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Post by Admin on Mar 28, 2021 7:58:45 GMT
Soca Warrior cleared to play after 2nd negative covid19 test
JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH JUST NOW
In this Jan 26 file photo, TT men's head coach Terry Fenwick looks on during a team training session at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. TT face Puerto Rico, on Sunday, in their second first-round Concacaf World Cup qualifier. - Marvin Hamilton In this Jan 26 file photo, TT men's head coach Terry Fenwick looks on during a team training session at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. TT face Puerto Rico, on Sunday, in their second first-round Concacaf World Cup qualifier. - Marvin Hamilton THE national senior team footballer, who tested positive for covid19 two days before TT’s opening FIFA World Cup qualifier against Guyana, has since returned two negative PCR tests and will feature in Terry Fenwick’s 23-man line up for Sunday’s 5 pm clash against Puerto Rico.
On the eve of TT’s 3-0 victory against the South American team, on Thursday, the TT Football Association (TTFA) issued a statement confirming a positive covid19 result from a national player. His identity was kept confidential.
Following Concacaf’s Return to Play protocol, the player was immediately isolated. While awaiting his second test, which eventually returned a negative result, contact tracing was done and all primary contacts quarantined.
However, the mandate states if the player returned two negative test results, the individual would be able to continue training and playing with the team. On Friday, the national athlete did just that and was included in the team for Sunday’s second first-round qualifier.
With this player boost, TT are focusing on maintaining a winning momentum. Three first-half goals from midfielder Levi Garcia, defender Sheldon Bateau and forward Ryan Telfer were good enough to keep their opponents at bay.
The revamped squad return to action at the Mayaguez Stadium in Puerto Rico and are expected to face a tougher challenge against the hosts.
However, after Thursday’s win, flanker Noah Powder returned to his Major League Soccer outfit Real Salt Lake for treatment on a knock he sustained before the TT camp. He will not feature in Sunday’s clash.
Additionally, Bateau is hoping to make Fenwick’s starting XI as he suffered a muscle strain in the opening period of the Guyana game.
Puerto Rico, on the other hand, have welcomed one of the United States League (USL) Championship’s top teen attackers, Alec Diaz, to their front line. The 19-year-old scored six goals and assisted twice in 855 minutes of play last season. This year, he’s a candidate to break into the Seattle Sounders’ attack for the coming season.
In their two prior friendlies against Guatemala and Dominican Republic leading up to the World Cup qualifiers, Diaz started both friendlies and played 143 minutes in total.
After Sunday’s duel, TT have just over three months to prepare for their next FIFA World Cup qualifier. The squad returns on June 5 to play Bahamas and complete their first-round campaign, three days later, against St Kitts and Nevis.
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Post by Admin on Mar 29, 2021 9:28:23 GMT
TT, Puerto Rico battle to 1-1 draw in W/Cup qualifier
JELANI BECKLES 3 HRS AGO Joevin Jones newsday.co.tt/2021/03/29/tt-puerto-rico-battle-to-1-1-draw-in-w-cup-qualifier/JOEVIN JONES scored in the 54th minute for TT but Puerto Rico’s substitute Ricardo Rivera replied in the 72nd as both teams battled to a 1-1 draw in their 2022 FIFA World Cup Concacaf Zone Group F contest on Sunday, at the Mayaguez Athletics Stadium, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The result meant that TT slipped to second in the five-team group with four points from two matches, while Puerto Rico are third with one point from two games. St Kitts/Nevis, who whipped Bahamas 4-0 at Nassau on Saturday, top the table with a maximum six points from their two fixtures. Guyana and Bahamas, who both are without a point thus far, will face off on Tuesday