The funds to pay the 2006 “Soca Warriors” and settle their long-standing battle with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) came from “unclaimed commercial and broadcast revenue”.
The TTFF released that information yesterday in response to what they claimed were “a number of questions regarding the source of the funding”.
“The TTFF will like to acknowledge that the source of the funding came about as a result of a CONCACAF audit, which discovered unclaimed commercial and broadcast revenues that were due to the TTFF for 2014 World Cup cycle,” the Federation said in a release yesterday. “Soon after Raymond Tim Kee’s appointment as president of the TTFF in December, the availability of the funds was brought to his attention.”
In the letter, the Federation reiterated Tim Kee’s commitment to resolve the matter.
“Upon recognising this and in keeping with his commitment to satisfy the outstanding obligation to the 13 players, it was determined that applying these funds to the emerging settlement discussions was a just and reasonable action.”
The TTFF also stated that at a press conference on Monday at Hasely Crawford Stadium’s VIP Lounge, they will disclose further information about the “settlement process”.
By STEPHON NICHOLAS (Newsday).
The 13 members of the 2006 Soca Warriors team who were embroiled in a legal battle with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) will not receive their bonus money in a lump sum payment. Instead, the former players will be paid in tranches over a 2-3 year period.
The payment will bring to an end seven years of wrangling in the court after a promise was made by former TTFF Special Adviser Jack Warner to pay the players 50 percent of World Cup proceeds.
Some players settled privately with the TTFF but Shaka Hislop, Brent Sancho, Cyd Gray, Kenwyne Jones, Anthony Wolfe, Stern John, Cornell Glen, Kelvin Jack, Aurtis Whitley, Avery John, Collin Samuel, David Atiba Charles and Evans Wise did not.
Speaking with Newsday yesterday, Sancho, a former national defender, explained that he was surprised to see the TTFF issue a press release on Wednesday stating that they “can confirm the court order was fully executed” when there were still some procedural matters to complete.
The TTFF on Wednesday promised to hold a press conference today to reveal details concerning the settlement with the players.
Meanwhile, Sancho expressed relief that the guys are finally getting paid after a seven-year battle in the courts.
He noted, however, that the money will only go a little way in easing some of the hurdles they have gone through.
“From a financial perspective, it’s good that the guys are getting paid but after seven years there are legal feels to be paid and some of the players would have lost a part of their career taking up the case (due to the blacklisting of players),” Sancho explained.
He revealed that he still feels disappointed about the whole scenario as they have had their names sullied and accused of being greedy.
“Our names have been bantered about in the political arena, we’ve been ignored by the Prime Minister and certain parts of the media. We’ve also lost a generation of footballers,” he added.
Looking to the future, Sancho declared that although their legal battle with the TTFF has come to a conclusion under the helm of new president Raymond Tim Kee, he will not give him a free pass during his reign and will still speak out in support of accountability, integrity and putting football first.