Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams is contesting higher office and used local football money for a workshop with Caribbean Football Union (CFU) delegates, he might have ascended to office in a flawed election to begin with, vice-president Joanne Salazar wants to adjust the constitution to allow a four member cabal to operate without board approval, the two-tier National Super League (NSL) is under review, the TTFA financial report needs authorisation before being sent to FIFA, the National Under-17 Team is operating without a head coach after Ken Elie grew weary of his work conditions…
Despite all those live issues and more, the TTFA failed to reach a quorum on Saturday 15 July as its membership held an extraordinary general meeting from 9am at Naparima College in San Fernando.
(Courtesy Wired868)
The TTFA membership must now hold a second meeting with 14 days and, this time, the football body will be allowed to make decisions—outside of a constitutional amendment or change to its board of directors—even if a quorum is not reached.
Unless, of course, someone rules that the meeting was illegitimate in the first place since members were not give 10 days notice as required, by the constitution. Several football bodies were informed of the extraordinary meeting just four days before the event and, should they raise an official objection, the TTFA will be forced to start all over again.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the latest farce suggests that the problems in local football administration run much deeper than the man in charge.
Tellingly, the behaviour of John-Williams and his vice-presidents was not up for discussion anyway. Nobody from the 12 member TTFA board of directors—the 13th member, Wayne Cunningham from the Eastern Football Association (EFA), is, controversially, on observer status—saw it fit to raise a motion on any from an array of local football issues that were ventilated recently.
The postponement could actually aid John-Williams, who will contest the CFU presidential post on 23 July in Miami and might be relieved to avoid any embarrassing confrontations on his home soil.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
By the time the TTFA membership convenes again, he would hope to address his colleagues as the Caribbean football president. The incumbent CFU boss, Gordon Derrick, and challenger, Hillaren Frederick, might have something to say about that, though.
Despite not having a quorum, the members present went on to discuss a change in the football calendar from April to December, an additional competition that would include clubs from all levels of the local game and the fate of the NSL.
Since its inception, the NSL has been run—for all but one season—by All Sport Promotion company, which is headed by Anthony Harford. The Tobago Football Association (TFA) raised a motion that the competition be transformed into a tournament with its clubs returning to their respective zones. But that received short shrift by the members present and FC Santa Rosa founder Keith Look Loy in particular.
However, John-Williams did reveal that the TTFA would take control of the NSL competition and run it themselves in 2017. Somehow that decision was made in the absence of consensus from the board of directors.
Salazar allegedly told members present that, although there was no quorum and the board of directors had not met since May, decisions made during their “consultation” would stand. Whether or not firm decisions were made depended on who one spoke to though.
(Courtesy Wired868)
John-Williams, who gave his views to the TTFA Media after the meeting, was not the first Trinidad and Tobago leader to claim that his body was only guilty of not letting the public know the scale of awesome work it was doing.
“A lot of things have been happening behind the scenes at the TTFA and good things at that. I think now we have to improve our communication and let the stakeholders know all the positive things that have been happening at the TTFA.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFQOajbdPp4
French Guiana are not the only obstacles to success for the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team tonight, as Read more
Outgoing Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve had another 17 months left on his contract Read more
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has appointed Derek King as “caretaker coach” of the Men’s National Senior Team. Read more
St Benedict’s College coach Randolph ‘Balo’ Boyce has been selected as the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-20 Team head Read more
“[…] Coaches who don’t get their team to perform should face the sack. Angus Eve just managed a 7-1 victory Read more
Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve has been sacked by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Read more
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.
So it is all those posts that he is holding eh, no wonder our football is in a mess eh. hahaha. Them really good yes.
Khan is interim TTFA general secretary, Jabloteh CEO and SSFL general secretary all at the same time I think.
Am I right Trevor Bridglalsingh?
Lol
A man for all seasons
Man of many skills but master of none comes to mind, I know Azaad very well, competent but so many positions isn’t it too much?
Oh, which jobs Pay?
Do you mean compensation or pay
Maybe I should apply for the post yes. LOL
Ok Then.
He was interim.
I thought that the fella Mr. Khan attached to the professional team Jabolteh is the General Secretary ?
And what is going on with the post of the General Secretary? Has someone been hired or is there still an interim person on paper only? That issue is also contributing to the mismanagement.
That’s why football is so fucked up in Trinidad and Tobago, everyone aspiring to be an other JW, another corrupt football official who will get the opportunity to corruptly enrich themselves.