at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Jones was on hand to pounce on a headed clearance from Puerto Rico’s centre-back Daniel Rosario, following a cross from Ryan Telfer on the left. The midfielder, who recently joined American MLS outfit Inter Miami, was unmarked in the penalty box and slipped his left-footed shot to the right of goalkeeper Cody Laurendi. But Puerto Rico, who had the better of the exchanges in the first half, got a deserved equaliser when Rivera got between central defenders Sheldon Bateau and Robert Primus and headed home a left-sided cross past TT goalie Nicklas Frenderup. TT kept the same starting XI from the one that played in the 3-0 win against Guyana on Thursday. The visitors maintained ball-possession in the early stages but lacked penetration, which allowed the hosts to grow in confidence. Striker Sidney Rivera forced Frenderup to produce a fine save in the 18th minute, while the TT goalie was on hand to push away a 27th minute freekick from Isaac Angking, one of six United States-born players in the Puerto Rico first team. Devin Vega pounced on a poor pass from Primus but could only hit straight to Frenderup. Daniel Phillips, who had TT’s lone effort on target in the first half, was replaced by Duane Muckette during the interval, and TT seemed rejuvenated by that move, as they broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second half. Levi Garcia struck the post with an in-swinging corner in the 55th while Jones could only look on in agony as he skied a shot overbar, following good work down the right by Garcia. Those misses came back to haunt TT as Ricardo Rivera knotted up the scores, midway into the second half. TT will return to action on June 5 with an away fixture against Bahamas, three days after the Bahamians travel to Puerto Rico. Teams – TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Nicklas Frenderup; Sheldon Bateau, Robert Primus, Neveal Hackshaw, Aubrey David; Michel Poon Angeron, Daniel Phillips (Duane Muckette 46th), Joevin Jones (Jabari Mitchell 64th), Levi Garcia, Khaleem Hyland (capt) (Andre Boucaud 86th); Ryan Telfer (Willis Plaza 69th). PUERTO RICO: Cody Laurendi; Daniel Rosario, Nicolas Cardona, Raul Gonzalez III (Giovanni Padron 88th), Darren Rios; Juan O’Neill, Isaac Angking (Alec Diaz 70th), Devin Vega (Eli Carr 88th); Wilfredo Rivera, Gerald Diaz (Jaden Servania 62nd), Sidney Rivera (capt) (Ricardo Rivera 62nd).
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Post by Admin on Mar 29, 2021 9:29:19 GMT
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Post by Admin on Apr 28, 2021 2:55:48 GMT
T&T draw 1-1 with Puerto RicoLOOP SPORTS CREATED : 28 MARCH 2021SPORTT&T football captain Khaleem Hyland (Photo credit - TTFA Media) www.looptt.com/content/tt-draw-1-1-puerto-ricoTrinidad and Tobago and Puerto Rico drew 1-1 in their CONCACAF World Cup Qualification Group F match at Estadio Jose Antonio Figueroa on Sunday in Mayaguez. After a goalless first half, Trinidad and Tobago went ahead in the 54th minute through new Inter Miami defender Joevin Jones. However, Ricardo Rivera, who came on in the 62nd minute for Sidney Rivers, equalized for the home team in the 72nd minute. The draw means that Trinidad and Tobago fall to second place in Group F behind St Kitts and Nevis, who defeated Bahamas 4-0 to go to the top of the table on six points. T&T are in second on four points, with three points coming from a draw in their opening match. Trinidad and Tobago defeated Guyana 3-0 in their opening match on Thursday with goals from Levi Garcia, Sheldon Bateau and Ryan Telfer. T&T play Bahamas next on 5 June and face St Kitts and Nevis on 8 June in their final Group F match. The winner of the group moves on to the Second Round of CONCACAF qualification on 12-15 June. The winner of Group F plays the winner of Group A, which includes Antigua and Barbuda, El Salvador, Montserrat, Grenada, and the US Virgin Islands. T&T: Nicklaus Frenderup, Aburey David, Joevin Jones (64th Jabari Mitchell), Sheldon Bateau, Ryan Telfer (69th Willis Plaza), Khaleem Hyland (captain) (85th Andre Boucaud), Levi Garcia, Robert Primus, Navel Hackshaw, Michel Poon-Angeron, Daniel Phillips(46th Duane Muckette) (Terry Fenwick) Puerto Rico. Cody Laurendi, Darren Rios, Nicolas Cardona, Raul Gonzalez III (87th Eli Carr), Daniel Rosario, Juan O’Neill, Isaac Angking (70th Alec Diaz) , Devin Vega (87th Giovanni Padron), Wilfredo Rivera, Sidney Rivers (62nd Ricardo Rivera), Gerald Diaz (62nd Jaden Servania) (Dave Sarachan) Referee: Adonal Escobedo (Mex)
