Former national football team manager Richard Braithwaite has described the re-appointment of Russell Latapy, “The Little Magician” as coach of the Trinidad and Tobago team, as a step in the right direction.
And he said that the selection of ex-left flank defender “Marvellous” Marvin Faustin as assistant coach was also a good one.
His comments came at the weekend, only days after the appointment of Faustin— which was an option given to the innovative midfielder to chose his own assistant coach.
Latapy though, assumed his position as head coach of the national team recently from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) after a lengthy deliberation to retain him following his failed World Cup campaign.
Braithwaite, now a business consultant stated that the move signalled that there is a changing of the guard in local football, as a younger generation is now assuming the responsibility for the development of the game in Trinidad and Tobago.
This change, the long-serving football administrator said, is evident by the good works of rasta-haired style defender Brent Sancho at TT Pro League outfit North East Stars from Sangre Grande.
Sancho who became famous at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in which lanky English striker Peter Crouch pulled at his hair before heading home the winner in a hard-fought 2-0 win over the ‘Soca Warriors’ is the team’s (North East Stars) Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
“Brent Sancho has already made a major impact at North Rest Stars at the administrative level and is showing what new blood and new ideas can do to improve an organization.”
Sancho is being supported on the staff by his former national colleague, right midfielder Kevin Jeffreys- who was also appointed as the team’s Technical Director.
In a release the hard-working Braithwaite said “This change is long overdue and I look forward to seeing more of the younger football coaches and administrators getting involved at the national level.”
Faustin’s selection is a temporary one and he will have the responsibility for assisting Latapy with the scouting of new players to fit in to a squad for the eventual selection of the national football team.
Latapy told the media after a press briefing recently that their first assignment will be to compete successfully in the coming Digicel- sponsored Caribbean Cup which is scheduled for Guadeloupe in November.
Braithwaite who was manager of Trintoc in the 1980s as well as the senior national team during the same period of which both players were apart, said.
“There are some very good young coaches around like Angus Eve and Derek King while some of the former ‘Strike squad ‘players like Brian Williams, Hutson Charles and Clayton Morris have already made their mark” Braithwaite added.
He pointed out that while some of the coaches may lack experience, the implementation of a comprehensive and systematic coach’s education programme will address this problem.
“That is why I am pleased to see that Russell is heading off to Arsenal soon for training stint. Arsenal has one of the best training facilities in England and Arsene Wenger is extremely good at developing young talent”
Braithwaite described coach education as a major component in achieving success, not only in football but in all sports.