Total disrespect! Williams axes Pappy and Quinn for skipping T&T U-20 camp

Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team coach Brian Williams has refused to consider Shiva Boys Hindu College players Tyrel “Pappy” Emmanuel and Quinn Rodney for the Caribbean Cup finals, after rejecting their excuses for skipping an ongoing training camp in Guyana.

Emmanuel and Rodney were selected on Williams’ 20-man team, which left for Georgetown on Wednesday evening. But neither made the trip and both played for their schools on the same evening, as Shiva Boys lost 2-1 away to San Juan North Secondary.

Photo: Shiva Boys HC star Tyrel "Pappy" Emmanuel (centre) drives towards goal while St Mary's College midfielder Nathan Harte (airborne) makes a vain attempt at a block during 2015 SSFL action. (Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Photo: Shiva Boys HC star Tyrel “Pappy” Emmanuel (centre) drives towards goal while St Mary’s College midfielder Nathan Harte (airborne) makes a vain attempt at a block during 2015 SSFL action.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

Williams, a former Strike Squad standout, said the two talented players had dropped themselves as a result of their actions. He said he already informed TTFA president David John-Williams and technical director Muhammad Isa about his decision.

“I am very disappointed about this,” Williams told the TTFA Media. “Definitely these two players will not be eligible for selection for the CFU Final Round. I think this is a total disrespect to the national team by not turning up after being selected with travel and hotel arrangements already confirmed.

“I will not be including them in the selection for the final round in Curacao. These two players have dropped themselves.”

Williams, a W Connection youth team coach and former coach with Pro League team, United Petrotrin, confirmed that his technical staff informed all 20 players of their travel arrangements earlier in the week.

“We selected 20 players which I confirmed earlier this week,” said Williams. “Every player was spoken to and informed about the travel arrangements.”

However, Rodney simply did not turn up.

Photo: Shiva Boys HC attacker Quinn Rodney (right) takes on St Anthony's College defender Brent Joel during 2015 SSFL action in Westmoorings. (Courtesy Kerlon Orr/Wired868)
Photo: Shiva Boys HC attacker Quinn Rodney (right) takes on St Anthony’s College defender Brent Joel during 2015 SSFL action in Westmoorings.
(Courtesy Kerlon Orr/Wired868)

“Quinn Rodney did not show up at the airport,” said Williams. “I spoke to his mother and his school teacher. But I understand the mother said afterwards that she had no money to send with her son on the tour.

“I could not understand [that excuse] because we were covering all expenses.”

Williams said Emmanuel called on Wednesday afternoon, less than three hours before the flight, to say that his mother could not find his passport and he was also suffering chest pains.

But the national youth team coach rejected that excuse too.


“Pappy called me when I was on my way to the airport and said that his mother could not find his passport,” said Williams, “and due to his medical status with him still having some chest pains, he cannot make the trip.

“I asked him if he was playing in the evening for Shiva Boys and his response was: no coach I am not playing. But I found out after that he scored for Shiva Boys later that day.”

Photo: Shiva Boys midfielder Tyrel "Pappy" Emmanuel (right) dribbles past Presentation College (San Fernando) midfielder Kareem Riley during 2014 SSFL action. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Shiva Boys midfielder Tyrel “Pappy” Emmanuel (right) dribbles past Presentation College (San Fernando) midfielder Kareem Riley during 2014 SSFL action.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Williams will name his final 23-man squad for the Caribbean finals on Tuesday. All selected players will be barred from playing in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL).

The Under-20s hope to have a second training camp in Panama before they head to Curacao before the CFU competition.

The young Soca Warriors edged Alpha United 2-1 on Friday evening in Georgetown. However, their opponents were a surprise since the team thought they would play two exhibition matches against the Guyana National Senior Team for their tour.

“There was an adjustment when we reached here because initially we were supposed to play the national teams,” said Williams. “But what was explained to us by [Guyana National Senior Team coach] Jamaal Shabazz when we arrived here is that he recently selected a pool of national players to prepare for the Caribbean Cup and right now they are into their preparations.

“So there was an arrangement where we would play the Alpha team, which has a few national players, and then play against an Elite All Star team on Sunday, which is also made up of several of their local-based national players.”

