The T&T Football Federation (T&TFF) top officials headed by president Oliver Camps and its special advisor, Fifa vice-president and Concacaf boss, Jack Warner will meet on Wednesday December 22, to discuss the future of Soca Warriors’ coach Russell Latapy. The meeting which will be held among the T&TFF Executive Committee members is to discuss the way forward for T&T football and will be held at the federation’s headquarters, Dundonald Street, Port-of-Spain. This was confirmed by Camps yesterday. A meeting on the issue which was expected today will not take place as planned.
Asked why today’s meeting was postponed, Camps explained the executive had not met to discuss the reports from the team’s staff and technical personnel.
Latapy’s tenure has come under intense scrutiny following’s T&T dismal showing in Martinique, where the seven-time winners failed to reach the semifinal, thus failing to qualify for the Concacaf Gold Cup next year in the USA. Although the T&TFF has not met to discuss Latapy’s future, it is felt that a decision on his tenure has already been made by the federation’s top brass with T&TFF technical advisor Keith Look Loy and Warner, hinting at a change of coach. Warner, in a television interview last week said a coaches future was based on results, and with the T&T team failing to achieve immediate goals, it was more than likely Latapy will be replaced. Look Loy, in a interview on the weekend also hinted at a possible South American or European coaching replacement for Latapy.
During his tenure, Latapy had nine wins, 11 defeats and three drawn results in 23 matches. Contacted, manage Muhammad said he had spoken with Warner and was told a meeting will be held shortly. Muhammad said he was also informed that the necessary documents requested by the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Anil Roberts to settle the payments of salaries to the national players have been submitted.
Last week, Roberts called for proper documentation and claimed it was the reason for the delay in payments to members of the Soca Warriors technical staff and players. A Guardian exclusive earlier had revealed that 36 members of the senior team and technical staff, were awaiting payments for 13 matches dating back to July.