In Latapy's shadow.
A former Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) insider made an interesting observation in the wake of the country's embarrassing 3-0 2010 World Cup qualifying loss away to the United States last month.
But a quiet Warner, the former insider felt, was twice as dangerous.
Eleven days after the USA defeat, the Football Federation announced that national icon and 40-year-old midfield star, Russell Latapy, would end his international retirement and rejoin the Warriors as a player and assistant coach.
His terms of reference, according to the TTFF release, were for the two qualifiers against Guatemala and the United States "in the first instance".
Latapy was surprised to learn, when he touched down at Piarco International Airport, that T&T head coach Francisco Maturana would not permit him into his technical staff. But "the Little Magician" stuck around anyway to help his country to a goalless draw away to Guatemala on Saturday and Wednesday's 2-1 win over the United States that virtually assured the Warriors' spot in the final CONCACAF qualifying round.
Maturana described Wednesday's win as a proud and historic moment for Trinidad and Tobago and said he was "very, very contented". He would be well advised to watch his shoulder blades, though.
Because Warner, who hastily called a press conference to herald a 2-2 friendly draw for Maturana's troops against Jamaica in March, has made no attempt-thus far-to publicly display confidence in the coach and is again holding his tongue.
Latapy's terms must be re-negotiated before Trinidad and Tobago's final group outing against Cuba, next month, and it is likely to make for interesting reading.
On paper, Maturana's position seems strengthened by the team's relatively comfortable perch in the standings. But no one with even passing knowledge of the machinations of the TTFF would be fooled by that. Not after Bertille St Clair was fired despite taking his country to an unprecedented top-four finish at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2000.
A coach's job almost always ends in tears. It is a question of when rather than if. The important bit is his conduct between the appointment and his inevitable sacking.
Maturana, whenever he does return to his horses in Colombia, will be remembered as a gentleman. The qualified dentist is the epitome of calm and grace. If scientists were to create an exact opposite to the two-time Colombia World Cup coach, his name would be Wim Rijsbergen.
But that is Maturana's public face.
Privately, he is a contradictory fellow who can drop a promising young player or a respected veteran as quickly and quietly as one discards a used tissue. His selection policy could not be more bizarre if he invited a phone-in for the starting XI to face Cuba.
On Wednesday, 2006 World Cup veteran and Miami FC left back Avery John was the latest victim of his tinkering.
John, who appeared solid in both drawn legs against Guatemala, was replaced by Defence Force player Aklie Edwards who was ripped to shreds in Chicago.
It was just as well that the United States did not travel with their full-strength team. In the debit column, Edwards completed three passes over ten yards-not counting three to goalkeeper Clayton Ince-and managed two successful tackles. But there were also eight errant passes from Edwards, while the visitors managed five crosses from his vacant post in the first half.
Maturana's decision to swap left backs could have easily rivalled his demotion of six-foot-seven defender Dennis Lawrence in the Chicago fiasco.
Luckily, US coach Bob Bradley did not bring a team capable of punishing such obvious flaws.
Perhaps Maturana was not the one to leave out John. That seems plausible too since it is difficult to envision the Colombia's recall of players who he publicly condemned like Southampton striker and national record goal-scorer, Stern John.
Maturana admitted that his only previous knowledge of Latapy was his 25-minute cameo against Paraguay in the 2006 World Cup. It would stand to reason, then, that the 40-year-old's stunning return was not scripted by the Colombian.
The Warriors' response to every setback, thus far, has been to summon more World Cup players. Wrexham full back Silvio Spann's sudden recall brought the list of returning veterans to seven since their June loss to Bermuda.
Before the campaign started in earnest, the TTFF were cooing about Maturana's introduction of schoolboys like Jamal Gay and Akeem Adams. But, when things got dicey, even undeniable young talents like Keon Daniel, Khaleem Hyland and Marvin Phillip-all mainstays of the Colombian's tenure-found themselves sidelined.
So if Maturana is not in charge of selection, which has been the most important factor of the campaign, then what can we credit him for?
It would be a miracle if Maturana retains the respect of his dressing room under such circumstances and, particularly, when there is a charming Little Magician in the ranks.
Warner's decision to woo Latapy back looked inspired on Wednesday. But it will soon be time for a long-term decision.
His silence on the matter, so far, suggests he knows as much.
Maturana savours historic victory.
By: Lasana Liburd (Trinidad Express).