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 striker Nicholas Dillon (right) takes on St Lucia defender Melvin Doxilly during 2016 Caribbean Cup qualifying action at the Ato Boldon Stadium on 19 June 2016. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw. (Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 striker Nicholas Dillon (right) takes on St Lucia defender Melvin Doxilly during 2016 Caribbean Cup qualifying action at the Ato Boldon Stadium on 19 June 2016.
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

Team captain Jabari Mitchell and newcomer Moses Jaikeran got the goals against Alpha while striker Nicholas Dillon and left back Keston Julien also gave creditable efforts.

Williams said he was pleased with his team’s performance and happy to away from the distracting nature of the SSFL competition, which has led to regular absences from national team training sessions.

“I was really pleased with the way our boys handled the match. It was very important for us to come here and play as it helped us as a team to refocus on the task at hand.

“Because of the distraction of secondary schools football and the club football back home, we were not getting the chance to really have proper training sessions involving all of the players. And that was becoming a big concern for me as we get closer to the tournament.

“But coming here has allowed us to regroup and refocus and I am happy about that. We came in Wednesday and we had two good training sessions and the boys have been very positive so far. They put on a strong performance in the match which I felt was important for us.”

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 midfielder Micah Lansiquot (centre) takes on the Turks and Caicos defence during Caribbean Cup qualifying action at the Ato Boldon Stadium on 17 June 2016. T&T won 11-0. (Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 midfielder Micah Lansiquot (centre) takes on the Turks and Caicos defence during Caribbean Cup qualifying action at the Ato Boldon Stadium on 17 June 2016.
T&T won 11-0.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)

The National Under-20 Team close off their tour tomorrow with a warm-up match against a local all-star team.

(Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team)

Goalkeepers: Jabari Brice (St Anthony’s College/San Juan Jabloteh), Denzil Smith (Shiva Boys HC);

Defenders: Tyrek Sampson (North East Stars), Kori Cupid (Presentation/W Connection), Isaiah Garcia (Shiva Boys/W Connection), Kierron Mason, Keston Julien (both Marabella Family Crisis Centre), Rondell Payne (Naparima College), Hakim Baird (North East Stars);

Midfielders: Jabari Mitchell (W Connection), Kareem Riley (Presentation/Central FC), Shane Sandy (Naparima/North East Stars), Micah Lansiquot (Mucurapo East/St Ann’s Rangers);

Forwards: Nicholas Dillon (Central FC), Kathon St Hillaire (St Anthony’s/St Ann’s Rangers), Josh Toussaint (St Ann’s Rangers), Chaz Burnett (Players Development Academy—USA), Moses Jaikeran (Harlem Strikers).

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400 comments

  1. Chabeth ….. the level of ball at home is of a lower level that these kids who are playing in foreign universities They have better facilities are normally exposed to a higher standard of coaching etc. This is why they are preferred. Which is why when camps and other opps are arranged for local players. …its a good opportunity for invaluable exposure. The fact is if the kid is good enough he’ll play but if he isn’t he won’t. We’ve realistically looked for foreign help when our local core has not shown itself to be up to scratch and this has been a consistent shortcoming. Even the senior team when we recently went on tour with the majority local based we got our asses handed to us. Until local based level of training and/or performance improves we will be constantly looking at foreign prospects.

    • That wasn’t my point though.
      My point is if we’re making a big deal about local players rejecting national team duty on the principle of the matter, then the attitude should be the same towards the foreign based athletes.
      And the demands of foreign based athletes in terms of tour attendance shouldn’t be less than the demands on locally based athletes especially in light of the fact that the locally based athletes would be playing together more during practices etc and interacting with the coaches more etc. etc.

    • Well how can the demands be equal if the foreign based is foreign? They have to take a flight home and get a release from their institutions …the locales are right here which the demands on them to make the camp is less. If you wanna have the same demands on foreign players then the circumstances have to be the same …which it isnt. The demands become the same when everyone is at practice and then it just comes down to quality.

    • The tour to Guyana was foreign for everybody. If you demand that local kids miss school and ssfl matches, then the same demands could be made of the foreign based kids. Fair is fair.

    • So the distance from Trinidad to Guyana is the same as from the US to Guyana? Are the costs the same as well?

