The Ticks & the Tocks of the Men Chosen for Warrior Duties.
By: Hannibal Najjar.[/size]
The following represents my opinions and assessment of the abilities of the players called up by Wim Rijsbergen for National duty this month and beyond – how are we to fair in the games to come and future ahead? The prospects are good and here is why.
Jan Michael Williams – Not too much to say here. I have not seen Williams in operation too much and during my time back as Coach during 2002-2003, he was just emerging. I believe however, that Williams is as good a local call as any. Goalkeeping is the one area that we have been blessed with over the years, save the roll-over periods at the National Youth level where we encountered some transitional losses - somewhat understandable.
Cyd Gray – I have always liked Gray, even though there was a brief period that he seemed to be phasing out and delivering carelessly. He grew through some rough times in Costa Rica, Mexico and elsewhere, but has risen to the challenge. He is tenacious, strong, durable, and of late, he has acquired a good sense for the game and the varied pace speed that is required at the higher and international levels. The recent captaincy bestowments can’t hurt him. His mentality will allow him to be around for a few more years. He is very easily satisfied and so the T&TFF and coaches do not have to petition his commitment with too much concern or effort. Cyd was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003.
Dennis Lawrence – Right now, he is the key to our transition, both, in the leadership aspect as well as solidifying our learned, positive, defensive mentality. Dennis is a committed warrior and one that has a great deal to offer especially when he retires. He brings a calming influence and demeanor to the team and country at large – he certainly does for me now and before while serving during 2002-2003. He is effective and shows much willingness to serve and lead, and also, to follow. He is an integral part of our success, now and the future and I hope he stays on. Dennis was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003.
Avery John – He has impressed me with his commitment leading up to and including the World Cup. Avery, like Cyd Gray is tenacious and full of courage. He has acquired ample experience and even though he is not as exposed as some of our other foreign-based pros, his preliminary training and levels of global understanding and educational exposure stands him in good stead. Good choice and good defender. Avery was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003.
David Atiba Charles – Atiba is worthy of the calling and one that has to be used more steadily and consistently if he is to stay around. He has great physical attributes and is a patient and focused individual and can help us now in this transition period. He needs to be empowered with the assignment of a “starter” position as this will give him the confidence needed to become a permanent fixture and one that he is now probably entitled to. Atiba is very good defender and could be around for a long time. Atiba was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003 and one of the younger, better talents.
Nigel Daniel – What a talent! He is in the mould of yesteryear’s Marvin “Marvelous” Faustin. Nigel, I am supposed is ready for his time as a permanent fixture on the national team. Some argue, and with some merit, that his size can be seen as a negative factor at this level on a consistent basis. I believe that his level of game awareness, natural instincts are outstanding and all of the size concerns could be overcome. Nigel was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003 and one of the younger, better talents.
Dwyane Jack – No comment, as I do not know him.
Andrei Pacheco – No comment – I have only rare remembrances of him.
Kerry Baptiste – I happen to like Kerry very much, especially for his versatility. He is crafty, quick, and relentless. He plays with a great deal of savvy and has a good read of the game both, defensively but, especially, offensively. He is elusive and possesses good ball control especially with speed and seems to still be aware of spaces and places where players are or will run into. Very good choice! Kerry was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003 and one of the younger, better talents.
Christopher Birchall – No need to elaborate, for he is proven, tried and tested. He is now loved by all and his presence on the team has been magnanimous. He has added a much needed dimension to the team by virtue of his personality, workmanlike style and dedication to the cause. He is a consummate giver that needs no solicitation, no dangling carrots. Dennis discovered him, and that’s one of the reasons behind my hope that Dennis stays around and involved. Chris’ contributions, as silent as it is, speaks very loudly to our temperament and reconfiguration of our understanding of the game, and the pieces necessary to make a team consistently good at the higher levels. He comes with no baggage and blue-collar mentality gives us the illumination in an area that we need to be stronger.
Carlos Edwards – It is absolutely great to have him around. Carlos is the best and most effective transition player that we have around. He is instinctively savvy, physically superiorly fit, loves to journey up and down the field and does so with relentless ease, efficiency and effectiveness. He also brings a dimension of poise and calm, very much like Dennis Lawrence does, to the team, any team – it is his personality, and we are blessed to have him around. Carlos was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003.