Well I guess that I will have to try to get through to Marlon Morris again eh, to be the next president in line eh, although he himself is realy fed up with all this football madness that continues in our sweet country ent my goal keeper for life Earl Carter “The Spiderman”. Them really good yes
..I take no offence. And not me pal. Not me..
So why my dictator president insist on doing things unconstitutional eh I really don’t get it and as I mentioned about the recycling of the same Coaches every time one is need to Coach our national youth teams are there any individuals in our sweet country who really have the interest of our football, our players, and our sweet country in their heart without any personal agendas eh, or we have to start to recycle some ex -presidents the same eh, maybe you should really be the president Keith Look Loy and although we had a misunderstanding in the past when I was pounding our 2006 Soca Worries and you got upset with me eh I sincerely mean that eh, or maybe you should remain the opposition and continue to expose them all for their continuing madness until they all get it right. Them really good yes.
.. You should ask a question. FC Santa Rosa was “late” because we had no intention of being counted as part of the quorum for, and giving legitimacy to, a meeting we consider to be unconstitutional. I can also say from now that we will not be in attendance at rhe supposedly “reconvened” meeting. Make up your mind what you want. A properly constituted meeting or voting no matter what…
Recconsider. See Artlcle 24.
Let us hope good things come out of this meeting
Kenneth H. Ransome Jr. yuh eh see the madness that is still taking place with our football in our sweet country eh, imagine they suppose to have some kind of voting on an agenda eh, and three representatives from their teams eh, was late eh to the meeting eh, so the voting couldn’t take place at the time that it was scheduled for eh and it seems that TTFA office has moved to South eh, or they still cannot find a permanent home to conduct their football business eh, and plenty millions of monies passed through the organization eh. and they want to be successful in youth tournaments eh and also want to beat up my USA team in their last qualification game in November eh. Them really good yes
All I could do is watch. I am tired trying to make sense of how they manage things in T&T sports.
I have been saying the same thing eh, as you know that I have returned to our sweet country to really make a difference and get involve with the football eh, but ah really fraid eh especially growing up in my second real professional sweet country eh, and now returning to the third world mentality. I am really loosing the seal eh, but I will continue honoring the top goalscorers of our professional league because I don’t have to deal with any committee in order to do so eh. Them really good yes.
.. You should ask a question. FC Santa Rosa was “late” because we had no intention of being counted as part of the quorum for, and giving legitimacy to, a meeting we consider to be unconstitutional. O can also say from now that we will not be in attendance at rhe supposedly “reconvened” meeting. Make up your mind what you want. A properly constituted meeting or voting no matter what…
Buh A A like somebody got you vex Cliff Bertrand LOL
THE ISSUE HERE IS TO EXAMINE HOW NSO’S CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS..THE PROBLEM IS THAT NO ONE QUESTIONS THE ACTIONS OF AUTHORITY FIGURES..THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE OF “CONFIRMATION BIAS”.ADHERENCE TO CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES LIKE HAVING A “QUORUM” SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
Mr. Live Wire so the talk on the streets is that Ross Russell will be now the head Coach of the under 17 team eh, taking over from Ken Ellie eh, and when I say all they does be doing is recycling the same set of Coaches eh, some folks does get vex with me eh, I mean to say there are no other qualified Coaches in our sweet country eh, or one has to belong to a certain group eh, or maybe once yuh is ah soldier eh, it is expected that you will be Coaching for free eh, since this football business started in our sweet country eh is only ah set of protective services members is involved with the Coaching of our National teams eh, and all have been failing miserably eh, so can’t my dictator president try some new blood that isn’t affiliated with our protective services especially the soldiers eh. Them really good yes.
Errrrr qualification…………may be a four letter word for sone
Earl you keep stressing about getting new blood to coach etc. How many really qualified coaches do you think it have out there in Trinidad and Tobago. I am not talking about persons who did those courses that Isa and others run that cannot even get them coaching jobs in the Carribean. I mean persons who have furthered their experiences and acquired real Certificates. Put out your feelers and see how many you can find and recommend them.
Them really good yes. LOL
Members of the protective services do not coach for free , do they? Don’t they continue to get their salary ?
Since when the corrupted TTFF/TTFA is part of the governments eh. Them really good yes.
another bacchanal, here we go again infighting, whay cant we get things right people.
Very well I heard that as well.
..No. Salazar says that TTFA is trying to find professional resources to effect a!chamhe over to TTFA management of the NSL I raised the matter of NSL instutionalization, i.e. the establishment of a board of management a la TTPL, SSFL, RAs, and the response is that they are working on that. MY position is that the NSL should be AUTONOMOUS of but affiliated to the TTFA and manage its own affairs. AND FOR THE TROLLS OUT THERE – KEITH EH WANT NO WUKK IN THAT NEW STRUCTURE..
