Newly appointed head coach of T&T’s senior football team, Stephen Hart, is fully aware of the challenge ahead at the Concacaf Gold Cup, which starts in just under two week’s time.
Speaking to the media in an open forum for the first time since his appointment yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, Hart, a former T&T midfielder and Canadian national team technical director and coach, said he is elated to return to the country of his birth, but told supporters not to expect miracles.
“Now, hopefully, that I have once again been given the opportunity, I can seize the opportunity,” said Hart, flanked by the T&T Football Association’s (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee, assistant coaches Hutson Charles and Derek King, as well as manager David Muhammed.
“I know very much what goes on. And, one of the things that I've told myself coming into the situation here is that I am not a miracle worker,” said the 53-year-old.
When the opportunity presented itself, Hart said he took it and reminded thought: “Don’t let the magnitude of the challenge take you away from the incumbent steps that will be necessary to affect change.”
“One of the lessons I have learnt in the game, and I will try to bring that to the players is, I want the players to concentrate on what will produce results rather than on the result itself, the process rather than the prize. If we can do that, then I think we will be on our way to achieve what potentially we have as players and staff.”
“If I didn’t think it was challenging and something I would like to do, I would not have come here. It’s a tight time period, but to be honest, its what international football is… It’s not a club. The time period is always tight.”
Hart said he had been in contact with new TTFA director of football, Leo Beenhakker, mostly speaking in detail of the latter’s vision for the future of football in T&T.
“He understands that, of course, I have my way as well and he has said that I can draw upon him or off of him (at) any time. But, to be honest, I’d rather sit down with Mr Beenhakker, we look eye to eye and we see about the business of developing out national team programme.”
When asked if he had an idea of who he wished to see on the squad, with less than two weeks until the start of the Gold Cup, Hart responded: “Yes and no. I say that because there are some players that I like, what they do and what they can bring to the team. But, if they physically, are not ready, then (potentially) we cannot pick them. So, to be honest, I cannot answer that question with a lot of certainty.”
Hart, during his two spell 40-month tenure as Canada’s head coach, which ended last November, saw him produce a record of 20 wins, 15 losses and ten draws. Incidentally, Hart while at Canada’s helm secured wins over Honduras, Haiti and El Salvador, the three teams which T&T is pitted against in the Gold Cup’s group B.
Hart got his first glimpse at the current available crop of players, yesterday, when he held a training session at the same venue, immediately after the media conference ended. He indicated that the earliest the final selection of players would be announced is on Thursday.
No contract has yet been drawn up for Hart or Beenhakker but according to Tim Kee, who spoke extensively at yesterday’s media conference, the unofficial term of Hart’s appointment is for two years while Beenhakker’s deal is for six months.
Door remains open to Shabazz
Tim Kee, at the official presentation of T&T’s new head coach, said he never disrespected any member of the coaching staff who were in charge for T&T’s runner-up finish at the CFU championship and berth into the Gold Cup.
Tim Kee, however, said he understood Shabazz’s decision to refrain from working with the current staff because he (Shabazz) felt he had reached to a point in his career, which did not call for an assistant coach’s position.
The president also suggested it was a decision he may also have made had he been in Shabazz’s position. Tim Kee also refuted any and all suggestions that he was disrespectful to the staff which qualified T&T to its first Gold Cup appearance since 2007.
Tim Kee defended the two former co-head coaches and admitted that they and the staff and players had to work with limited resources. It was something the public needed to look at and appreciate.
On issue of the non-payment of salaries to Shabazz and other current and former members of the coaching staff, Tim Kee said it was responsibility of the Ministry of Sport, as approved in a budget presented by the then TTFF (T&T Football Federation), even before he became president. Tim Kee said it was the reason why he did not seek funding from other sources, as arrangements were already in place with the Ministry of Sport.
Tim Kee said accusations that the TTFA failed to pay salaries were unwarranted. He said to his knowledge, the issue would be dealt with soon, as it was simply a matter of the funds being released by the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Sport.
Early reality check from head coach Hart.
By Kern De Freitas (Express).
NO MIRACLES
Newly-installed national senior football team head coach Stephen Hart wants his new charges to think “process…not prize”.
That is what he is aiming to achieve in the next two years leading the national team, after he was selected at the expense of co-coaches Hutson Charles and Jamaal Shabazz. Charles and former national player Derek King will be Hart’s deputies, while Shabazz has turned down the role.