  2. What was the reason for the unavailability of the foreign based players that resulted in the late call up for Pappy and Quinn?

    • Chabeth, there was no late call for Pappy and Quinn. I’m just saying if there was.

    • Oh ok. Well still, what was the reason for the unavailability of the foreign based players who didn’t attend?

    • Cause if we’re going to criticise Pappy and Quinn for not going, then we should be fair and share criticism equally.

    • I don’t know if the TTFA even asked them come. There might have been one of two reasons. (1) Financial. (2) The US schools don’t allow you to miss more than a limited number of games.
      Coaches, with some justification, usually point to fact that leagues abroad tend to be faster and more intense and a bit closer to standard of international games.

    • Chabeth, the other players did not show up because they were not asked. Pappy and Quinn gave excuses which turned out to be untrue.

    • But let Pappy and Quinn think that way. If so and so not going then why should I? Fine. Don’t go. The world keeps on spinning.
      Hope they get where they are trying to go with that approach.

    • My stance is that any adult who advises those boys not to go for any of the reasons I saw raised in this thread is doing those boys a disservice and harming their careers.
      They made their choice. I think it was the wrong one. But good luck to them.

    • Ok. So are we condemning the untruth in the excuses given exclusively or are we condemning the principle of not responding positively to a national team call up?
      As for the possible reasons you listed:
      1. If it’s financial, then the ttfa should discourage coaches from carrying players who are definitively not going to be in the final squad. I know you said your understanding is that Pappy would have been in the squad, idk if the same was true for Quinn.
      2. Missing school matches… why should the local kids miss school matches just because there isn’t a rule about it like the Americans have.
      3. I really don’t understand how playing in a different league with a different team translates to a successful inclusion of foreign based players who don’t even play against the rest of the athletes who would make up this team.
      I’ve already said that I don’t think there’s any excuse for missing a national team call up in the original thread in this story. But that view and principle extend to everybody, not just the locally based athletes.

    • And having a tour without a whole bunch of players who will eventually be in the final squad is pointless.
      That was the same nonsense that happened with the men’s senior team earlier this year.

    • The squad was not officially announced yet so nobody would have made the team or otherwise. And every team in the world does tours without first team players. From Real Madrid to Brazil go down. They all think it is better than nothing and some would use it to look at wider pool of available talent.

    • Right. Well to your point about finances, i don’t think Real Madrid or Brazil’s financial situation is the same as the TTFA’s.
      And I’d also guess the coaches of those teams have greater familiarity with the first string players than locally based coaches here would have with school aged foreign based athletes.
      In any case, if we are talking about the principle of being available for national duty, I don’t think the rules should differ for locally based and foreign based athletes.
      If foreign athletes can be unavailable for whatever reason they have, then so too can locally based athletes
      Any other way I see as disrespectful to our locally based kids and as offering a preferential arrangement to the foreign based kids. Colonial mentality.

    • If we were to do that we would have to ignore most of our US school players. For the women’s team, some college players didn’t even get permission to play in World Cup qualifying matches. That’s how it is. That’s their rules.
      Whatever rules the local schools choose to have is up to them.
      We have a limited pool and it is up to the coach to decide whether he can do without the players who have such difficulties or not.
      I see nothing colonial in that at all.
      For parents who want to take children out of the program, then that is their choice. The national coach has to pick the best team at his disposal on any given day. And if a player doesn’t want to be selected or wants to choose when he plays and when he doesn’t, then it is up to the coach to decide whether he puts up with that.
      Pappy and Quinn had the opportunity to go while those US players didn’t. Mind you, those US and Canada-based kids find their money to pay fly for hours to come to Trinidad just to try out. And then the other excuse is that it is too difficult for the local based players to get to Couva.
      So I think those North America-based kids definitely showed their commitment to the cause already.
      I think Brian Williams made the right call. And I think the two boys and their advisors got it wrong.

    • If we were to do that we might spend more time, energy and resources in developing local talent instead of relying on foreign born/foreign based athletes not being good enough to play for their home teams.
      But if you don’t think having one set of rules for the kids who live in the first world country and a different set for the kids living in the third world country is colonial then ok, I do.
      But if we are all so concerned about our kids, and we’re fine with what the American system permits for its kids, then we can willingly adopt that instead of waiting for someone to stand over us with a big stick to enforce it.
      As it stands now, there is more leeway given to foreign based athletes than locally based athletes with respect to national team participation. And I say that based on the response to Pappy and Quinn not going while we have been mute on the foreign based athletes not going/ or being available.
      I don’t think that difference is fair to the locally based athletes.
      That’s really all my point is.

