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Coach Tom Saintfiet got his Trinidad and Tobago football career off to a historic start tonight in Managua. But it was not the sort of history that local football fans would have hoped for, as his debut ended in a 2-1 loss to Nicaragua.
It was the first time that Nicaragua—ranked 124th in the world by FIFA at present—ever managed a win over the two island republic in their fourth attempt since 1967.
(Copyright Ethiosports)
Midfielder Luis Peralta put the hosts ahead after just three minutes, as he peeled away from marker Alvin Jones to beat opposing goalkeeper Adrian Foncette with a downward header off a well worked corner kick routine. It was Nicaragua’s first goal against Trinidad and Tobago in 49 years—the two nations played to a goalless draw in Port of Spain in October 2015.
The second item was even more memorable for the Central American nation, as Iceland-based forward Daniel Cadena beat Foncette with a dipping half volley from 35 yards to double their advantage.
Neither Peralta nor Cadena had ever scored an international goal before tonight.
Defence Force playmaker Hashim Arcia halved the deficit with his first item in Trinidad and Tobago colours in the 75th minute. While, 17 minutes earlier, San Juan Jabloteh Tyrone Charles came close with a free kick that clipped the bar.
But the boys in red, white and black could not salvage a point.
Saintfiet said he was disappointed in the result but not the performance.
“As a coach you don’t like to lose [and] I am disappointed with the result but I can’t be too disappointed in the performance of the team,” the Trinidad and Tobago coach told the TTFA Media. “Nicaragua were full strength and naturally we missed a lot of players. We gave some opportunities for players to make their debuts with a lot of young players in the squad and it was the first game after only two weeks in training together.”
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Not for the first time, Trinidad and Tobago’s problems began before kick off—in fact, they started before the team even got on the plane. Mysteriously, W Connection winger Aikim Andrews never got on the flight to Nicaragua which left Piarco on Christmas Day.
Wired868 understands that Andrews, a former National Under-20 player, had an expired passport and only realised as much at the airport.
Warriors chef de mission Ewing Davis refused to explain why Andrews did not board with his colleagues.
“If you speak to Aikim, he would be best placed to tell you,” Davis told Wired868. “But there were some challenges.”
If Davis, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) vice-president, was not much help to the young man, he did not do much better for himself. He also failed to make the trip. Again, he did not feel like explaining himself.
“In Trinidad, there are always challenges but my challenges are different to Aikim’s,” said Davis. “I should be going [to Nicaragua] tomorrow.”
The fact that the TTFA has not reported on the absence of player or administrator—after two full days in Nicaragua already—arguably typifies current football president David John-Williams’ administration, which has lurched from the clandestine to the incompetent to the farcical.
(Courtesy Nicholas Bhajan/Wired868)
And so Saintfiet—having dropped the team captain Kenwyne Jones, snubbed first team goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, lost back-up goalkeeper Marvin Phillip to injury and axed defender Tristan Hodge for indiscipline—found himself still losing players at the airport.
Incidentally, the Belgian is yet to have a face to face meeting with his assistant coach, Russell Latapy, who spent his Christmas in Portugal.
Presumably, having spent almost his entire coaching career in second and third tier football nations like Namibia and Bangladesh, Saintfiet might be used to such hiccups.
At first glance, there was little adventure about his team though. Like Andrews and Davis, the Warriors barely showed up in the first half either.
Stunned by an early goal, Trinidad and Tobago spent almost the entire first half camped in their own side of the field as an apparent matter of strategic choice rather than necessity.
It was only Cadena’s wonder strike, barely two minutes into the second half, that seemed to rouse the visitors into action.
(Copyright Leonel Rodriguez Ramirez/TTFA Media)
“It was a little bit sad that Nicaragua scored immediately after a few minutes,” said Saintfiet. “It was a goal out of a standard situation with two players [who] didn’t follow instructions of what was done in advance.
“The second half we wanted the make the equaliser but surprisingly they scored out of first of all, a hand ball in the midfield, but secondly, a world class goal with a player shooting from 30-40 metres.”