Keith, was your interpretation that the TTFA has decided to run the NSL next season? Or is it that no decision was made?
Because it seems that delegates left the meeting with different impressions
..No decision was made in my opinion. This was a C0NSULTATION. No vote was taken on anything..
Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that some delegates left “confused.”
Jamaal, I will adjust to say that it is not unanimous whether or not anything in that consultation was binding.
So you saying that the NSL not under the control of the TTFA
The football calendar has not yet been changed as yet .I know pro league has to give their view now
Was the football calendar changed and the NSL saved but sent under TTFA control from 2017? Jamaal Shabazz
I do not know of any decisions taken about the Super League please enlighten me. I know Tobago brought their proposal it was not supported. I praised them for the effort to develop a document for debate and then I did not support it. Keith dealt so much blows to the document I think it wake up Muhammad Ali but I not aware of any decisions about Super League.
What decision was made on Sunday ? And about the Super League
Was the football calendar changed and the NSL saved but sent under TTFA control from 2017?
The President said he must now talk to Pro League and that the TTFA did not want to touch the NSL and they have a plan for 2017. But isn’t the NSL always under their control as pointed out by Keith to them in the meeting.
If that means that they going to fire All Sports Promotions I did not get that interpretation
Talk to Pro League re the Calendar
Well, I think we have discussed this now Jamaal. I stand by my point.
Shabazz seems to be the unofficial PRO for the TTFA. Lol.
Debbie because I choose to give my account. So I must just bash because my brethren Lasana choses his angle. The things I agree with I agree but oh gawd I am not PRO material
I feel that we must search for solutions and while errors must be corrected, consultation will bring differing views which will help to make more informed decisions
IF consultation is entertained.
I agree with mostly everything you just said there Jamaal.
But decisions were made on the National Super League on Sunday.
There is nothing in the constitution that says decisions can be made in the governance of the game in anything but properly constituted meetings.
Joanne Salazar or whoever cannot make up the law as they see fit.
I find that worrying. But as you say, the rank and file cannot be absolved. I agree.
In my view the impotency in representation contributed to the creation of Jack Warner ….in addition to his own ambitions and actions.
If DJW is going to be accused as being a Dictator in the making …..I think the people who represent clubs and regional associations must not be absolved of blame for their impotency.
I stated then as now Jack Warner did not consult to get ideas because he bought the intellectual capacity. He had the power so there were few who would be brave enough to come out in public disagreement.
The active debate and discussion on Saturday proved that the only way forward if via Shura ( mutual consultation ). And I daresay the TTFA hierarchy would have seen that.
I thought the meeting was a useful exercise in the need for more discussion and debate on issues in local football. By the way I was there in my capacity as Caledonia representative. …an organisation that I part own. In case anyone wanted to know what I was doing there
I too was surprised with all the issues raised about DJW bypassing the Board than none from the Board raised such an issue thus by default I raised the issue.
I again say the TTFA Secretariat must take responsibility for the late notice sent to members because if the President sends out such invites I think we will hear another story.
There were two meetings . The first meeting was aborted because it needed 25 representatives to form a quorum and at the time 935am there were 22 reps. Eventually after the meeting was aborted 3 more reps came Wasa, Santa Rosa and Secondary Schools League.
The discussions that took place was in the second meeting which was brought forward from After lunch to the morning because of the aborted first meeting.
It dealt with the proposal brought by the Tobago FA on a new format for the Super League
Here was the agenda Chabeth Haynes, Paula Chester-Cumberbatch and anyone else who is interested:
When things are done the right way people respond accordingly. Administratively, when a notice is sent out as it is supposed to, the next part of the process is to contact the attendees to note/track their attendance. As such, at the beginning of the Meeting during the Roll Call it is Minuted why persons indicated they would not be attending. This is done for legal purposes.