    • Chabeth, some of the US based players were born and developed in the local system and got scholarships. I don’t know that they all would have necessarily tried out for Canada or USA either.
      Noel Powder has played for us since U-17 level and he has been attached for a MLS team and is doing quite well.
      David Rudder’s son was in the National Under-17 pool. You mean we gonna doubt the patriotism of Mr Trini to the Bone? Lol.
      Also a US-born player tried out a few years ago and it didn’t work out. He then went on try out and eventually captained the US at a youth World Cup.
      Every situation is different.

    • Like I said, the foreign players do travel just to attend training. At their own expense. And they were not invited to this tour.
      Pappy and Quinn only had to inconvenience themselves by going to Guyana for five days with all expenses paid.

    • I didn’t say anything about anybody’s patriotism. I said greater leeway is given to foreign based athletes when it comes to national duty.
      They weren’t invited to a preparatory tour for a qualifying tournament? Why would they not be invited? They naturally and understandable miss most training sessions but then you don’t invite them to a tour? That just sounds so odd.
      In any case, either we don’t agree or you’re just not understanding the point I’m making about blasting Pappy and Quinn and no one else. Either way, we can call it a night on this. ?

    • Chabeth, the only players who turned down national duty were Pappy and Quinn. The system regarding foreign based players is another discussion altogether. But no foreign based players turned down the tour. Nor the did the 16 or 18 local based players who went.

  3. I honestly not sure why these kids need to be assured playing time in order to accept a national call. They have achieve nothing yet to demand this. If you tell me Levi asked for special treatment OK. I hope this ssfl title if won opens the door to them in Europe because I really can’t remember the a last time a President of any team call me asking about a kid destroying his school league. These lads should have taken the opportunity to play or be surrounded by more high level football simple.

  4. I am not disagreeing with you but they made a choice and let’s move on with their decision in the things you are saying but

  5. We have 17yr old boys competing against each other thinking that they’re all that then they come up against regional national teams and they get their asses kicked and you think playing with the nationsl team should not be a priority? How are they still going to improve if they don’t get that kind of exposure? When foreign clubs check for players are they gonna look at the high school they play for? Won’t they be looking to the national pool first? You learn things from experiences …if all experiences was positive you’d learn nothing. This aint just ball palos is life. Take the experiences and extract from it.

  6. People making these kids superstars before they even score an international goal or give a big performance away to Costa Rica or something.
    They have achieved nothing yet. If you all really love them, tell them to make working hard a habit and step out on the field with something to prove every day–even if it is a training session!

    • Lasana….I agree so much with this statement!! But the media (you included) are who help to make these boys ‘stars’. It’s not an indictment on the media but rather on our football

    • I write on Pappy and might say he had a top game or that he is a bright talent. If they and his handlers want to take that to believe he is the local Messi, I don’t see how the media can be blamed for that.
      Putting them on the back page or whatever can also boost their self esteem and make them want to achieve even more and make others want to be as good or better. Just depends on the individual.
      Ronaldinho said Messi was the best player in the world before he had even debuted for Barcelona. That was crazy hype. All depends on the boy and his support team to me.

    • Let me add that if I say Pappy proved today against San Juan North that he is the best midfielder since Latapy and should walk into the national team ahead of Hyland… Then I will take my licks for over hyping the boy.

  7. You know I will pound the TTFA when I think they deserve it. But a 17 year boy with no international caps turning down a tour because he doesn’t like the venue or he thinks he won’t make the final cut is madness to me.
    I have to question those boys decision making and ambition after that.
    Or is it that Brian Williams has to send his list of possible practice games and training schedules for Pappy and Quinn to approve?

  8. The U-17 players have to keep working and improving. Nothing handed to you. Look where Kenwyne Jones, Jan-Michael Williams and Julius James reached. You gotta keep working. Not wait for people to hand things for you.