Saintfiet sent Charles and World Cup 2006 veteran Cornell Glen on to replace the anonymous pair of winger Jomal Williams and striker Akeem Roach in the 55th minute. And, three minutes later, Charles served warning with a delicate free kick that just clipped the bar before going over.
Last year, Charles made a forgettable debut in a 1-0 international friendly defeat to Panama in Couva under former coach Stephen Hart. And the winger certainly intended to make the most of his second chance.
In the 65th minute, Charles produced a brilliant outside of right boot cross that should have created a scoring opportunity for Glen if he had been paying close attention.
“Tyrone Charles came on and did well,” said Saintfiet. “He hit the cross bar with a fantastic free kick and then he had a good cross. We had a chance to make it 2-1 but it didn’t happen… We tried to press more and we had some good occasions.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
“Also Cornell Glen played very well, was pressing a lot and we tried to go for 2-2 and of course it means the opponent could have some chances as we opened up a bit at the back.”
Finally, Nicaragua were being pressed in possession and beginning to look like what they are—an average Central American team that has only been to the CONCACAF Gold Cup once in the last 50 years.
In the 74th minute, the pressure told as the host nation conceded the ball in their own half of the field and Arcia galloped forward before belting into the far corner from 20 yards.
Any chance of an equaliser was lost in a raft of substitutions, though, with the most eye catching changes being Daneil Cyrus installed as a box to box central midfielder and Defence Force hardman Curtis “Boyo” Gonzales utilised as a right winger.
If Central’s commanding midfield duo of Nathaniel “Spanish” Garcia and Leston Paul were watching online, they might not have known whether to laugh or cry.
Before the match, Saintfiet told the TTFA Media that his team was 80 percent ready for competition and, regardless of the result, he hoped to see a reproduction of their work on the training ground.
(Courtesy Nicholas Williams/Wired868)
The good news is that it can only get better from here. He will even have TTFA vice-president, Davis, by his side when Trinidad and Tobago face Nicaragua again on Friday 30 December.
Saintfiet suggested too that his players found it difficult on artificial turf after training exclusively on grass in Trinidad—rather than getting some sessions in on turf at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya. Nicaragua opened their artificial surface in 1992.
“It was also difficult on the artificial pitch but we can’t change that surface,” said the Belgian. “It was a very disappointing result but a satisfying performance for the first time of this team. Sure there were some weaknesses which we have to improve on and be ready for the future for the most important games against Suriname and Haiti and then Mexico and Panama.”
Trinidad and Tobago host Suriname and Haiti in vital 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup playoff fixtures on 4 and 8 January respectively. It is crucial that Saintfiet’s troops get some momentum before then.
Saintfiet said he saw positives in Managua that the Warriors can build on.
“I am a football coach who likes to look into the future,” he said. “I saw a lot of good things. I saw a committed team which played very well in the organisation, which made some small mistakes that the opponents scored out of. I think it was a decent start with disappointing result.”
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
(Team)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 22.Adrian Foncette (GK); 11.Carlos Edwards (captain), 6.Radanfah Abu Bakr, 17.Maurice Ford, 2.Aubrey David; 16.Alvin Jones (5.Daneil Cyrus 80), 15.Hughtun Hector; 8.Nathan Lewis (20.Trevin Caesar 66), 14.Hashim Arcia (4.Curtis Gonzales 78), 23.Jomal Williams (7.Tyrone Charles 55), 9.Akeem Roach (13.Cornell Glen 55).
Unused substitutes: Glenroy Samuel (GK), Carlyle Mitchell, Shahdon Winchester.
Technical staff: Tom Saintfiet (head coach), Jamaal Shabazz (assistant coach), Lukas Wojciak (goalkeeper coach), Riedoh Berdien (trainer), Dr Terence Babwah (doctor), Dave Isaac (paramedic), Michael Williams (equipment manager), Shaun Fuentes (press officer), Azaad Khan (interim manager).