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Post by Admin on Apr 28, 2021 2:58:02 GMT
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Post by Admin on Apr 28, 2021 3:25:15 GMT
GFF submits official protest to FIFA over T&T player Boucaud
Staff Reporter By Staff Reporter | April 25, 2021 guyanachronicle.com/2021/04/25/gff-submits-official-protest-to-fifa-over-tt-player-boucaud/The GFF has submitted an official protest to FIFA regarding the selection of Andre Boucard by the TTFA. AFTER saying it was duty-bound to file a protest to CONCACAF and FIFA once it could have validated the report by Inside World Football that Trinidad and Tobago fielded an ineligible player in the Dominican Republic, during the opening round of matches in the FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup Qualifiers, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has complied. According to a release from GFF, it has submitted an official protest to FIFA regarding the selection of Andre Boucaud by the twin-island republic in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in March. The GFF said that following an extensive investigation and careful consultation with its legal team it has written FIFA, urging the global governing body of football to consider its case. “We have taken this matter very seriously and have presented our findings to FIFA– that Boucaud was ineligible to play for Trinidad and Tobago as a registered intermediary with the English Football Association. The GFF also pointed out that it believed that Boucaud was ineligible for selection as a registered intermediary and, as such, that any points secured by Trinidad and Tobago during any related FIFA World Cup qualification matches should be forfeited. In their FIFA World Cup qualification match on March 25, Guyana lost 0-3 to Trinidad and Tobago. Boucaud, who was registered as an intermediary with the English Football Association at the time, was selected in Trinidad and Tobago’s matchday squad. The GFF said that under FIFA rules, “all conflicts of interest with intermediaries – or agents – must be avoided. Intermediaries cannot have any contractual relationship with a national football association. Under English Football Association rules, players cannot be registered intermediaries.” GFF president Wayne Forde is adamant that “it is vital for the integrity and fairness of the game that the rules are respected and upheld by everyone. We look forward to FIFA’s response in due course.” Boucaud was an unused substitute against Guyana but played during Trinidad and Tobago’s one-all draw versus Puerto Rico on March 28. Trinidad and Tobago are drawn alongside Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico and The Bahamas. The 36-year-old Boucard, who last featured for Trinidad and Tobago in March 2017, had not played for at least seven months before his call-up by coach Terry Fenwick. The Inside World Football report stated that Boucard was playing for Maidstone United in England’s sixth tier, though a search of records shows no indication of his registration. However, Inside World Football noted that he was registered as a player intermediary with the English FA. English FA rules expressly prohibit an agent playing competitively in the elite professional and semi-professional tiers of the game. Rule 1.2 of Appendix II in the English FA rules states; “An Official (as defined by the FIFA Statutes or any successor here to) or a Player cannot be an Intermediary. An Intermediary becoming an Official or a Player shall have his Registration suspended for as long as he remains an Official or a Player.” Boucard was subsequently pulled from the list of English FA player agents and his licence temporarily suspended.
