Former T&T Football Federation (TTFF) first vice-president Raymond Tim Kee, will officially take up the post of the federation’s president, when the uncontested election for the lone post is conducted today, at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s.
Tim Kee will face no opposition, with the only other nominated candidate, former T&T cricketer Colin Murray opting out of the election nine days ago.
Interim president Lennox Watson also ruled himself out.
Instead, Tim Kee, an insurance executive, will take up the portfolio as president from Watson, who replaced long-standing TTFF president Oliver Camps in October, 2011, who resigned after 19 years at the federation’s helm. Watson will remain as a vice-president.
The incoming president is expected to be faced with several challenges upon his appointment, not least in finding a resolution in the disjointed relationship between the federation and the Ministry of Sport, which has resulted in inconsistency of funding for national football teams.
Early last month Minister of Sport Anil Roberts advised at a media briefing that the federation should not expect government funding until an election is contested. Watson claimed subsequently that the date of the election has no relation with Roberts’ threat.
Tim Kee is also expected to face the challenge of settling a bonus dispute involving 13 players of the 2006 World Cup team and surfacing accounts from revenue of the said World Cup, which the federation indicated would have been resolved by the end of last month. He has indicated, however, that all subsequent judgements by the courts will be respected.
When Tim Kee announced his nomination for presidency at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain, over two weeks ago, he vowed to bring accountability, transparency and stability to the federation. He also addressed issues of constitutional reform.
According to Tim Kee, his tenure as vice-president, which ended in 2009, came as a result of “pressures” with respect to his political ties. However, after being nominated and seconded, and receiving support from several stakeholders from affiliated associations, Tim Kee decided to contest the election.
He has since distanced himself with estranged former TTFF special advisor Jack Warner, who was at the heart of “cash for votes” bribery accusations during the FIFA presidential election last year, which ultimately led to the opening of an inquest by the sport’s world governing body, and Warner’s stepping down.
Tim Kee issued a release 12 days ago which stated, “One of the main reasons which influenced my decision to contest the election is the fact that Mr Warner is no longer in the TTFF, CFU, Concacaf or FIFA, and has in fact resigned from all football bodies.”
Tim Kee takes over TTFF today.
T&T Newsday Reports.
A new chapter of local football will start today when Guardian Life insurance executive Raymond Tim Kee takes over the reins of president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) today.
The Federation will be staging its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s where Tim Kee, the ex-TTFF vice-president, is set to be elected unopposed in the election process.
The road was paved for Tim Kee to take charge of the local football body after his sole rival Colin Murray shockingly decided a week ago to opt out of the presidential race. Murray did not give any specific reason for dropping out of elections.
Acting TTFF boss, Lennox Watson — who took over after the resignation of Oliver Camps last year — also refused to put his hat in the election fray, but is expected to revert to his previous role as vice-president, alongside Rudolph Thomas and Krishna Kuarsingh.