Editor’s Note: The TTFA revealed after Wired868’s report that Aikim Andrews did not travel to Nicaragua due to a passport issue.
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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.
Well the reason why I always say that he is my dictator president because some folks said that I voted for him and he is a dictator and I wasn’t even in our sweet country when the voting business took place and yes I always knew that he was a business man and when I had the pleasure to honor him along with Prof Stuart Charles Fevrier and Raymond R.I.P my good friend and baller from since back in the days with Falcons F.C. from Belmont it was for what they had accomplished with W- Connection over the years, but I knew that it wudda be a conflict of interest when he became the president of the TTFA but my monies are still on him for doing great things for our football in a timing especially when he told me that my greatest team in the universe will finally be coming to our sweet country and I hope that their bestest players will be coming starting with Neymar and the rest of them eh. hahahahaha
I totally agree D Boss..If Dale Saunders was made National team Coach he would pick the majority of his players and I cannot blame him,Total fairness would only come when non affiliates club members are on selection committees or coaching staff…I enjoyed my stint of over 5yrs within W Connection and learned the business side of the game but DJW is not a dictator but a business man with a vision….he similar to JW would ensure this new venture work for his establishment and by extension the National football set up but I was also fired when I did not agree to everything that was asked so I have no sides I just talk it as I see it??
hahahahahaha Look my baller for life Kurtwyn Baird doh try that eh because you know that some of the selections at your old club W- Connection ain’t better than some of the players at Central F.C. and of course that is being mucho bias and also as Simone Ghirlanda stated on another thread why are the players that are playing professionally in Central America are not being call up to also represent our national team eh? Them really good yes.
When looking from the outside it’s easy to cast judgments or criticism,every coach must have players that he or she favors/Same as you and me…Army,Trintoc and even Police had the majority of National players on the teams and even had the National Coaches also….so if our voters selected people who are affiliated with current clubs what is going to change….I would do the same thing if I know certain players better than others! Is that being bias?
Tony Maxwell Hatt so I guess all what you said about some of these administrators who are genuine committed to the football/ sports and not solely fulfilling their egotistical ambition and self preservation will only be happening in our sweet country when corbeaux grows teeth eh. Them really good yes.
There are excellent athletes in Trinidad and Tobago. To be successful they have to have genuine and committed coaches.
They must also have administrators who are genuinely committed to football and not on solely fullfilling their egotistical ambition for self preservation
They are mostly unfit athletes
Bess Saintfiet had call up Shaka Hislop and Dwight Yorke oui…. Smh.
I don’t think there’s an issue with selecting several players from one team. They know each other and can form a compact foundation to build around. I recall England starting with 5 Liverpool players back in Keegan’s days. Obviously, I would have preferred Garcia, Paul, Mitchell and DeSilva as a midfield diamond. That must be the pro leagues strongest combination. I would have started there and built around it.
So that’s now a selection strategy????? Huh? Since you selecting a national team, why not just select the best available players? Maybe too logical and clean?
Brian Harry I don’t understand. They’re all available. What’s more, they’re winners.
And of course it’s a selection strategy especially for a new coach. You look at the top teams and start there.
Kevin Harrison what top teams? The top country teams in the world do what you are suggesting? No they don’t!
Brian Harry it’s a bit tricky for other nations nowadays as not many clubs have more than a couple of national players from the same club. But it was certainly normal 20 years ago. But anyway, what’s the problem with that concept in our situation? Connection and Central have proved themselves to be consistently top over last few years. Ergo their players should be the better equipped for international football. While those outside can’t come, why not build your team with a solid base?
But I have been saying this for years eh, unless we have a local solid base team in our sweet country and a real professional league we will never be a power house to be reckon with farless qualifying nor winning any Gold Cup nor qualifying for any future World Cups and especially if some of our players doesn’t really start to make it professionally in the EPL or other top real professional leagues abroad again like in the past, but nobody eh listening to Mango so they will just continue spinning the top in the mud Them really good yes.