  9. I never said that lasana what I said was national youth football aint worth shit they treat players like shit and they have no respect for them and when all is said and done they discard you without looking back where are the players of the 2001 u 17 team noew

  10. And if international youth football wasn’t worth shit, then European scouts wouldn’t attend. They would go to school games instead. That’s how I see it.
    I’m a fan of both boys and I’m disappointed by their decision.
    When they find $20,000 to go on trials in Europe, they are going to teams that already picked too. They have to show that European coach that they deserve inclusion.
    Why shouldn’t they have to show their worth here too? That should be practice. I’m disappointed they didn’t see it that way.
    They are young and I hope they learn from this.

  11. I haven’t read the comments so will have to scroll up now. But wanted to respond to that.
    Also at the last gold cup, the deadline for naming the squad came before the team left. So Hart selected squad but asked the standbys to remain with squad. Shahdon and Leston Paul, from my info, both chose to drop out.
    Then one or two of the Hoytes couldn’t make it. And that’s how Dwane James and I think Rundell Winchester or Kadeem Corbin got to go.

    • That’s slightly different from what the rumours are about these boys. Because Hart gave those guys an option…whereas this situation is assuming the boys weren’t going to be on the squad at all. They just got a call…summoned…and expected to act…Hart was honest with those guys and gave them an option

      That’s why I’m saying “IF”, B. Williams knew he wouldn’t be selecting those guys he should’ve given them an option.

      That’s only…”IF”

    • Kirwin true. But it does show that you never know when your opportunity would come.
      Look at Rashford. Van Gaal said he didn’t think he was ready and nobody planned to use him in first team. He only played because of an injury crisis.
      And look where he is now…

    • Meh hear you…the boy’s did handle it wrong.

      But if indeed staff had no plans for them and they were taking Pappy and Quinn to make up numbers, then let the youths play their school ball.

      If their was a chance of them getting in, out of respect, let the youths know if you work hard enough you’ll make it on to the squad and leave it up to them.
      Shouldn’t be that I call you and you must come…dialogue was important here.

    • So if Stephen Hart call them to play Grenada but they won’t play in the World Cup qualifier and Shiva playing Kirwin, they should say no?
      Or do they get to decide based on whether they like Grenada more than Guyana?
      Or if they think Hart more important?
      I’m trying to get the principle here.

    • Should Brian Williams send his potential friendly opponents for Pappy and Quinn to okay it? What about training schedules and so on?
      ????

    • Neither.

      I’m saying don’t use the men…

      Training and being around the senior team is a different experience altogether.

    • Use the men? Playing for your national team is being used?
      Then they shouldn’t go again.
      So Kirwin if Brian has a 20 man squad with eight foreign players who are unavailable, he should tour with 16?
      Every club and country in the world carries players who may not make final cut. Those players have to change coach’s mind.
      If they give up so easily then they won’t make it.

    • No, I’m saying give the men the choice, just like Hart did…Paul and Shahdon chose to drop and got left out.
      I’m saying give the men a choice rather than drop them and then victimize them…like is WICB owa ? Lol

    • Victimize? Hart had selected his final team. You think he didn’t have an idea who his team was long before?
      So when he calls up Foncette or Glenroy Samuel or Sean De Silva although they may not play, he victimizing them?!

    • That’s the point I trying to address repeatedly. It’s not giving it’s assuming or knowing you’re definitely you won’t be on the team.

      Wherever Quinn and Pappy got their info better had been damn good to make such a decision, it was irresponsible yes.
      But I’m saying if they definitely weren’t part of the setup give them the option to play the school game pr go Guyana…that’s just me.

    • Those examples are not comparable

    • They aren’t in the team because they dropped themselves.

    • Based on what? The team was not selected until a week or so AFTER the Guyana tour which they chose not to go. So exactly why do you think they were dropped BEFORE the actual team was selected Kirwin?

    • That’s why meh used if…but alyuh eh catching on…

    • Like I said Kirwin, I spoke to Brian and he denied that the players were not picked and that was consistent with his stance throughout.
      He called up Pappy although he did not make the last U-17 team. He kept him in team although he wasn’t attached with a Pro League team. He selected him in squad for earlier qualifying competition and only had to leave him due to a health issue.
      He publicly said he cannot wait for Pappy to recover him to bring him back into team. And then he picked him for international tour in Guyana.
      So tell me Kirwin. Was it DJW who said he wasn’t going to be picked then? Who has more authority than Brian Williams over the squad selection that told Pappy he wasn’t going to be picked?