The meeting had no quorum but was unconstitutional from the git go. The NSL members, and by Jamaal Shabaaz’s revelation here on Wired Volley, the TTPL members – the two bodies with the largest groups of representatives, 10 and 8 respectively- were advised of the meeting merely four days in advance where the constitution calls for a minimum of ten. In any event, the meeting was abandoned when no quorum was had thirty minutes after the scheduled time. Secondly, the discussion on the TFA proposal was always listed as a consultation on the circulated agenda. You correctly state that this proposal was roundly criticized and rejected by all involved parties – the five NSL clubs in attendance (Club Sando, FC Santa Rosa, Real Maracas, QPCC, WASA FC), as well as the regional associations in attendance – Central, East, Eastern Counties, North and South. I expect this is the end of this matter. Those present were asked their opinion on the best period to play domestic club football and the consensus was that this would be April to December. I also expect that this would become mandatory for all leagues, including the TTPL, from which at least Club Sando, Morvant Caledonia, San Juan Jabloteh, and W Connection were present. During the discussion the head table made it clear “how much work they were doing – it’s just that people don’t know”. They were challenged to get the TTFA media people to work advising the community what was being done. All of this said, I have no qualms in stating that there was a good consultation on two matters, 1) the future of the NSL, and 2) the broad outline of the domestic football calendar. I am convinced that the extraordinary congress called to ratify financial statements was and remains unconstitutional and needs to be properly called. Any meeting supposedly resumed in fourteen days would also be unconstitutional. But this is not the core issue, which is the inability of most people to 1) make the effort to attend meetings and to be daily vigilant, and 2) once in attendance, to contribute meaningfully. They just sit there. Part of the problem, a major part, is that a majority of the body representatives who are authorized to attend any meeting called under the new constitution and administration are products of the old culture that obtained for decades. They know how to survive by saying little and by being deferential to the status quo. These are the facts of the matter as I see them..
Lasana correct me if I am wrong. Wasn’t this meeting called to deal with the long overdue Audited Financials? Were the topics discussed and decided on included on the Agenda?
The financials were not dealt with. But there were a few other things on the agenda that they tried to handle regardless.
As I read in the article eh, meh friend Coach Ken Elie called it a day and quit eh ah wonder when he and the other Coaches will learn eh, and yes I understand like others that have a burning passion for the sport, our youths and our sweet country eh, make certain that things are seriously in place before taking up the Coaching job eh, now these young players hearts will be broken I am sure. Them really good yes steeuuppss
Roneil K Walcott will have an update on Ken Elie and the Trinidad and Tobago National Under-17 situation by tonight.
Look out for that Michael Samuel.
Lasana Liburd things seem to be falling apart quicker than usual on this watch.
Tenille Clarke and Carlos Lee, people are then quick to say which players are rubbish. What about our administrators?
Sigh. This never ending cycle of missing accountability and transparency. It’s so hurtful to the sporting community.
And nutten will ever change eh, hence the reason why Oliver Camps was allowed to be the president for so many years eh, so it is just the same things over and over as usual eh, but as as the song writer said “We tired of the same things over and over eh. Them really good yes.
whistling
Yes. But I need to read the article.first.
Apparently nowhere?
And then we blast athletes or talk about who is no good or who doesn’t try hard enough…
Keith Look Loy and Kester Lendor, anything to share from the meeting?
Where are the sport administrators who care about our athletes and our game?
Wow. Just wow.
Exactly Earl Mango Pierre. Shame. Smh.
Absolutely no decision, regardless of how benign or how serious, made in the absence of a constitutionally required quorum is legal. Ever.
Joanne Salazar the constitutional expert again. Lol.
Yeah but how everybody else could agree to that? Like mooks?
That thing about getting the government a people deserves eh…
It now appears safe to say that this TTFA president and his cabal of vice-presidents will not be challenged on anything in the foreseeable future.
True Chabeth, but if people can’t be bothered to attend meetings, I can’t see them challenging decisions made…or maybe I can
Well at least the people present Sav.
Lasana, true…and if there is no quorum and decisions are made, those who didn’t attend the meeting to have their voices heard will come after the fact to rubbish those decisions. I’ve experienced the same thing with the alumni that I am a member of.
They can challenge in court.
But Chabeth is right, those decisions are illegal. But that four day notice is disgraceful
Well, there seems to not be a unanimous decision as to whether Saturday’s meeting was consultation or whether firm decisions were made.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. But I have adjusted that bit and toned it down. There is no doubt about the lack of quorum and the other constitutional issues though.
Well, ah tell yuh… NO quorum, eh, and business normal, normal…
Our football has deep, deep problems if we can’t get a quorum for an extraordinary meeting.
The members stayed away eh, this is the reason why nutten changes in our sweet country eh, as the saying goes, “We like it so”. Them really good yes.
I’m reading this and a sense of deja vu comes over me; where have I seen this plot before? Seems DJW is following the JW blueprint for ascendancy – head the TTFA and bully them into doing your will, use that as a platform for CFU presidency and then pole vault yourself unto the CONCACAF and world stage as a power broker supreme!
And to think I thought that DJW would bring about change in the sport! Seems all we are getting is an exchange instead …