Kevin do you see how poor the competition in the TT Pro league is? Do you know Pumas was using players that regularly don’t even make the bench when they beat W Conn 8-1? The intensity and fitness required in the TT Pro league is very behind any central american league, even Real Esteli from Nicaragua regularly shows better in Concacaf Champions. I try to pick players who are high performers in the TT league and even that is no guarantee they will succed in Central America. I am sure you know how things went for some of the TT Pro top players in El Salvador. One in particular who scores when he wants in the TT Pro league. It’s not the players fault, the fault is who thinks that they can jump from TT Pro league to battle Honduras in Honduras.
Yeah and what about the previous season when London Donavan, Gerrard, and Skene team which also sent their reserve team eh and beat up the same Central F. C. with plenty goals the same eh, what is the name of their team again that plays in the MLS. Them really good yes
I said this earlier and it’s still valid. So you have several players experienced in Central America (Mekeil Williams, Yohance Marshall, Kordell Samuel, Weslie John, Jerrel Britto, Jamal Jack) and almost none get called up and the team regularly gets their ass kicked in Central America. Most of them would know very well what it takes but they prefer local players from the ultra competitive TT Pro League. Interesting.
Well I guess it is all about the business for the owners of the clubs in our sweet country with respect to their local players getting caps while representing the Soca Worries so that they can be sold to the professional clubs overseas eh. Them really good yes
Earl Mango Pierre Do you honestly think anyone cares to scout a friendly game between the B teams of Nicaragua and T&T?
Simone Ghirlanda so what’s your solution? Can’t have foreign based because it’s outside of FIFA window but you don’t want locals coz it’s a poor league? And by the way, I believe that Central and connection could beat the Nicaraguan national team on a good day.
Kevin Harrison Those players were available for call ups but it’s more of a general trend. Real Esteli pays good salaries and that is the bulk of the NT. Against Dallas FC they showed well.
Kevin Harrison I think what people are questioning is your logic that it’s easier to select a national team by selecting a bunch of guys all from one club rather than selecting the best available team.
There are some good players in TT Pro but the overall level doesn’t push those players to improve I am afraid. They can just dominate the league with little effort.
Brian Harry but if you’re a new coach how can you select the best available team in such a short time? So you look at who’s performing well and use common sense. It doesn’t have to stay that way but it’s a starting point. It’s very, very rare to see a national team from any country that doesn’t have a single player from the team that’s dominated for over two years and are Caribbean champions over that same period. It defies logic. But Saintfeit’s done exactly what I’m suggesting but did it with connection players. So maybe the concept was sound but he selected his core from the wrong team?
Kevin Harrison It’s even more absurd to go play vs Central America oppositions without the players experienced in the region. That’s something that was going on even before the coaching change.
Simone Ghirlanda to be fair, pass by Centrals double session tomorrow and tell them about effort! I think the issue is maintaining performance over a long period. But you are correct. If we could raise the standard of pro league our players would improve. All pro league players are drastically underpaid and it’s very difficult to attract quality foreigners with such low salaries. As usual, it’s all about money, or lack of.
Simone Ghirlanda I agree with that.
Kevin Harrison Yes agreed. Money goes a long way. It’s also the atmosphere. These players get used to play in empty stadiums and then they go to play in Central America in front of roaring crazy fans and it’s not easy
AHEM!!!! Just to let you know Kevin Harrison the players from W- Connection wasn’t chosen by the Coach Tom eh, they were all chosen for him already and Alyuh both teams cannot beat up my MLS teams and the Central American teams eh, and you want to come together and beat up the Nicaraguan national team eh, look try your best and whatever rum that you is drinking you need to change the brand eh. Alyuh really good yes hahahahahaha
Nothing personal at all. Conflicts of interest are very personal. Me pointing that out wouldn’t be..
Do we know W has divested itself totally? Haven’t seen contracts for sale add-ons. Have you?
