Twenty-eight players, technical staff and management officials yesterday received their arrears of match fees, bonuses, stipends and salaries, some of which were owed for over two years for their respective roles with the senior national men’s football team.
Minister of Sport Dr Rupert Griffith, in the presence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and T&T Football Association (TTFA) general secretary Sheldon Phillips, presented cheques of varying figures to the national team representatives at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, a week after a decision was made in Cabinet to approve financial assistance in the sum of $9,964,368 to the TTFA.
Yesterday’s presentation took place two days after the “Soca Warriors” finished runner-up to host Jamaica, at the CFU Caribbean Cup in Montego Bay.
According to the Ministry of Sport, the funds represent an unbudgeted addition to the annual subvention already allocated to the TTFA in the 2015 budget.
Just over half of the figure has been used to pay players and staff, while the balance is to invest in the men’s and women’s teams’ flagship programmes.
Before handing over the cheques, Griffith gave a breakdown of the total figure, which he said includes arrears of match fees and bonuses to staff and players at $2,024,613; arrears of staff stipends (October to November, 2012 and January to July, 2013) at $534,867; arrears of salaries for five members of staff from April to July 2012 at $422,000; projected technical staff remuneration between November, 2014, to June, 2015 at $3,104,000, and participation in the 2015 Concacaf Championship and a preceding training camp at $3,878,888.
On Monday, national team captain Kenwyne Jones raised the issue of nonpayment, saying he was “fed up” of broken promises in regard to payments to the players and coaches. Yesterday, he addressed the media saying he appreciated the effort of the government “for stepping in and taking care of the situation.”
“I know it’s a tremendous relief to the coach and the technical staff and the players. And, of course, it’s a relief for T&T. Hopefully, the investment will propel us to perform to the best of our abilities as we have been doing and hopefully, we can achieve the our goals we have set forward as a team,” Jones said.
Along with Jones, 20 national team players were present to receive their dues. They included, Alvin Jones, Andre Boucaud, Ataulla Guerra, Aubrey David, Carlyle Mitchell, Cordell Cato, Daneil Cyrus, Hughtun Hector, Jamal Gay, Jan Michael Williams, Joevin Jones, Kevan George, Kevin Molino, Lester Peltier, Leston Paul, Marvin Phillip, Yohance Marshall, Adrian Foncette and Shahdon Winchester. Several overseas-based players including Khaleem Hyland, Justin Hoyte and Gavin Hoyte were unavailable to receive their payments.
The technical and management staff who also received payment yesterday were Stephen Hart, Derek King, Michael Maurice, Hutson Charles, Michael Williams, Peter Rampersad, William Wallace and Shaun Fuentes.
Sheldon Phillips, TTFA secretary, thanked government for “its continued commitment to football” and assisting the TTFA in its efforts “to move T&T football forward from the lows experienced by the then TTFF in 2011.”
He said: “Under the assistance of the Ministry of Sport and the Sports Company and our own efforts, in one year our teams are thriving once again. Both the men and women’s teams are in back the top 50 in Fifa rankings and the youth teams have advanced to the Concacaf Championship tournaments.
“Madam Prime Minister, your administration’s investment in football is paying off and will continue to yield excellent results under the partnership the TTFA has created with the Ministry of Sport and Dr Griffith.”
Govt pays Soca Warriors
T&T Express Reports.
The Trinidad and Tobago Men’s senior football team, including the technical staff were handed cheques for outstanding salaries and fees to the value of an estimated $10 million yesterday at the Office of the Prime Minister at St Clair Avenue.
It was the delivery of a promise the Government made to defray those expense on the eve of the Caribbean Cup final between T&T and Jamaica when the players threatened to boycott the match in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
T&T eventually lost 4-3 on kicks from the penalty mark.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar presided over the cheque distribution to the players and staff that included T&T captain Kenwyne Jones and head coach Stephen Hart , who had gone unpaid for over eight months.
“I am very happy to make this contribution towards your expenses, (that is) duly deserved and well earned. Regrettably, it has come after the fact, however I had asked the Minister (of Sport Dr Rupert Griffith) to approve these monies several weeks ago, but given the way the accounting system works, it took some time to process and have the cheques ready ,” said Persad-Bissessar, who interrupted her Cabinet meeting to take part in the distribution.
She added: “I want to congratulate all of you, your captain and your team and your coaches of course for keeping the red, white and black flying high and for making us very,very proud.”
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) general secretary Sheldon Phillips said the Government’s investment had paid off with the men’s and women’s teams returning to the world top 50 ranking and the youth teams advancing in their tournaments.
Phillips also looked forward to recreating the oneness and commonness of purpose reminiscent of the Road to Italy 1990 campaign for the December 2 Women’s World Cup qualifying match between T&T and Ecuador at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Meanwhile, captain Kenwyne Jones thanked the Prime Minister and her government for “stepping in and taking care of the situation.
“It has been a tremendous relief to the players , the technical staff and the coaches,” said Jones, who had signalled the Soca Warriors’ intent to forego the CFU final Tuesday. “We hope this investment would propel us to perform to the best of our abilities.”
Jones also thanked former Soca Warrior Brent Sancho for his role as an intermediary in facilitating the settlement of the debt.
Minister of Sport Rupert Griffith said: “We are glad that we could be involved with your success with the way forward..We are looking forward to the Gold Cup and we know you all will continue to do us very proud.”
Players and staff who received cheques yesterday:
Kenwyne Jones, Alvin Jones, Andre Boucaud, Ataullah Guerra, Aubrey David, Carlyle Mitchell, Cordelle Cato, Daneil Cyrus, Hughtun Hector, Jamal Gay, Jan-Michael Williams, Joevin Jones, Kevan George, Kevin Molino, Khaleem Hyland, Lester Peltier, Leston Paul, Marvin Phillip, Yohance Marshall, Adrian Foncette, Shahdon Winchester.
Staff:
Stephen Hart, Derek King, Hutson Charles, Michael Maurice, Peter Rampersad, Sean Fuentes, William Wallace.