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Post by Admin on Apr 28, 2021 3:29:38 GMT
Fenwick says, Guyana FIFA protest has nothing to do with TT
JELANI BECKLES 3 DAYS AGO Trinidad and Tobago's Andre Boucaud. - (AFP PHOTO) newsday.co.tt/2021/04/24/guyana-football-federation-protests-over-boucauds-inclusion-in-fifa-w-cup-qualifier/TT men's senior football coach Terry Fenwick said the Guyana Football Federation's (GFF) claim that in a FIFA World Cup qualifier TT fielded an ineligible player in Andre Boucaud has "nothing to do with us." The GFF has sent an official protest to FIFA regarding the selection of TT midfielder Boucaud for the qualifier between TT and Guyana on March 25 in the Dominican Republic. Boucaud, 36, has almost 50 caps for TT after making his debut in 2004. The letter dated April 23 said, "The GFF believes Boucaud was ineligible for selection as a registered intermediary and, as such, any points secured by TT during any related FIFA World Cup qualification matches should be forfeited." Boucaud did not play in TT's 3-0 win over Guyana but came on as a substitute against Puerto Rico three days later in a 1-1 draw. TT, Guyana, Puerto Rico, Bahamas and St Kitts and Nevis are in Group F in FIFA Concacaf World Cup qualifying. TT are two points behind leaders St Kitts and Nevis with four points. "Boucaud, who was registered as an intermediary with the English Football Association at the time, was selected in TT's match day squad," the letter said. "Under FIFA rules, all conflicts of interest with intermediaries or agents must be avoided. Intermediaries cannot have any contractual relationship with a national football association. Under English Football Association rules, players cannot be registered intermediaries." In a brief interview with Newsday, Fenwick said, "It's nothing to do with us. It is all English rules and regulations, nothing to do with TT, Concacaf or FIFA." According to the release the GFF did its research and also took legal advice. "Following an extensive investigation and careful consultation with its legal team, the GFF has sent its written evidence to FIFA and urged the global governing body of football to consider its case." GFF president Wayne Forde said, "We have taken this matter very seriously and have presented our findings to FIFA that this individual was ineligible to play for TT as a registered intermediary with the English FA. It is vital for the integrity and fairness of the game that the rules are respected and upheld by everyone. We look forward to FIFA's response in due course." Newsday tried to call and WhatsApp Forde and FIFA-appointed normalisation committee chairman Robert Hadad but attempts proved futile. The normalisation committee was appointed by FIFA to run TT football. This story was originally published with the title "Guyana Football Federation protests over Boucaud's inclusion in FIFA World Cup qualifier" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below. THE GUYANA Football Federation (GFF) has sent an official protest to FIFA regarding the selection of TT midfielder Andre Boucaud for the FIFA World Cup qualifier between the two countries on March 25 in the Dominican Republic. The letter dated April 23 said, "The GFF believes Boucaud was ineligible for selection as a registered intermediary and, as such, any points secured by TT during any related FIFA World Cup qualification matches should be forfeited." Boucaud did not play in TT's 3-0 win over Guyana but played against Puerto Rico three days later in a 1-1 draw. "Boucaud, who was registered as an intermediary with the English Football Association at the time, was selected in TT's match day squad," the letter said. "Under FIFA rules, all conflicts of interest with intermediaries or agents must be avoided. Intermediaries cannot have any contractual relationship with a national football association. Under English Football Association rules, players cannot be registered intermediaries." GFF president Wayne Forde said, "We have taken this matter very seriously and have presented our findings to FIFA that this individual was ineligible to play for TT as a registered intermediary with the English FA. "It is vital for the integrity and fairness of the game that the rules are respected and upheld by everyone. We look forward to FIFA's response in due course."
