Twenty-seven years after the successes of the Strike Squad, its players are still clamouring for monies and medals owed.
The funds were to be shared among 22 players and the five-man technical staff which comprised Cummings, assistant coach Neville Chance, trainer Ken Henry, physiotherapist Lester Osuna and Camps, but Cummings said yesterday they have not received a cent to date.
He lamented the disrespect meted out to the team months before the match, saying the team was awarded the Chaconia Silver Medal for its achievements in 1989 but when he went for the medals with his captain Clayton Morris at the President’s House, they received only one medal.
Cummings said he was shocked and disappointed as the players had to share the disappointing news.
“How can they give us one medal for an entire team?. The players have been asking for their medals, which they rightfully earned as well as the monies promised to them,” Cummings said. The issue, he said, was raised with President Anthony Carmona in 2014.
The Guardian was reliably informed the issue surrounding the money was discussed at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the TTFA last month and attempts are underway to obtain Cabinet Notes for it, since it was expected to have been paid by the former government.
It is understood the amount with interest has reached a whopping $8 million which, then was listed under accounts payable in the TTFA. The Guardian learnt the embattled football association has sent this matter, along with other questionable payments under accounts payable, to its corporate lawyer Sheraza Khan for advice.
Cummings said he has fought to get the money over the years but was not taken seriously. “People were side-tracked by other issues, such as the result of the match, the over-selling of tickets, the progress of Warner after the match and other matters and we were totally forgotten” he explained.
He was also told by successive leaders of the TTFA that they did not know anything about the payment. He described the now famous Strike Squad as the best team ever to wear the red, white and black of T&T, adding it would be nice if they can all get the medals and money owed to them during the coming Independence Day celebrations in August. He noted while he prefered the TTFA to have been fair and honour its commitment, it did not work out that way.
He reminded all that monies owed to the Soca Warriors were paid by the previous government.