How it reach to that? U seem to be going down a personal road. All my comment was is that W Connection usually have a big piece of the call ups so don’t fall for the hype that it is a new thing.
So, this would be highest? Sounds like we agree..
How many are there now?
Shakira Thompson 9 including Mexican pair of Williams / Winchester and suspended Hodge.. Case rested
Lol alyuh good yes. Well throw in ex connection players for good measure.
Shakira Thompson, this number of callups for W players seems higher than ever. Can you or anyone else say if there has ever been as high a number of W callups before? I think that’s one issue. Quite frankly, another bigger issue is the blatant conflict of interest that has been chronicled here on several occasions.
The most recent I can recall is when Hart selected 7/8 of them to play the friendly against Panama last year March (exclusive of loaned players).
This current team has 5.
lol…. Nicaragua!! lolol
Oh, oh. Poor coaches. You could only do do much with the quality of players you have available.
Trinidad will not win a match under this manager . And since john Williams took over what’s the record????? We cannot expect to win games with a amateur coach …..
If I was T&T’s new coach, I would have tendered my resignation immediately after having been introduced to the country by Mr. Williams on a live on-air presentation.
Well if they didn’t vote in my dictator president who owns a professional team W- Connection that must have plenty of his players representing our sweet country in order for all of them to get their caps which in turn will continue to get the real professional contracts abroad and of course his club will make mucho monies when his players are sold eh, what you mentioned might of been happening eh, so maybe in a timing or when his 4 yrs is up nah.
W. Connection in recent years has usually accounted for a high or the highest number of local call ups. Pre John-Williams’ presidency.
Well of course because they were always a real professional team in the professional league in our sweet country back in the days and still continues to be eh.
But yuh know I really didn’t know about Nicaragua and football and de beat we!
I said it before that we need some players that understands the game at a high level, even if they are not playing in the stronger leagues to enable us to battle efficiently during the game
Well to tell you the truth the captain really knows the subject and he also do over lap when it is the correct game plan for him to do so eh but if you also remember that he is always a cool fella and the only reason why he is wearing the arm band is because he is the most senior player on the team and should that be really the reason for choosing the captain for any national team eh, look what happened when Mr Bound not to score was chosen as the captain eh it was only a plie of ta ta over and over again eh, it was the first shit hound captain that I ever saw that played the beautiful game eh Steeuuppss Them really good yes. hahahahaha
Hey doh talk about kenwyne so, Lasana Liburd will get vex, and boot you out of wired868…??
hahahahaha
I did not see the game…but did you say the captain was pacing himself against Nicaragua?because he is 37?and we played defensive?…..Nah!
38…
So what’s new?
Well I never see more, the hired a crack head to coach d side, them fucking men really good yes.. Hmm….
VICTORY FOR DAVID JOHN WILLIAMS?BRAVO?
They fired the wrong ppl.
Watched the game saw some good player potential …number 7 ..4 … 14 can progress. However i found number 23 and number 8 were of a very poor standard. Basic trapping of the ball seemed beyond them.
Sorry. That was our error. Tyrone Charles wore 7 and Nathan Lewis wore 8!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=svg4DSkCJm0
Nice nice 🙂
Nicaragua get away man. Look at players he called there. No wonder he satisfied. 🙂
Hahaha….
I tell alyuh he should remain on as our Corporate Secretary if the coaching position doesn’t work out
Hahaha. I say sales or marketing!
Just imagine that our Strike Squad only had one real professional player eh and all the others were Local eh, and our team was a real bomb squad team eh, and since the Soca Worries came on the scene with ah set ah so call professionals eh is a set a madness with respect to our football in our sweet country eh. Them really good yes.
and the Coach Tom needs to start with our real prolific goal scorer in the next game eh, in order to really see if he can still score goals with more of the time that he was given to do so eh steeuupss. Them really good yes.
And I only hope when my dictator president buss Coach Tom throat when he fails, the next local Coach Terry should be the next one in line for the job eh, and nobody in the TTFA will be picking the team for him eh. Them really good yes.
