The Truth is, we do not know what we want in Football. And this is not only relevant to the administrators that run football in this country, but as well to the public.
As for the public, herein lies a conundrum, we have a bunch of armchair critics (who do not venture out of their sofas at home to pay and watch football), but yet still demand so much from the coach and players. But in this case, I have to say, they are correct, because, after all, we (the citizens) are members of the public and whether we attend a match or not, we can safely voice our opinions (even if no one listens). After all, we supposedly pay their salaries.
My first question is very simple, what was the task given to Russell Latapy and what were the expectations? If these have not been specified in his list of duties and requirements and instead some simple “word of mouth” offering made (as is normal with the current football administration), then there cannot be grounds for complaint, except for natural dissatisfaction with the results since his second tenure in charge began (after the 2010 World Cup qualification ended).
It appears that there are too many coincidences in football in the last three weeks, which can lead a cynical mind to speculate.
1) The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs- Anil Roberts – (my friend), deciding to “call out” Latapy (his friend) in public on Latapy’s under par performance as a coach ( based on results) and suggesting that Latapy could get the sack if the losses continue. All of this coming before a crucially difficult away match to Jamaica, which we eventually lost on Sunday by 1-0. All this “friend” talk may just be a smokescreen to a more devastating plan to ensure Latapy’s speedy removal in the not too distant future. But then, this may just be friends talking about friends, among friends (the people) and there is nothing sinister in that, after all, we are all “friends”. Austin Jack Warner is Anil Roberts’s Friend and Anil Roberts is Russell Latapy’s friend and Russell Latapy was once a great friend of all us. Which is quite a lot of friendship, it is not hard therefore to understand, just how problematic, football in this country is, because with friends like these, who needs enemies.
Therefore, when Jack Warner says there are changes coming soon in national football, we could all be forgiven to thinking that Anil (Warner’s friend) was just acting out (loudly), the words still in the membrane of Warner. Of course, this could all be plain coincidence and really inconsequential to the overall perception, that this is a well coordinated plan to ensure “doubt and mistrust “is placed in front of Latapy’s future tenure. After all, no Hatchet job could be so perfect. Or could it?
The other interesting news was the revelation on the salary being paid to Latapy and his team of assistants. Thought provoking information, that needed to be aired, but one wonders why only on Latapy as coach? And Why Now? Again, perhaps, it is my great St Mary’s College upbringing, where we question everything and anything, once we believe it is wrong. Or perhaps it could be coincidence, just a matter of time and timing, words not necessarily associated with Trinidad and Tobago Football (both on and off the field, even before Latapy’s tenure as coach).
On the other side (not political), there is a few things that Latapy has not done himself any favours in; his team selection and particularly his non selection of certain players, I understand that he has stated some players were not available and he had to find replacements. A few persons are crying out for Chris Birchall and deservedly so at that, given the guys currently starting in that strong holding midfield role. But perhaps, we need to examine the level of coaching at the Professional League which is producing such inept and poor quality players, who cannot even control a ball for any long periods. How can we seriously expect any coach in the world to teach players how to trap a ball and pass, when they are at practice for the national team? Something has to be wrong with this. This is no joke; I believe that the top four teams in the recently concluded Fifa Women’s Under 17 tournament would beat all our Pro League teams.
As to the public, many of us want success immediately and are not willing to invest for the long term, so that when we lose or draw with teams in the region, that we use to defeat in the past, there is a problem. Unfortunately for Trinidad and Tobago, world Football has not stood still and remained stagnated, while our best footballers travel abroad and we are left to watch the rest. But are we being unfair to the locally based players (particularly the younger ones, who need more exposure)? Here is a case in point that Trinidad and Tobago is struggling to find a competent locally based left or right back, despite all the Pro League teams.
Unless, we all believe in coincidence, it is hard to comprehend all the antics both in and outside of the Football Federation, where it seems there was pre occupation with a General (then local) Elections followed by the Fifa Under 17 Women’s World Cup, so much so, that Latapy was allowed a free rein to do as he pleased until the time was right for change. And that is another point, why is it, that the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation Oliver Camps is silent on this issue and we have to be hearing from others? This too cannot be coincidence, unless of course Camps is seeking re election come November 2010 (if the date has not changed again) and is looking for support. Something has to be seriously wrong with any constitution that does not establish a fixed date for annual general meeting and for the election of officers. All of this makes a mockery of good governance and suggests the real answer to this conundrum, which is: How can we expect anything in football to be right, when we cannot even commit to a day for election of officers and where the person who runs the organization is not allowed to voice their opinion freely without some trepidation. But this could all be in my imagination and in fact, there may have been a football election already and there are no changes to the hierarchy in football, and all of us are worrying about nothing, because the truth is – we cannot do anything to improve football in this country, given the current administration-. If you are confused, just imagine the players and the coach of this country.
Only recently on my Isports Saturday show on i95.5fm (6.15pm to 8pm), one young lady told me she was giving up on our football, primarily because of the administration and the way, they rule the sport. The truth is ,she is not alone , the majority of this country believe so as well, but as I told her on the night, -Trinidad and Tobago- is ours and we have to support the players and football in spite of the Federation and hope ( and pray) that one day , there will be change for the better. But we must not relinquish our objective to question and enquire all the time, when matters appear strange or make no sense.
For the moment, let us all please Leave Russell Latapy alone to do a perilous job, it would appear. Any by the way, forget about this coincidence thing, I do not believe in it.