest and pertinent news to its readers, regardless of the personalities involved.

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About Lasana Liburd

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.

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170 comments

  1. This is nothing new about the corrupted ex sports minister about the lies that he tells when he invited me to his club’s award giving two seasons ago eh and on our way home to my house he told me a different story with respect to the transactions that took place with Dion Sosa and himself with respect to the 16 yr old player Garcia eh, is a good thing that Dion had already given me the full truth about what really took place eh, I just listened to him and said eh, eh, and changed the topic yes and I believe that the players will do something like this because they were lied to from the beginning about what percentage of the winnings that they would have received when they won the tournament. Them really good yes

  2. All I have to say is what goes around comes around.

  3. Lasana like Sancho classed you in the category of BPP. He only recognizes what occurred APP

  4. Bess allyuh did give me that hamper yes

  5. Brent Sancho got the Spirit of Wired868 award and an Easi-Pharm hamper from director Lou-Ann Sankar in January 2013 for his exemplary behaviour and attitude on the field… Oh well…

  6. Fulton Wilson, their excuses are getting weaker and weaker. Whether it is on how CONCACAF money for Central ended up in Sancho’s bank account… Or what they meant by: “slip in a personal payment”…

  7. Well if someone signed the names of all the players then that person has to be very smart because to make it look good they left out some signatures. The obvious thing to do would be if you are signing names then you sign everyone’s names.

  8. Lasana Liburd this is football eh ….. Trinidad football to boot, there is a hight likelihood there are no innocent victims here.

    I would not be surprised if the players who were so wronged are bargaining for a considerable payout in exchange for their silence!

  9. I thought the same Jevon Cox. But after I read his comments on the former government in his interview with Wired I realised I should expect no different from him.

  10. Sanko again?? This man eh tired don a cape??

  11. When he was appointed Sports minister, a lot of things were said about him. I refused to add to it as I don’t know him personally and was prepared to give him a chance to make a difference. But again it looks like public service was all about self. So the players are right to take such a stance, they need people who have their best interest at heart around them.

  12. There is a clear hint about those contracts that SIS wants the players to sign eh Vernal Damion Cadogan… Was SIS and Central FC paying tax for its employees for the past three years?

  13. And Wired868 was part of the Sport Ministry’s symposium to generate ideas for the 2015 WPL and Sancho granted his first interview as Sport Minister to Wired868…
    It is just that Wired868 cannot condone such behaviour once it comes to our attention. Nothing personal.

  14. I personally won’t be satisfied until a police investigation is commenced …….. I’m kind of wondering why none of the players has filed a report!

  15. What else you expected to say Lasana Liburd? After you exposed him.

  16. Probably when he realized the majority of the Wired crew weren’t supporting him as the Next MP for Toco/Manzanilla!

  17. He meant after those Lasana
    lolol

  18. I’ve heard that Sancho said he doesn’t read Wired868 and it is like reading the Sunshine or Mirror. Which is ironic because he has written for Wired868 himself on two occasions, took part in two of our three football festivals and selected a representative team for the third one! Lol.

  19. SIS was never genuinely interested in football. It was all about the optics

  20. This is so predictable. Makes you wonder if the pro league is being used for money laundering

  21. It looks like abandon ship now within that Partnership. Note SIS’ actions…

  22. Lasana Liburd some people enjoy being lied to.

  23. I’ve just spoken to another source and received further confirmation that the players discussed the petition in detail and asked loads of questions before all signing the document one-by-one.
    Whenever you want to know the truth of the matter, Cheryl Flucker, that is what Wired868 is for.
    So you can now tell your “source” to stop lying to you. 😉

  24. I’m guessing he was so advised by Tanty SC

  25. And that’s precisely why you were sidelined for that lawsuit and it was directed at Dr Rowley instead Lasana. Although I’m 100% sure that your story surfaced at least 48 hours before it was spoken of on the PNM’s political platform

  26. I get all my ducks lined up in a row Mel Lissa. Nearly 20 years doing stinging pieces and I’ve never had anyone who was willing to see me in court.
    He can be the first if he likes. But they know full well that it will only mean that all the documents I have become public record and available for all and sundry.

  27. Looks like they sending their friend to do their work in the form of Cheryl

  28. If you trust your “sources” better than documentary evidence Cheryl Flucker then what can I say. Go Brave.

  29. Cheryl Flucker, I don’t have to answer you on that. I can only point to the petition. It is on the site. Put your glasses on and check yourself.
    And it might be a good time for you to start questioning your sources.
    All my stories are rock solid and backed up by documents.

  30. “a series of exclusive articles on Wired868 showed suspicious behaviour by the pair”
    Yet Sancho threatened to sue Dr Rowley for talking about it on the platform

  31. This is a load of crap? You have proof of that? Lasana isn’t starting “nonsense” I believe that was started by Sancho and his advisor.

  32. Smh Lasana what nonsense you starting now. From what I heard from one of the players is somebody is signing players names who didn’t even want to sign the petition so this is a load of crap!!! It’s all a sabotage from somebody who clearly doesn’t have anything better to do with their time.

  33. that’s what u get for being greedy!

  34. “STAY AWAY” ????? The Pee Pee mash them up as well. Hmmmm Sancho and Harrison fall out of grace like Kamla! Look trouble now! According to Mango “them really good yes” ???

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