We can save T&T football! Group promises ‘roadmap’ to revive local game after removal of DJW

On Thursday morning, a group of football stakeholders vowed to present a united front and a new vision to challenge incumbent Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams at the upcoming elections, which is tentatively scheduled for November 2019.

The media launch was chaired by Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) president Keith Look Loy who made it clear that, although he fully supported the initiative, he would not run for election in any capacity this November.

Photo: TTFA president and W Connection owner David John-Williams (centre) greets players (from right) Hughtun Hector, Alvin Jones and Maurice Forde before kick off against Police FC in the TTFA FA Trophy final at the Ato Boldon Stadium on 8 December 2017.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)

The other stakeholders identified as part of the movement are Anthony Harford (Northern FA president), Shymdeo Gosine (Central FA president), Susan Joseph-Warrick (Women’s League of Football president), William Wallace (SSFL president), Joseph Taylor (Football Referees Association president), Clynt Taylor (Central FA general secretary) and Raymond Tim Kee (immediate TTFA past president).

Look Loy explained that the group will agree on a single slate to challenge John-Williams in November. And, come September, they will present a ‘roadmap’ for the game, which will be open for consultation with the football fraternity and the wider public.

[dfp-ad]

Look Loy: “If you follow football in Trinidad and Tobago, you know we’re in the grip of a […] existential crisis. This group has united to create a united front to save our football.

“[…] The TTFA is not our property; and it is not the property of the president or any official of the TTFA.

Wallace: “There are people who are saying we have an agenda and, yes, I want the media to know we have an agenda ;and I want the people of Trinidad and Tobago to know we have an agenda.

“And the agenda is to bring back some sanity to Trinidad and Tobago football. That is the agenda… We cannot continue down this road.”

Photo: USA goal scorer Paul Arriola (second from left) thanks teammate Jordan Morris for the assist while Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Marvin Phillip and defender Alvin Jones lie in a crumpled heap during Gold Cup action in Cleveland on 22 June 2019.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)

Harford: “We are convinced that good leadership of football has completely evaporated in Trinidad and Tobago. We also feel that there is very little chance of the current leadership recovering from the present position.

“We believe that they lack the skill; we believe that they lack the imaginative ideas to take us into the 21st century. In fact I’d go as far to saying that have fossilised on the job…”

Gosein: “We are not going anywhere. We have fallen so low down, I don’t think the line on the road can keep us up anymore. [We] might even break the paint.”

Joseph-Warrick: “It is simply not logical for there to be disconnect between stakeholders responsible for developing players for the national programme and the people making the sole decisions for that programme…”

Tim Kee: “If you look at the organisational chart that was put in place, you have the general membership first, the board second and the president third. So the president is the servant of the board and the organisation. It is not his private property and that’s what I see… We have seen some people posing as board members who are imps…”

More from Wired868
Latapy: The problem with T&T football—accountability is not just for players and coaches, it’s for administrators too!

“[…] At the heart of my concern are two critical areas that I believe continue to affect the progress of Read more

Dear Editor: TTFA’s treatment of young female players in NYL is unacceptable

“[…] Even worse were the conditions under which these young women participated for the last few weeks. There were no Read more

TTFA: We are not mismanaging funds; football body seeks to “clarify” financial position

“[…] In the interest of transparency, accountability, and maintaining the confidence of our membership, we wish to provide a comprehensive Read more

Downer, TTFA VP, denies “unconstitutional” double-role as referees chair

Article 42.2 of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Statutes states: Chairpersons, deputy chairpersons and other members of the Read more

TTFA appoints King as T&T head coach; Molino shares misgivings

Interim Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Derek King, 46, is set to be given the job Read more

Referees demand “respect, transparency, and timely payment”; Downer retorts

“[…] Referees are not asking for special treatment or all of the pie. They are asking only for what they Read more

Check Also

Latapy: The problem with T&T football—accountability is not just for players and coaches, it’s for administrators too!

“[…] At the heart of my concern are two critical areas that I believe continue …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.