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Post by Admin on Jun 1, 2021 10:40:40 GMT
Foncette: We cannot take Bahamas for granted
by Walter Alibey Yesterday Sun May 30 2021 National goalkeeper Adrian Foncette guardian.co.tt/sports/foncette-we-cannot-take-bahamas-for-granted-6.2.1335685.83d37d1eeaT&T goalkeeper Adrian Foncette is warning that his team must not take the Bahamas for granted, as they go after six points from two matches over the coming week and a half in the FIFA/CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers. The Bahamians are winless after two matches against St Kitts and Nevis and Guyana and will be hoping to break their losing trend against T&T on Saturday from 5 pm at home. The Soca Warriors, on the otherhand, cannot afford to drop any points if they are to finish at the top of Group F and advance as the only team. Coach Terry Fenwick's men dropped two vital points against Puerto Rico on March 28, three days after they opened their campaign with an impressive 3-0 win over Guyana in the Dominican Republic. Foncette, following a training session on Sunday said a victory against the Bahamians will help build their momentum going into the all-important match against St Kitts and Nevis on June 8. With two wins in as many matches, the St Kitts and Nevis men are in the pole position and could need as simple as a draw against T&T, if they beat Guyana on Saturday as well. "This game is one not to be taken for granted at all. It will be important for us, building our momentum going forward. So this is a crucial three points we need here. We need to minimise our mistakes including build from strength to strength, game to game, taking it from this one here and on to the others," said Foncette, a police constable. The 32-year-old comes in for Marvin Phillips and Nicklas Frenderup, who are both unavailable for various reasons, said, is one of three players to have fallen ill. According to Foncette, who has 17 caps, he has been in that position before so he is not concerned. The T&T team arrived in Nassau, Bahamas on Friday and has been accepting the overseas-based stars over the past few days. So far Foncette said things have been good in the camp and everyone is positive. "It's good to see some of the guys coming back in after the little break that we had between the last set of matches, so we're just looking forward to the games at hand." Tagged in:
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Post by Admin on Jun 5, 2021 18:00:56 GMT
Trinidad and Tobago wary of underdog Bahamas in FIFA World Cup qualifier
JELANI BECKLES 10 HRS AGO TT men's football team coach Terry Fenwick (fifth from right) speaks to his squad during a training session at Nassau, Bahamas on Thursday. PHOTO COURTESY TT FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. - TT men's football team coach Terry Fenwick (fifth from right) speaks to his squad during a training session at Nassau, Bahamas on Thursday. PHOTO COURTESY TT FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. - THE SOCA Warriors will be wary of the underdog when they tackle Bahamas in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas, from 5 pm, on Saturday. Following the match against Bahamas, TT will travel to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to face St Kitts/Nevis on Tuesday. TT’s match against St Kitts/Nevis is a home game for the Soca Warriors, but the match will not be played in Trinidad because of the quarantine rules. People entering TT must quarantine for 14 days. World Cup qualifying matches are played in a tight FIFA window therefore it is not practical for matches to be held in Trinidad. TT are third in Group F with four points behind leaders St Kitts/Nevis (nine points) and Puerto Rico (four points). TT eased past Guyana 3-0 in their opening match of World Cup qualifying on March 25, before being held to a 1-1 draw by Puerto Rico on March 28. On Friday, speaking to journalists on Zoom ahead of the match against Bahamas, TT coach Terry Fenwick said, “We recognise coming for this game here that we can’t take any game for granted. Football around the world quite often (you) here about the underdog coming through so we making sure we are prepared properly.” Bahamas are at the bottom of the standings in Group F with zero points after suffering three defeats. In their most recent match, Bahamas fell to a heavy 7-0 defeat to Puerto Rico on Wednesday. Terry Fenwick - Fenwick added, “We will approach the game as professionally as possible. We have good players in the camp already whose been working hard on the training ground. We’ve been looking at our system of play and our game plan.” Defender Sheldon Bateau echoed the