Terry is the best option … he has the skills and knows the local players.. and he is a strict disciplinarian.
But they will not go down that route.
If he fails! We don’t want that to happen…but is it the Coach’s fault?
Was this game lost on tactics or our players playing the fools?I can’t say those players regardless to W connection,Central FC or Civic Center,cannot give better performances at this level ?Earl Mango,Lasana
Yeah Tony Maxwell Hatt you got that right because even since when he came on the scene and won with Jabolteh many titles with of course Clico’s plenty millions as their sponsor, he use to be like my Hero Muhammed Ali and giving his opponents while chaining them up with plenty talks especially my dictator president and my most wining Coach Stuart Charles Fevrier team, and now that my dictator president and some others that are also running the professional league, are the one’s running the TTFA now, that won’t be happening at all just because they doesn’t like him, but they all need to think about our sweet country and our players first eh. Them really good yes
Terry will never be the coach under this administration. Our football has regressed because of greed by those on the top. That is just the way the culture is. In every sport we look at quick fixes, the 12 month fix rather than planning for the future. But say what look how long we are talking about this and we still complaining so the administration of many of the sports know exactly how to pull the strings that fill their pockets. No national pride.
Well as you and I know Kurtwyn Baird one of the problems with our football is that the correct players are never selected to play at the same time and the time that the Coaches also have with them is another problem, the time is to short, and just imagine one shot was taken at the opponent goal which was the free kick that hit the cross bar eh and I picked up the game late In the first half and I didn’t even see any of our players taking any shots to the opponents goal because the opponent was doing was knocking the ball in the back amongst themselves, while our players wasn’t pressuring them all because it seems that Coach Tom game plan was more defensive than attacking but in the second half our team went on the offensive mode to try and score some goals and of course just one goal was scored eh Them really good yes.
So is the same game plan as Mr Hart?Where is the leadership on the field from the new captain in reading situations early and organizing and adjusting to combat our opponents?
Yuh eh realize our new captain Carlos Edwards is just worrying about his own game and preserving his energy because of his age 37 or wha eh,and he is just playing simple in his right back position eh, hahahaha Them really good yes.
And yuh eh see how our opponents scored the second goal eh, Aubrey David was appealing for a hand ball eh, hence the reason why he had his hand up in the air eh, and instead of putting some pressure on the opponent eh, the opponent leggo a forty yarder shot and ketch meh goalkeeper Adrian Foncette of his line eh and the ball just dropped over his head and into the net eh, I said to mehself buh wah trouble I seeing here eh, hahahahaha Them really good yes.
Earl you hit the nail on the head. Many people still think we are selecting a team based on talent and still thinking that we run a professional organization. Can you imagine a player going to the airport and having to turn back because his passport has expired. In my sport when a team is about to be selected the manager requests that all potential athletes have their passports before they are selected. but say what ,,, didn’t the Chef de Mission also miss his flight. We are running a ship with a bunch of jokers so you will have players who has no national pride.
Why do you think that I am always laughing, pounding and peconging them on wired Volley 868 all the time so eh, I know that some people really think that I am a bacchanalist eh but I really love our sweet country really bad, bad, bad, and I know that if we only move to the next level with respect to the playing fields in our communities, the facilities, the right programs and the right coaches in our sweet country to always get the job done eh the same like in my second sweetest country we will once more be a force to be reckon with eh, the beautiful game is about being creative and plenty skills eh and this is what needs to return to our sweet country like back in the days and like the same way my Brazilians and the rest of the South Americans/ Central Americans does drop it to eh, yuh eh see how they does be passing and their touches with the ball eh compared to our players with their bad passing and always loosing the ball to their opponents eh and making plenty wrong decisions like they really doesn’t understand the subject eh. Them really good yes.
this truckin man could talk boy geez!!!
hahahahah Ah know ent and if I was your lawyer eh yuh wudda get your millions long time already for the Soca Worries logo eh Them really good yes.
