Hart: A happy Wanderer, why I kept Garcia and ‘Ramps’, and how to turn around T&T football

Gems at Lajoya

In the maiden Canada Premier League (CPL) season in 2019, Trinidad and Tobago coach Stephen Hart finished bottom of the table with his HFX Wanderers outfit.

The turnaround in 2020 could not be much more profound, as the Wanderers roared to second place, with what the CPL media described as an ‘entertaining, high-energy, counter-attacking style’. Hart, in return, was adjudged the CPL’s ‘Coach of the Year’.

In short, 2020 was not too bad for the former ‘Soca Warriors’ coach. He took a few questions on the subject from Wired868.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago’s Stephen poses with the Owl Trophy, after being named the Canada Premier League’s 2020 Coach of the Year.
(via CPL)

Wired868: To what do you credit the turnaround in results this season?

Stephen Hart: Basically we made sweeping changes, replacing 15 players. Year two also had less restrictions on player acquisitions, so we knew exactly the player types positionally we were looking for.

KFC Munch Pack

W868: How many international players are CPL teams allowed? Can we expect to see a lot more Trinidad and Tobago players in the League?

Hart: It’s getting tougher [for Trinidad and Tobago players], because the League is receiving a lot of recognition worldwide. More players are interested and the competition for selection has been heightened, as four international players have to be under-24 (another three can be older).

I think the rules [for international players] are good, because it [incentivises] clubs to buy young, develop and sell on—rather than throw money behind a 33 year old player.

Photo: HFX Wanderers midfielder Jesse Rampersad turns with the ball during a Canadian Premier League match against Pacific FC at the Wanderers Grounds, Halifax, Canada in 2019.
(Copyright Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)

W868: And what are the qualities you saw in [Trinidadians] Akeem Garcia and Andre Rampersad which made you give them a second chance this season?

Hart: Both Akeem and ‘Ramp’ were brought back on merit and they were the right age for the [under-24] international category. Rampersad showed he is willing to learn, develop and has some outstanding leadership qualities. Compound that with his consistent performances, it was a no brainer.

It’s the same with Akeem. I think he has ability to learn to attack spaces as well as hold up the ball. We worked on his finishing. Again, he shows an ability to take in information and apply it consistently. Off the field, these two are model professionals, with their life style, diet, recovery etc.

(Garcia, a former Caribbean Cup champion at National Under-20 Team level, was the CPL’s 2020 Golden Boot.)

Photo: Attacker Akeem Garcia (centre) controls the ball during a Canadian Premier League match against Pacific FC at the Wanderers Grounds, Halifax, Canada in 2019.
(Copyright Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)

W868: Considering how HFX Wanderers flourished after showing you some patience and trust, do you feel given time you could have produced a similar recovery for the Soca Warriors?

(Hart took T&T to quarterfinal finishes at the 2013 and 2015 Gold Cup tournaments as well as into the Concacaf Hex for the 2018 World Cup qualifying series, but was sacked by then president David John-Williams after defeats in his first two games of the Hex—at home to Costa Rica and away to Honduras.)

Hart: Well, in 2013 the staff and myself had less than 14 days to enter the Gold Cup. Luckily we did fairly well and that allowed us some breathing room to build. I always feel football, and in particular international football, is about moments. Yes we slumped a bit but I always felt if I was given the free rein we could turn it around.


Photo: Then Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team coach Stephen Hart (centre) and players (from right) Mekeil Williams, Daneil Cyrus, Kenwyne Jones, Radanfah Abu Bakr and Sheldon Bateau at a national training session.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images)

W868: What are your thoughts on Trinidad and Tobago football at present?

Hart: It is difficult to have thoughts on the direction of T&T football now, due to the [disruption caused by the] pandemic. However, unless you take care of all levels of youth football, the quality coming through will hinder the senior level.

Obviously, the other side of that is understanding how off the field structural organisation impacts what happens on the field. Far too often, the respect for one’s duties and roles and responsibilities is not there. Too often, administrators think they know more than the coaching staff and even the players.

Wired868: On behalf of our readers and your Trinidad and Tobago fans, congrats again and thank you for your time!

More from Wired868
T&T grouped with Dominican Republic in League B, while Concacaf widens segregation

Trinidad and Tobago will face only Caribbean opposition in the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League B competition, as the two-island republic Read more

Warriors confirm Guatemala friendly, five days before opening G/Cup qualifier

The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team will face old rivals, Guatemala, in their final warm-up match before they Read more

Eve defends TTPFL criticism, reveals friendly setbacks and hints at G/Cup selection criteria

With just about six weeks to go before the Trinidad and Tobago Senior Men’s Team faces off against Guadeloupe in Read more

Mascall credits P/Rico but fails to explain decision to bench T&T’s best U-20 women players

Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Under-20 Team head coach Dernelle Mascall credited Puerto Rico for their strides in the women’s Read more

P/Rico rout Trinidad and Tobago U-20 Women 5-0, as Mascall’s tactical gamble fails

Trinidad and Tobago’s 2024 Women’s World Under-20 Cup campaign ended in Curaçao tonight, after just three matches. The Women Soca Read more

Eve: “The hardest possible team”; T&T draw Guadeloupe for G/Cup qualifiers—Grenada or Guyana next

The Soca Warriors will open their 2023 Gold Cup campaign with a qualifier against Guadeloupe at the Drv Pnk Stadium Read more

About Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd
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.

Check Also

T&T grouped with Dominican Republic in League B, while Concacaf widens segregation

Trinidad and Tobago will face only Caribbean opposition in the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League B …

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.