sentiments of his coach. “We don’t want to take them lightly at all. We know we are the favourites going into the game, but it is about proving that on the day…that’s what we looking to do. We want to have a good start, we want to have a good performance,” Bateau said. Luke Singh, Nicklas Frenderup and Jomal Williams are not available for Saturday’s game for various reasons. Frenderup's partner had a child recently. Fenwick said he is uncertain when the trio will join the team. Speaking about what strategy fans can expect from TT, Fenwick said, “Over the course of 90 minutes you looking to change your setup to the different periods of the game. Obviously in the early stages is when people got energy in their bodies. We will be keeping it very tight. We will be organised and professional and keeping every tight at that stage and as the game rolls on we will see how it plays out.” TT’s preparation between March and Saturday’s qualifier has not been ideal as the Soca Warriors have not played any international friendlies. Discussing the team’s buildup to Saturday’s encounter, Fenwick said, “It has not been easy at all because of the lack of games that we’ve had. We have not had any friendly games coming in for these qualifiers, so everything that we’ve done has been on the training ground.” In related news, St Kitts/Nevis brushed aside Guyana 3-0 in their qualifier on Friday. TT SQUAD: Goalkeepers – Adrian Foncette, Denzil Smith. Defenders – Radanfah Abu Bakr, Robert Primus, Keston Julien, Shannon Gomez, Sheldon Bateau, Aubrey David, Justin Garcia, Jesse Williams, Neveal Hackshaw, Noah Powder, Joevin Jones. Midfielders – Duane Muckette, Michel Poon-Angeron, Andre Fortune II, Daniel Phillips, Judah Garcia, Khaleem Hyland, Levi Garcia. Forwards – Daniel Carr, Ryan Telfer. Coach – Terry Fenwick.
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Post by Admin on Jun 7, 2021 13:57:48 GMT
WARRIORS ELIMINATEDFenwick’s men held goalless by BahamasIan Prescott Jun 5, 2021 Updated Jun 6, 2021 trinidadexpress.com/sports/local/warriors-eliminated/article_087922de-c65b-11eb-bcf7-cf9562b73fbe.htmlCOACH TERRY FENWICK failed to inspire Trinidad and Tobago’s senior men’s national footballers to victory over Bahamas last night, and as a result, the Soca Warriors were eliminated from World Cup qualifying in the first round for the first time. Needing three points, T&T were held goalless by the Bahamas yesterday in a Qatar 2022 CONCACAF zone Group F World Cup qualifier at the Thomas Robinson stadium, Nassau, Bahamas. It was a head-scratching performance, as T&T struggled to beat a Bahamas team which went down 7-0 to Puerto Rico a few days earlier, having also conceded 15 goals and lost all three previous matches played. The Soca Warriors moved to five points and will not advance even if they beat group winners St Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday. St Kitts and Nevis (nine points) benefited from playing a third home match when defeating Guyana 3-0 on Friday night, but will be away from Warner Park for the first time in the series when they take on T&T in the Dominican Republic—T&T playing their home match at a neutral venue due to Covid-19 restrictions at home. Sheldon Bateau wore the captain’s armband in place of regular skipper Khaleem Hyland who came into camp late. Coach Terry Fenwick experimented with a three centre-back line-up comprising Bateau, Neveal Hackshaw and Aubrey David, allowing wing-backs Keston Julien and Shannon Gomez room to go forward. Fenwick started with Adrian Foncette in goal, along with Julien, Gomez, Bateau, Aubrey David, Hackshaw, Joevin Jones, Duane Muckette, Andre Fortune II, Levi Garcia and Ryan Telfer. But trying to be patient, T&T were often too patient and lacked decisiveness. Bahamas made it difficult during an opening goalless first half when their goalkeeper, Ian Lowe, stopped goal-bound shots from Bateau, Muckette twice and Telfer. And near the half-hour mark, Jamaica-based Leslie St Fleur looked set to give Bahamas the lead from a dangerous solo run which saw him hit the side-netting and Marcel Joseph almost stunned goalkeeper Foncette with a curling shot near half-time. Becoming increasingly agitated as the second half wore on, Fenwick made five changes but failed to get the valuable goal. Hackshaw headed Joevin Jones’ free kick onto the woodwork; substitute Daniel Carr was stopped by the Bahamian keeper, while Daniel Phillip put a header over before the nightmare finally ended. And soon after the final whistle, Fenwick told the media: “The result is very disappointing for us in Trinidad and Tobago... The quality of players that we’ve got within the squad, this is a big disappointment.”
