Brent Sancho, CEO, North East Stars, says he is ready to serve his country as president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) if called upon.
Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Sancho said he is interested in the post which was vacated by Oliver Camps who tendered his resignation recently after 19 years at the helm.
“If called upon I am definitely ready to assist my country,” he said.
“People have been calling me all the time and asking me if I am interested,” he explained.
Sancho, a member of the 2006 “Soca Warriors’ World Cup team, called for an injection of fresh blood in the TTFF to revive local football.
“We need to clean the house. Fresh ideas are needed and we need progressive thinkers,” he said.
The 34-year-old believes that having represented his country at the highest level, as well as worked in an administrative role at North East Stars, his knowledge of the two makes him the perfect candidate for the job.
“Without a doubt (it is an advantage). You see players advancing themselves on the pitch but you don’t see administrators advancing themselves. Most of the administrators now have not played at the highest level and don’t know what is required,” he explained.
“There will be instant camaraderie among officials and players (if I am elected). A lot of the things you would be saying would not be word of mouth but you can relate to the players. A lot of the management at North East Stars have played professionally so the relationship is good with the players,” he pointed out.
He cited the modern trend of ex-players getting into administrative roles as testimony that it is a viable solution to our problems.
“See how well Michel Platini (president of UEFA), is doing in Europe. Even in Manchester United with Bobby Charlton (Ambassador) and Paul Scholes (former player now coach). They understand the philosophy of football that is why they keep them at the club because they understand what the club needs,” he explained.
The ex-Dundee defender lamented the state of football in TT which has seen the “Soca Warriors” embarrassingly fail to qualify for the Gold Cup two times in a row as well as miss out on the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
TT’s performance on the regional and international stage has been of great disappointment to the TT public who were expecting this country to capitalise on their historic qualification for the Germany World Cup.
“It’s absolutely deplorable. A country that’s done so well should not be struggling. We never really invested in a lot of youth programmes. There is a void in terms of talent because the players have not had the exposure they need.
It is a result of what has transpired, once the group of 2006 hung up our boots we were left with a void because we didn’t have youngsters coming though,” he declared.