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Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams broke his silence this evening on legal action taken by the National Futsal Team with defiance and a twisted version of events that led to the football body’s bank account being frozen by the courts.
The TTFA’s First Citizen Bank account was garnisheed yesterday after the organisation failed to honour a court order to pay TT$475,743 plus interest at three per cent per annum to 15 Futsal players and five technical staff members for unpaid salaries, match fees, per diems and expenses as well as TT$69,200.82 for the claimant’s legal costs.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/CA-images/Wired868)
The Futsal players and staff were represented in the High Court by Keston McQuilkin and Melissa Keisha Roberts-John while Annand Misir and Janelle Ganness appeared for the TTFA.
John-Williams, in a press statement, claimed that the Futsal court case was part of a debt inherited from the previous administration.
“We at the TTFA have inherited a debt of over 30 million dollars incurred by the previous administrations,” stated John-Williams, “and continue the uphill task of addressing that financial situation, while also addressing the ongoing operating requirements of the Association.
“The facts are that while these are not debts created by the David John Williams Administration, they remain the debt of the TTFA.”
In truth, John-Williams’ statement was not factual at all and flew in the face of the High Court judgment delivered by Justice Margaret Y Mohammed. Justice Mohammed declared, last December, that the deceptive behaviour of the John-Williams-led football body was a key factor in her ruling.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
“In my opinion it was disingenuous for the [John-Williams-led TTFA] to adopt the position it took with respect to the payment of the monthly stipends, per diem and match fees to the [Futsal] technical staff and the players respectively,” stated Justice Mohammed, “since based on the [TTFA’s] conduct, it actively led the [Futsal Team] to believe that nothing had changed and that the [TTFA] would have honoured the oral agreement made by Mr Tim Kee on behalf of the [TTFA].
“[…] In cross-examination, Mr John-Williams’ evidence on this issue was entirely discredited.”
John-Williams said the TTFA could not pay off its creditors and suggested that the controversial Home of Football project was the answer to the problems without offering any details as to how the almost completed facility—itself already mired in court action—would help the football body to address its debts in the short term.
“This matter at hand has to be dealt with in the same manner as other matters of a similar nature that we have dealt with over the past three year period,” stated John-Williams, who also owes an array of former coaches and staff including Stephen Hart, Russell Latapy, Anton Corneal and Sheldon Phillips. “Unfortunately the funding is just not there at this time to service these debts, but we at the TTFA continue to soldier on.
“Hence the reason for emphasis on completing the Hotel and the Home of Football, which will be a major income generation project not just for football but will change the face of sport in Trinidad and Tobago.”
(Courtesy MSYA)
Despite claiming to be unable to meet his financial obligations, John-Williams went on to apparently slam the very creditors whose patience and sympathy he must rely on to keep the football body afloat.
“We are very mindful of those whose sole agenda is to destroy Trinidad and Tobago football by their actions,” said the TTFA president, “but under no circumstances shall they derive such a result.
“The TTFA has [sought] to embrace all persons and resources who we have determined willing to rebuild football in Trinidad and Tobago, and will continue the work necessary to achieve success with the administration of football in Trinidad and Tobago.”
The 15 Futsal players who succeeded in the legal action against the TTFA were: captain Jerwyn Balthazar, Kevin Graham, Adrian Pirthysingh, Colin Joseph, Kerry Joseph, Jameel Neptune, Ishmael Daniel, Anthony Small, Kevaughn Connell, Keston Guy, Kareem Perry, Jamel Lewis, Noel Williams, Bevon Bass and Cyrano Glen—whose elder brother Cornell Glen was one of 13 Soca Warriors who successfully sued the TTFA in the landmark ‘2006 World Cup bonus dispute’.
The technical staff members were: Clayton Morris (head coach), Ronald Brereton (manager), Sterling O’Brian (assistant coach), Perry Martin (goalkeeper coach) and Brent Elder (trainer).
(Courtesy: Chevaughn Christopher/CA-images/Wired868)
Morris, the captain of the iconic 1989 Strike Squad team, said the Futsal team were forced to take action after being continually disrespected by John-Williams.
“I’ve played football all my life and it leaves a bitter taste to have to take the governing body to court, just to demand respect,” said Morris, “for people who gave up family time and so much of their lives to do something positive for their country.
“These are players who sacrificed four days a week, three hours a day to prepare. Sometimes while they are training, their children are at the sidelines doing homework. [Guy] had a newborn baby and sometimes the mother would be there breastfeeding at 10 in the night while we trained.
“And for them to turn around and disrespect us in that way…”
(Full statement by TTFA president David John-Williams)
Documents on the action taken by persons who have approached the court to have instructions issued to freeze the bank accounts of the TTFA last Friday was received on Monday March 18th 2019 by the TTFA
We at the TTFA have inherited a debt of over 30 million dollars incurred by the previous administrations and continue the uphill task of addressing that financial situation, while also addressing the ongoing operating requirements of the Association.
(Copyright Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)
The facts are that while these are not debts created by the David John Williams Administration, they remain the debt of the TTFA.
This matter at hand has to be dealt with in the same manner as other matters of a similar nature that we have dealt with over the past three year period.
Unfortunately the funding is just not there at this time to service these debts, but we at the TTFA continue to soldier on, hence the reason for emphasis on completing the Hotel and the Home of Football which will be a major income generation project not just for football but will change the face of sport in Trinidad and Tobago.
We are very mindful of those whose sole agenda is to destroy Trinidad and Tobago Football by their actions, but under no circumstances shall they derive such a result.
The TTFA has sort [sic] to embrace all persons and resources who we have determined willing to rebuild football in Trinidad and Tobago, and will continue the work necessary to achieve success with the administration of football in Trinidad and Tobago.