  12. Kirwin Weston and Dion Sosa, I spoke to Brian Williams a week ago and he assured me that Pappy was going to make his final 20 man squad.
    And I don’t doubt him because that is consistent with his stance from the start.
    Brian always spoke of Pappy as a first team player. So it might be that someone gave the boys wrong info.

  13. exactly what the hell you gain by playing against a guyanese club and guyana national team is not like the tour was to brasil argentina or europe you ask anyone of the pllayers who went and they will tell you that they could not wait 2 get back 2 their school or club team in terms of value that tour had nothing to gain

  14. exactly what the hell you gain by playing against a guyanese club and guyana national team is not like the tour was to brasil argentina or europe you ask anyone of the pllayers who went and they will tell you that they could not wait 2 get back 2 their school or club team in terms of value that tour had nothing to gain

  15. If these two players harbour any ambitions to play at a professional level (and I know they do) …..for someone to say that the choice to turn down a national call up vs staying to play for the world renowned shiva boys high school team in ssfl liga is simply “a very stupid statement” …. and I’m not gonna take this as an opportunity to bash the boys …they made a choice not the end of the world and pretty sure they moved on. Seems like the guy bringing up this thread is the one either looking for closure or conspiracy … lol

  16. Ok Kirwin Weston…so “if” the coach knew they weren’t going to be a part of the squad but gave them a late call up it now gives them, unlike many others who were probably dying for a late call up, a second opportunity to be seen, a second opportunity to prove themselves. Ok, so stay and play in the SSFL and still lose to San Juan North? Or on the really positive side…”win SSFL”? MADNESS!!! UTTER MADNESS. There is not even a decision to make there. I don’t blame these two little boys though. I blame their advisors and I blame Shiva Boys coach! No right thinking coach would encourage a young player with national potential to decline a “late call”… And I say this with no reservations.

    • You’re not grasping what I’m saying.

      I’m considering that there’s no possibility of squeezing into the squad.

      I’m saying “IF”, being the key word here…that they both weren’t on the squad it’s useless calling them up. And wasteful in taking them to Guyana and then victimising them afterwards for their immaturity.
      The boy’s are inexperienced and immature of how to handle those situations.

      I’m saying “IF” the coach knew certainly that they weren’t going to be part of the squad he shouldn’t have taken them or given them a choice.
      It’s unethical to use the boys to make up numbers…unethical to use anyone as a matter of fact.

      Don’t mix up the priority with Shiva Boy’s and national team here.

    • Ok. So let’s be lil realistic here because clearly I’m missing something here. Why would he call them if they could in “no way” be on the squad?. Again, we are following a “personal” issue with the TTFA by even “ASSUMING” that the coach NEVER INTENDED TO USE THEM. And do we know that FOR SURE? Well since we know FOR SURE the coach never intended to use them…I rest my case. None of us know this for sure and none of us will ever know this for sure because they never went. Had they gone and not been used would have put a different light on things but they denied us the opportunity of ever knowing therefore it is unwise and unfair to ASSUME

    • And the only reason we assuming once again is because of “hear say”. Somebody say the coach was never going to use them… Typical. I rest my case.

    • That could get really complicated.

      I’ve heard 3 different versions aligned to why they didn’t go…but all based on them not being on the squad final squad…for sure.

      But I’ll rather say less and virtually concede in this discussion than say what I’ve heard publicly, lol

    • Would you select 2 players to go Guyana to make up numbers because you can’t get 2 other players you desire at the point in time ?

    • Yes I would… And what we should ask ourselves is “why those two”? Because after I’ve selected my squad…in the event of any misfortune I still have the two best out of the lot which were cut that I can use… Murphy’s Law right? So then go and give yourself that chance… The coach didn’t use you or didn’t need to use you… So be it…you’ll get your chance son… Instead of “yuh eh see is better yuh did stay and play College league” or “good ting dey stay and play college league”…

    • Ok…I catch your drift

      But I hear another talk of and relating to, lol.