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Post by Admin on Jun 7, 2021 14:05:34 GMT
A CALL TO REALITYFormer players respond to World Cup exit
Garth Wattley 10 hrs ago Garth Wattley Ryan Telfer PRESSING FORWARD: Trinidad and Tobago’s Ryan Telfer, left, tries to make some headway against the dogged Bahamas defence during Saturday’s CONCACAF Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying Group F match at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. —Photo: BAHAMAS ATHLETICS/KERMIT TAYLOR trinidadexpress.com/sports/local/a-call-to-reality/article_0cceb600-c728-11eb-bb9d-c7a480c0f9e0.htmlSaturday’s goalless draw against the Bahamas is a “call to reality” for Trinidad and Tobago’s football. That’s the view of one former national coach as the post-mortems begin following the national team’s exit from Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying at the first stage. Terry Fenwick’s charges will go into their final Group F match against already qualified St Kitts and Nevis tomorrow with nothing but pride to play for after their failure to beat a Bahamian team that had conceded 15 goals in their previous three matches. And following Saturday’s match, Fenwick was left ruing the difference in approach between his men and their hosts. “I’ve got to hand it to Bahamas. They had a game plan, they wore their hearts on their sleeves, they fought for every ball,” Fenwick said in a post-match media conference. “If you don’t score at this level, teams can come back and bite you and I thought that’s what they did. Bahamas showed a lot of pride and passion, played for their country and the chances that we missed I think were glaring,” Clayton Morris, speaking as a former national player and captain, was also concerned with the level of commitment the T&T players showed in comparison to their opponents. “From the time the game started, the players lacked the motivation and drive. Given the nature of the game as a former player, I didn’t get that feeling the team had the right drive, focus, the right mentality and approach for a game of that nature,” he told the Express. “That team (Bahamas) was playing for pride. You playing against a team playing for pride, you supposed to have more pride because you have more at stake. We were supposed to come with energy and enthusiasm ...It had to start with that personality and attitude. Somebody has to stand up and be counted as the leader.” For former national men’s and women’s senior team coach Jamaal Shabazz however, Saturday’s result was about more than what didn’t happen on Saturday. “We in the Caribbean have false notions of what it is to qualify for a World Cup,” he said. “We qualified for a World Cup in 2005 and there were certain things in place and when you look at this campaign and the state of Trinidad and Tobago’s football in terms of the need to rebuild, nobody should be shedding no crocodile tears. It will be easy for the nation to lynch Terry Fenwick and personally, I will feel no pity for him. However, all of us in football must take a collective responsibility of bringing the game to this damnation. Me first.” Explaining why the football community should shoulder some of the blame, Shabazz added: “The in-fighting from the different groups and stakeholders in football has been nothing short of gang war. Men have assassinated each others’ characters because different stakeholders have not been able to work together post Jack Warner.” As for what should happen next, Shabazz had two suggestions. The first was for Englishman Fenwick. “When the females performed badly under me as head coach and I realised I could get no more out of them what did I do? I resigned. Is there not that honour from the current head coach? He comes from a country with the Westminster system that is a bastion for resignations and taking responsibility. Who should know better than the son of Sir Winston Churchill?” The second suggestion was for the normalisation committee currently running the affairs of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association. “I want to see more consultation between the normalisation committee and the stakeholders in football. If they were so good by themselves at running football they would have been involved decades ago, so, utilise the expertise of the same (Keith) Look Loy (former technical director), Corneals, Dr (Alvin) Hendersons and even Kenwyne Jones in this rebuilding process.” Read More Facebook Twitter Email Print Save
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Post by Admin on Jun 9, 2021 22:51:11 GMT
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Post by Admin on Jun 9, 2021 23:13:26 GMT
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