Don’t understand the passport issue. At Central, we first check that players have at least 6 months left before expiry before we name the squad. Then we collect passports at least three days before we travel. The manager hands them out at the gate and collects them and hands them out at arrival. He keeps them during the whole trip and repeats procedure on return flight. Just common sense.
Well I guess not everybody in our sweet country have common sense eh. Them really good yes hahahaha
Just yesterday I passed by the Mandela park to hang out with the Def Masters who had an early morning football sweat eh, and after while old talking a conversation started about a soldier who was travelling to attend the 0ver 40 tournament in Barbados and when he was at the airport and handed his passport to the travel agent eh, she said to him “Sir do you have another passport? and fuss he is always making jokes eh, he turned around to his fellow soldiers and said “Buh wah wrong with she” you know he couldn’t make the trip because his passport was expired, well I started to hahahahahaha and said well you know some of Alyuh soldiers doesn’t have any common sense eh. Them really good yes hahahahaha
Kevin Harrison that is exactly how we do it with Athletic teams. Once you are selected for a training camp you are asked to submit your passport. As you said, all travel documents are kept by the manager.
This administration seems to be in confusion.
At training camps it is not just about the physical training. We also cover a lot of necessary topics after practice. We go over performance. We talk about conduct as a team member and speaking to the press etc.
When the team leaves they are leaving as a professional team.
These meetings we have with them also covers things like nutrition, sleep etc.
Well if I was to only share the confusion that use to take place with our Women Soca Worries team eh, missing connection flights, sleeping in the airport, etc, etc, eh and when I call the TTFA a bootleg organization eh, you know that some folks does be vex with me eh. Them really good yes.
at the end of the day these players need to make up there mind to play soccer at there best, this coach is fresh he cant be blame, and he is not a 5 star coach these guy have to perform like how they play with there clubs, but when u are watching and playing is two diffrent things
Nicaragua ranked 124 I believe…
Negativity abound!!I just think this coach will turn things around
Me to…. He have much to prove to himself
The TTFA
TnT national team supports
The tnt civilians
And the world…
I rooting for him
Me to…. He have much to prove to himself
The TTFA
TnT national team supports
The tnt civilians
And the world…
I rooting for him
Well as Warrior fans … we hope your Christmas miracle comes through. Cuz no one can recall Bangladesh or Namibia football stats….
Like they have to bring back JACK WARNER.LYAO.
If there was a reward for finding excuses this coach would have been rich.
Not surprised…leadership is sorely lacking in every facet of TT society…including nationalcricket and football organisations
I won’t even comment didn’t know Trinidad still had a national team or coach sad bunch of people ttfa
I believe most of our foreign based players were not avaiable for these games because of their club that is y this team was selected.
losing to teams like nicaragua cant be good,friendly or not,we have panam and mexico coming tough games and lets not forget competitive matches for the gold cup entry against haiti and suriname,they will be watching this and licking their lips
Yuh know what’s funny looking at all these comments and reading about all the doom and gloom that surrounds local football? It’s a bit of deja vous because this is the same way the road to Germany started for our national team. Remember????? Good omen
hahahahaha So what Alyuh really expected eh, this bootleg new foreign base Coach Tom allowed my dictator President and my Prof Jamaal Shabazz eh leave out the most winning team at present Central F. C. three players because of their club commitments eh, so who is really picking the Soca Worries team eh, ah matter of fact they should even have more invited players on the Soca Worries team than my dictator president W- Connection, that presently have more players, even the two players that is mostly on the bench for their W- Connection team because as usual their foreign base players always have to play before our local players eh, compared to Central F.C. who have all local players on their team eh. Steeuuppss and Steeuupps one more time again eh Them really good yes
Honestly I think Shiva boys or naparima would do a better job than the national team.
Hmmm my 3year old son making that side,Jeremiah you make that side boy!!!!! Lol!!!!!
Games….with all the training…team members will experience of ” thrill of victory or agony of defeat “. Sometimes all are jubilant…when there is a draw.