      Don’t know what to believe, lol

    • Because watch… Was the coach compelled to use them because they got a “late call up”? No! But if he needed to, they denied themselves or rather their advisors denied them the opportunity. So wah we really telling them is…dey cyah get drop and that I hope does not turn out to be their downfall in their football career. We are teaching the youths the wrong thing. Take yuh drop like a man and dust yourself off and try again.

    • Ihu, but that’s way off my point.

      This situation is assuming that the boys were in fact not going to make the final cut.

      That’s why I’m using the word, “IF”.
      It’s not assuming this is an initial tryout for the team.

  17. Clearly y’all misinterpreted what I’m saying.

    What was the purpose of that game and tour in Guyana ?

    Read carefully what I wrote and hopefully you both will catch the point.

    My position is based on a “IF” the staff knew they both won’t be part of the squad…not if they were part of the setup or tussling for a spot.

  18. Well this gone way above my head and intellectual capacity coz Kirwin Weston real lose me there about an “ethical issue”… Gordon Pierre…point well taken…disappointment, rejection, late calls etc at that age is supposed to build “character”. I’m not saying it’s ok to disappoint young ppl but…”that’s life” and one would hope that with ppl like Dion Sosa around who I know, knows better will be the ones to mentor these youths on after disappointment and in so doing “build their character”. Dion your decision in this matter reflects your personal peeve with the TTFA and I do respect how you feel…don’t get me wrong…

  19. Kirwin Weston what madness i hearing here!! Dion Sosa is my friend and i know he goes off d deep end sometimes but u don’t join him!! That decision is an absolute foolish decision and foolish is not d word i want to really use and to try to talk ethical issue is more of the same if the boys got a late call to a professional trial their handlers would have sent them. I have seen players sent on trials who i know have NO CHANCE of being sign u know y i am not against it? The experience and it builds character these young men had a chance to engage d selection process don’t BS me about ethics and ttfa the persons in charge then are no the same ones now!!

  20. Dion, I agree with you to an extent.

    If it’s true that the staff knew these boy’s weren’t going to make the cut, then why call them ?

    That’s being spiteful and inconsiderate. Better they go short as they did.

    Yes, they handled the situation incorrectly. But these boys should not be punished for not accepting that call up especially seeing they had a game at Shiva. If they not going to be on the national team then Shiva us their focus.

    It’s not a matter of representing your country anymore if the coach knows you’re not going to be on the team. It’s now an ethical issue.

  21. We live and die and have to stand the consequences for the decisions that we make in life. People make mistakes and it is not the ttfa to be blamed. I agree they have the right to their choices but this is not the 1st time that players got late call ups and wouldn’t be the last but to be honest, to wear the national colours and represent the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the pride that comes with that has nothing to do with the TTFA but shows that the pride and honour of wearing that uniform is not there for these boys. So I am not angry with their decision but I will not be angry if they never get the opportunity to wear that uniform again.

  22. ok to end I support their choice just wished they had handled it better

  23. And the more you speak Dion Sosa it justifies my point. You are turning this into a TTFA issue, whilst I respect your views on the TTFA let’s not forget here that the issue at hand is “the decisions” they made. You said it yourself… “The CHOICE Pappy and Quinn to forfeit the Guyana tour” those were your words indicating that they made a “choice”… And I will continue to say it was a “dunce” choice… For want of a better word and whoever advised them was SELFISH!!!

  24. 1 of my players played u17 concacaf in honduras in 2015 got hurt returned home 4 ths injured his parents had 2 foot the bill for all his medical costs why people not studying that crap

    • Again Dion Sosa…I feel ur pain and I understand how you feel about this Akeem Adams issue in particular but we are talking about the “CHOICE” the young men and their advisors made… That’s what we’re talking about.

  25. what I am saying and it may offend people but playing national team aint worth shit cause when you get hurt they discard your ass on your return and you and your family/ school have 2 pick up the pieces

  26. This Dion Sosa…I have to admit, i dont see as a TTFA issue, this is not to say that I’m by any means defending the TTFA. Im just saying and i continue to say was a poor decision, not by the players becoz i dont believe at their age that they made this decision on their own but more so a selfish on the part of Shiva Boys football staff… I going dong wit dat!

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