Awai tells TTFA’s membership to help themselves

The members in a strongly worded document criticised Hadad and the Normalisation Committee in every area of the management of the sport, ranging from not holding an annual general meeting (AGM) to not producing audited financial statement, T&T’s preparation ahead of the T&T vs Guyana World Cup Qualifying match on March 25, operating without standing committees, the non-payment of coaches, players and staff, together with the appointments of national coaches for the respective teams and the concerns raised in regards to the contact of senior national coach Terry Fenwick among many other areas.

The letter was copied to FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura and the other members of the normalisation committee inclusive of Deputy chairman and attorney Judy Daniel, former banker Nigel Romano and Trevor Gomez.

However, Awai has called on the members to understand the decision taken by FIFA, which is aimed at stabilising local football financially. He also suggested that the members focus on how they can help themselves in the current situation instead of complaining about the normalisation committee at every turn.

In March last year, the sport’s world governing body handed the normalisation committee the responsibility of managing the affairs of T&T football, as it felt the United T&TFA which was led by William Wallace, had placed the sport in a state of bankruptcy and illiquidity.

As a result, it (FIFA) provided the committee with a mandate:

1. To run the TTFA’S daily affairs
2. To establish a debt repayment plan that is implementable by the TTFA
3. To review and amend the TTFA Statutes (and other regulations where necessary) and to ensure their compliance with the FIFA Statutes and requirements before duly submitting them for approval to the TTFA Congress; and
4. To organise and to conduct elections of a new TTFA Executive Committee for a four-year mandate

The members in their letter argued that none of the areas listed by FIFA has been achieved by the normalisation committee, and noted that the chairman has, in fact, put the football association in an even more dire financial position.

Awai, in a list of observations, said: “I have gleaned the report/letter from the TTFA membership to FIFA and wish to make the following observations:

1. FIFA is being told that it hired an incompetent person as Chairman of the Normalisation Committee.
2. The TTFA membership has not realised that FIFA has taken the responsibility to put TTFA back on a sound financial footing.
3. The membership should focus a bit on how it can help itself in the present situation.
4. At every turn the membership is complaining and/or criticising the very body, the Normalisation Committee, that has been appointed to bring football out of the morass the TTFA and football stakeholders have found themselves in. 

I understand the position of the coaches and Admin staff who have not been paid for a while. They are out of pocket for some time. I also understand that the TTFA’s resources are limited. I had hoped that the chairman would have met with the relevant persons to resolve the financial issues amicably.”

The letter by the membership comes on the heels of a chorus of calls by national teams’ coaches, players and staff, among others, for payment of salaries, match fees and stipend. Hadad yesterday agreed to meet with the coaches to discuss issues raised.

The local football boss also agreed to meet with membership this week to iron out all concerns, though refuting some of the accusations made in the letter.

Meanwhile, Awai also said he had hopes that the membership would have submitted proposals to keep football afloat in T&T. He concluded by saying: “ Recalibration is necessary instead of being combative. Let us move forward in a positive manner.”

SOURCE: T&T Guardian