That wasn’t their national stadium Nicholas Lochan. That’s their GOAL project ground. And it only seats 5,000 and wasn’t full last night.
Like Keith said, they are a baseball country. And maybe they weren’t especially excited by the match up either.
Thanks for the clarification. Thought it was their national stadium due to same location and artificial turf and followed goal.com for scores, lol
We need a few GOAL project grounds here honestly..
..Don’t forget, Nicaragua is not a!football country. Their national sport is baseball. BUT the same was said of Panama a decade ago. Notably, the Nicaraguan federation OWNS that stadium. We cannot say the same here in Trini. These Central American countries are serious and making serious investment in the development of their sport..
TWO things from the highlights video… 1. Our game [thinking & play] look so slow on TV & 2. What a National Stadium for a 6.1 million population!!! T&T & Mr. Blake must be proud of HCS
LOL. With. Someone. Who. Coached. Bangladesh. Not. I. Cricket. But. In. Football. And. A. Screwed. Team. Selection. Uu. Expect. Better. This. New. Joke. Of. A. Coach. Djw. And. A. Few. Players. Well. Shud. Be. Put. Before. And. Shot. With. Shit
Crapaud smoke we pipe, devil eat we supper.
I TELL ALLYUH THE MAN IS A SHIT HONG COACH
Is not u who wife was in parang and say she get kidnapped?
Yes it is disappointing to see the players play at this level and not produce the desired result but even more disappointing is to see a team doctor come on the field with a huge belly hanging over his waistline. That to me is not motivating at all. Its either he loses that enormous belly or stop wearing sixe extra small shirt … just so unprofessional.
Lol
Seriously bro? You body shaming the doc? How uncool. Very uncool. I’m not a fan of his, but let’s not stoop to such low behavior. Judge the man on his ability and his character.
Lol body shaming… ?
Steups …. ability and character … didn’t he say that the goalkeeper was told not to play in a previous match and the goalkeeper and Hart and others said that was an erroneous statement. Character gone down the drain. As for ability didn’t the goalkeeper say that the good doctor misdiagnosed his shoulder injury and it caused an additional three months of rehab.
Tony – as I said judge the man on his ability and character. You don’t need to talk about the size of his belly to do that.
Carlos you sure can judge a man’s ability by his obesity. Would you go to a doctor with a big belly if you needed advice and help with an overweight problem?
We have to understand that obesity is a serious problem in Trinidad and if our medical professionals continue to flaunt it on the national stage then it means that they are condoning it.
Tony – I’ve said what I’ve had to say. If you think one can ascertain a man’s character and ability by how he looks then more power to you. They have a name for people who think like that. Happy Holidays my brother.
Thanks for the clarification. I am adressing the point of ability and overweight. The character part is already dealt with in regards to the conflicting statements made by the medical doctor regarding the goalkeeper. The subsequent resignation confirmed a serious flaw in character.
As for ability I have stated my point on obesity in Trinidad.
There is a word for that “denial”
Let me add… this doctor is a sports doctor so I expect a better image. The question arises, would someone who is suffering from lung cancer go to a doctor who is smoking outside his office.
Why should the players who are in good physical condition be comfortable seeing a sports doctor who is obese? Is that so difficult to understand?
Peace and love in this new year.
Sorry but the relevance escapes me ……
?????
Carlos Lee don’t waste ur time. As i once heard someone in your situation say to a group ” he mantle piece that sits atop your shoulder is not just for wearing hats”. that might be applicable in this situation.
Tony, you are 100% correct. He is a sports doctor. If he can not care for himself, he should not be given the opportunity to care for others
Some body help tnt football
To be fair I want to see what he does with a full squad.
Sure. Although he “100 percent” selected his team. Remember
Tyon Charles listed as number 8 and Nathan Lewis as Number 7. so if my observations are correct Charles started the match while Lewis came on in the second half. If i am correct then lewis had a good game and charles was terrible. Please check this out.
Lasana Liburd haaaa point taken