But with only two weeks until the CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off on July 7 in the US—where T&T will hope to advance from a group also involving Haiti, Honduras and El Salvador—the former Canada coach conceded he can do little more than to assess the players and try to help them to prepare mentally for the challenge ahead.
Hart made it plain that he is “not a miracle worker”, and acknowledged that football coaches “do not deal in a business of patience”.
“It is the nature of the business,” he said.
The new T&T coach, who said he was only invited for the job just over a week ago, light-heartedly remarked that he knew of one person eager to see him back in T&T: his mother.
T&T Football Association (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee stated that Hart had not officially inked a contract yet, but he has hit the ground running with his first training session at Hasely Crawford Stadium, following yesterday’s press conference to officially present him as T&T head coach. He will also work with new TTFA director of football Leo Beenhakker, who will have a six-month stint in the position in the first instance.
Hart, who says he has “rarely” missed T&T matches despite having lived in Canada for some time, is happy to be back to head T&T’s technical team.
“It’s always in the back of a youngster’s mind to be involved with the national team. I had the opportunity as a player but did not seize it. Now I have an opportunity once again,” he told the media.
From what he’s seen of the players so far, Hart feels that they “try too hard”. He wants to help them get in the “right frame of mind”.
In just about two weeks’ time, Hart will have his first competitive chance to show his short-term impact, as T&T try to qualify for the knockout stages of the Gold Cup.
It will be no doubt a trial by fire with a team laden with expectation by a close-watching T&T public.
Hart promises hard work but no miracles as T&T coach
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)
New Trinidad and Tobago football coach Stephen Hart declared today that he is happy to be home and hopes to seize the opportunity at the helm of the “Soca Warriors.”
However, he warned local football fans that he is not a miracle worker.
“I am not a miracle worker,” said Hart, at today’s press conference at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. “Sometimes people are lucky to get one. But most people just work hard and do the best they can.”
The 53-year-old former Canada coach played for Texaco and San Fernando before migrating to Canada in the early 1980s and also made a few international appearances without particularly distinguishing himself. He hopes to set that right now as national coach.
“I thank the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) for bringing me back home,” said Hart, who agreed a two-year deal with the TTFA. “It is every boy’s dream to have the opportunity to represent his country… I had the opportunity as a player but I did not seize the opportunity.
“Hopefully now I can seize the opportunity (as coach).”
Hart said he rarely misses a Trinidad and Tobago football match and he watched the team play in its 1-0 loss to Estonia. He declined the opportunity to reveal his thoughts on that match. But he said he is already aware of the local players and is looking forward to the challenge, despite the short time frame.
He explained that his immediate goal was to assess the physical readiness of the squad and to build relationships on the field and get the players in the right relaxed state of mind for international competition.
Hart revealed that he has already spoken to former co-head coach and now assistant coach Hutson “Barber” Charles about what he wanted to implement in the squad. He discussed the job with new director of football Leo Beenhakker as well.
“I can draw upon (Beenhakker) or off him anytime,” said Hart.
Charles is still owed over $200,000 for his services as national coach while the remainder of the technical staff, including outgoing co-head coach Jamaal Shabazz, also remain unpaid. Tim Kee said that he expects that the Ministry of Sport would pay off the arrears this week.
Hart took Canada to the Gold Cup knock out stages in two of his three attempts as head coach and was a defeated semi-finalist in 2007. However, he declared that he would be focusing on “process rather than the prize” and “performance rather than result” in next month’s tournament.
TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee revealed that Hart was not given an ultimatum to take the Warriors into the second round and the local football body was interested primarily in seeing improved performances.
Hart is expected to select the final 23-man squad by Thursday June 26 and he held his first session with the Warriors this evening.
He will not have the benefit of seeing Khaleem Hyland, Sheldon Bateau, John Bostock, Robert Primus, Seon Power, Carlyle Mitchell, Hughtun Hector, Shahdon Winchester, Ataullah Guerra, Radanfah Abu Bakr and Willis Plaza train before his choice as they are all abroad on club business.
Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones, Ipswich Town winger Carlos Edwards and Port Vale midfielder Chris Birchall were among the players in today’s training session along with DIRECTV W Connection midfielder Clyde Leon, Central FC winger Jason Marcano and North East Stars goalkeeper Cleon John.