Magical Night
Trinidad and Tobago national team head coach Francisco Maturana was proud to be a part of history on Wednesday night as the hosts recorded their maiden competitive win over the United States at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
Trinidad and Tobago's 2-1 win over the US, coupled with a similar triumph by Cuba against Guatemala, virtually assured the "Soca Warriors" of a place in the final CONCACAF qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup.
Guatemala require a win on the road against the United States to progress at the Warriors' expense but, even then, they will need Trinidad and Tobago to lose, in Port of Spain, to a Cuban team they dismantled 3-1 in Havana, two months ago.
Maturana, who was much maligned after last month's 3-0 loss away to the "Yankees", was in high spirits on Wednesday.
"The people of Trinidad and Tobago will always remember this game," said Maturana, through translator Professor Ancil Glod. "I feel very, very contented."
One reporter suggested that Wednesday's result might have saved Maturana's post and the former two-time Colombia World Cup coach did not disagree. If Maturana remains at the helm for the final round of six, he would owe much to the man initially expected to take his job.
Maturana, typically gracious, was liberal in his praise of his 40-year-old star Russell "the Little Magician" Latapy, who scored the opener with a smart volley.
"He is a player who is out of this world," said Maturana, whose only prior knowledge of Latapy was a televised look at his 25-minute 2006 World Cup cameo against Paraguay. "His professionalism and his great way about him stands out Dwight (Yorke) and Latapy were an example to the youths."
The composition of the opposing squad was, arguably, also a factor in Wednesday's triumph as US coach Bob Bradley travelled to Trinidad with only two regular starters.
Bradley played a weakened team against Trinidad and Tobago at the United States 2007 Gold Cup and still emerged comfortable 2-0 victors, but he denied any suggestion that he might have taken the hosts for granted or offered them a helping hand.
"We have a great deal of respect for Trinidad and Tobago," he said. "We were impressed by their attitude against Guatemala and we knew this would be a difficult game One of the objectives (of Wednesday's contest) was that we have players who have talent and need the experience of playing in difficult, intense games."
Guatemala's governing football body might be intrigued by Bradley's assertion that he might revert to a full-strength line-up when their teams collide, next month, in a crucial fixture for the Central Americans. But then Guatemala did themselves no favours after their midweek loss in Havana.
National captain Dwight Yorke, who played alongside Latapy in Trinidad and Tobago's infamous and decisive 1-0 World Cup qualifying loss to the US in 1989, insisted that the United States were due a competitive defeat from the southern Caribbean islanders.
"It's a massive win for us and we are grateful for the support from the public," said Yorke, who grabbed the winning goal from the penalty spot. "I think it's been coming for a while."
The Sunderland striker-cum-midfielder suggested that Trinidad and Tobago always possessed more talented players but failed to match the organisation of their North American counterparts.
He felt that the Warriors' had more belief and character after their 2006 World Cup participation and cited the performance in their goalless draw against Sweden which, he felt, was emulated when they tied Guatemala on the weekend despite playing a man short.
"Those are the type of games we would have lost over the years," said Yorke. "Wednesday night after the US had temporarily drawn level) was exactly the same I said to the players, 'keep your heads up, don't get disheartened and we will get another chance'."
Yorke hopes the positive results on the sporting field can extend to the wider community and slow the worrying crime rate.
He said it was too early for him to think about playing at the 2010 World Cup, should the Warriors qualify for the South African tournament, but did not dismiss the possibility.
Yorke admitted that he and Latapy joked about their combined age of 76 after the final whistle on Wednesday.
"(FIFA vice-president) Jack Warner felt that the younger players needed some guidance," said Yorke, as he explained his decision to come out of retirement. "I think the younger players shouldn't be too disheartened (at losing their places). (Latapy and I) just want Trinidad and Tobago to qualify and if we can help to do that then we are happy to contribute.
"We can't keep going forever but, while we can, we are happy to help and show them what it takes to compete at the very top."
Maturana is believed to have had little say in the return of either veteran although, on Wednesday night, he was thrilled to have them. So long, that is, as they concentrate on getting the job done on the field and do not have eyes on a coaching role while he is in charge.
The TTFF's declaration, two weeks ago, that Latapy would be given coaching responsibilities within the national set-up remains a non-starter for the Colombian.
"Latapy is the same as Dennis (Lawrence), Dwight or anybody else," said Maturana, when asked to give an update on Latapy's status within the team. "He is just a player."