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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.
Nobody I know wants to destroy the TTFA, but people who are owed monies generally want to be paid!
Lasana Liburd, what’s going on with Prancing Knave? Has his preoccupation with CWI elections blinded him to the current TTFA imbroglio?
Oh dear, what can the matter be? Why’s his coverage so unfair?
Did I95.5FM travel to Wales?
any body know how we seeing d match later?
Lasana Liburd you must be commended for keeping a straight face whist reading/listening to that release from the TTFA president…
Deep breaths
Excerpt Three: “John-Williams maintained he and his association have had absolutely nothing to do with the agreement made between the futsal coach Clayton Morris and then TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee.”
See first explanation given for Excerpt One.
Excerpt Two: “Justice Mohammed’s decision to order the TTFA’s bank- First Citizens to freeze its account, was made last month. The bank was given a date of April 4 to appear in court with a statement of the TTFA’s account.”
This was written to make it appear that Justice Mohammed was biased against the TTFA. But in fact it is Master of the Court Sherlanne Pierre who ordered the freeze on the TTFA’s bank account.
Excerpt One: “Yesterday Guardian Media Sports received a copy of the transcript from the court which showed Morris admitting he was chosen by Tim Kee as part of a steering committee back in 2013 to prepare a national team for the first time. The appointments were strictly verbal and did not have documentation to show the John-Williams-led administration when they assumed office back in November of 2015…”
Reality, TTFA president David John-Williams sent the Futsal team and staff to two tournaments and sent the staff to Concacaf draw–all based on the verbal agreement.
For that reason, the Judge found it ridiculous that John-Williams suddenly refused to honour that agreement a year later when it was time to pay them.
That sounds like a crooked move.
Dayne the judge called it disingenuous. But if the Guardian reporter said he saw the court transcript then how could he not explain that to readers?
Lasana Liburd a damning omission.
Or maybe reporter saw extract of transcript and didn’t see all of it?
Lasana Liburd reporter probably not too bright.
The Trinidad Guardian again publishes a story that is shockingly misleading, particularly with facts all available now.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/sports/salaries-will-be-paid-johnwilliams-6.2.804819.9c5a2f2e10
Excerpt One: “Yesterday Guardian Media Sports received a copy of the transcript from the court which showed Morris admitting he was chosen by Tim Kee as part of a steering committee back in 2013 to prepare a national team for the first time. The appointments were strictly verbal and did not have documentation to show the John-Williams-led administration when they assumed office back in November of 2015…”
Reality, TTFA president David John-Williams sent the Futsal team and staff to two tournaments and sent the staff to Concacaf draw–all based on the verbal agreement.
For that reason, the Judge found it ridiculous that John-Williams suddenly refused to honour that agreement a year later when it was time to pay them.
Excerpt Two: “Justice Mohammed’s decision to order the TTFA’s bank- First Citizens to freeze its account, was made last month. The bank was given a date of April 4 to appear in court with a statement of the TTFA’s account.”
This was written to make it appear that Justice Mohammed was biased against the TTFA. But in fact it is Master of the Court Sherlanne Pierre who ordered the freeze on the TTFA’s bank account.
Excerpt Three: “John-Williams maintained he and his association have had absolutely nothing to do with the agreement made between the futsal coach Clayton Morris and then TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee.”
See first explanation given for Excerpt One.
Hahahahahahhahahahahahahahaha (deep breath) hahahahahahahahahahahahhaah this man really say they wanna destroy the TTFA!!!!
Hahahahahahahahahaha somebody get me a oxygen tank plz!!
Sebastian Mc Kay he seems to be doing a bang up job of destroying it all by himself..
Brian Jordan exactly why I can’t breathe! Man more delusional than Arsenal fans!!
Sebastian Mc Kay watch it on the Arsenal fans eh.. more like ManU fans living in Dreamland with delusions of grandeur lol
I am wondering why the corrupted Jack Warner with all the millions that he made from the beautiful game doesn’t just cut a cheque for 30 million so that the TTFA can finally pay their debts Them really good yes
I recall listening to an interview with DJW, and from the PR, one would believe everything is on track, nothing wrong, House of Football sounded good.
If they can’t service it now, how/when do they anticipate it starting to generate income to assist with maintenance?
If the accounts are frozen, how/when are recurrent expenditure going to be serviced?
Asking the obvious here, but how on earth was this situation allowed to reach to this point?
Nerisha Mohammed those are questions for DJW blind supporters who cant see past their noses. Sad!
If they were not concern then maybe the president would have called the names of the so-called enemies of football.
It will all come to and end one day
Wait, nah. The current freeze on the TTFA Bank account has absolutely nothing to do with what a previous administration has done. Not one thing. This action, by legitimate court order because of King David’s wilful non- compliance with an adverse (to the TTFA) Court judgement is entirely on him.
For him to somehow claim prior debt as the reason for non-payment is the most bogus red herring I’ve heard in ages. King David is trying to play smart with stupidness!
Just in case there are those not in the know, King David has the TTFA in hot water because he did not want to pay the Futsal team their money. And not, as he seems to want to spin it, because TTFA were incapable of the payment.
And I must note that a certain sports ‘journalist’, whose character is that of a Prancing Knave, has deliberately avoided any discussion of this matter. I guess one must do the bidding of the master one serves…
Damian R. Scott, trademark that description of the Self-proclaimed Fearless One as soon as possible!
Colin James I just might do that!
Lasana Liburd do an expose and comparison on home of football and that of Costa Rica..
DJW still doesn’t get it. Arrogance personified.