Kenwyne Jones – We are very fortunate to have the likes of Kenwyne on our National side especially given his accumulating and compounding experiences that he keeps bringing to the table. He is young, talented, vivacious, and can play extremely well in attack and in defense. I do believe that soon, he can be positioned in a central mid-field role and would do an effective job there. Great physical and ever-present figure on the field – he makes things happen – he is not a watcher or a wonderer or wanderer. Kenwyne was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003. He was one of the younger, better talents and if not for an ankle injury, Kenwyne would have been playing earlier.
Jason Scotland – I wonder if his name was Jason England, if he would be playing in ……….well, I am only lightening up the tempo a little. Jason is our best, most strong and powerful athlete. So strong and powerful he is, and so agonizingly annoying his center of gravity is, that defenders have to be positionally and collectively ready for him at all times. If not, Jason will have a field day. In fact, he is the best in this regard that I have seen around for decades. He must be on the team and must be played often – he builds on the last game whether good, bad, or indifferent. He is a proven goal scorer and for him to be consistently effective when playing for T&T, one need has to be met – he must be rewarded with encouragement. He is also one that does not need dangling carrots to commit or perform but, just pure, plain, and simple, encouragement; and he may need this 24-7, and one must be prepared to provide this for he is worth the time and the investment. Great inclusion, this in spite of him being ill-advised to leave T&T for China without due notice to the T&TFF. Jason was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003.
Collin Samuel – Very much like Jason Scotland. Collin possesses very good physical attributes. He however, relies less on outside encouragement and motivation in order to perform well and consistently. He is strong, fast and powerful. He possesses the understanding of his own abilities, and can appropriate these skills as they are needed. Though he has good attacking traits, he can also serve us well in a midfield, flanking position as he prizes being fit and considered utility or transitional. I like his work ethic and his desire to serve and improve. A great deal of what he boasts is self-made and that speaks volumes for his future. This latter positive, self-made trait, reminds me a great deal of Stern John in his growing and formative years. Collin was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003.
Stern John – Stern has the best developmental story to tell of anyone that I can think of. Stern’s rise up the “corporate ladder”, i.e. the methodical progression made in and through football, is one that should be done and presented as a model for others to follow – no one has painstakingly rose, step-by-step, stage-by-stage, phase-by-phase, one at a time, as Stern’s rise to the top depicts. I shared this with him when seeking his services back in 2002-2003. In another sense however, Stern also provides us with a perfect example of what we must be weary about – management of such talents is the key. Stern was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003.
Hector Sam – I considered Hector back in 2002-2003, but because I assessed in that short time permitted of me to review, that he needed to have more variety to his approach to the game, I withheld inviting him – back then he was playing with Dennis Lawrence, and Carlos Edwards for Wrexham. Maybe, this time around, 4 years later, and with much more experience under his belt, he will come through. He has touch, “skill” as we call it, but I’ll be searching for his, will. he showed promise ever since at Superstar Rangers for which then I briefly oversaw.
Dwight Yorke – Always been one of my favourites! Dwight’s revival provides me with one of my most gratifying moments for me in football. As his coach, while as a very young teenager through our U-17 to U-20 National campaigns 1995-1998, I delivered the verdict to him, as I did to others around, that he had the potential to become our country’s best ever football player. We shared these visions often but, the recall that still comes alive most was, when in our hotel room while playing marvelously in Guatemala in 1987 at CONCACAF’s U-20 World-Cup qualification tournament, we shared some future thinking and wishes and I was adamant then that he was the torchbearer. Using Christian language, I want to exuberantly state that Dwight’s turnaround in the past two years or so, represents a reconviction after having been in a back-sliding mode. I am still spell-bound, as I am happy for him – he has always been a blue-eyed boy of mine and now, following his recommitment to his country’s cause that was so evidently seen during this 2006 World Cup campaign, his eyes now are even, more blue. We all are happy for him, but especially so is, his mother. His continuation on the national team must be done with utter care and due consideration for his stage in his life, his image and future critics. I believe that Dwight should concentrate on his personal life and future plans and not be tooooooo burdened with the responsibilities to carry the team. I hope he can continue to give, but, not at the expense of his private and future life and plans.
Andre Toussaint – Now, this is what I have been waiting for – the arrival of “Sweetness” on the international stage. “Sweetness” is the name that best describes this young man’s skill, and vision to play in small areas as well as throughout the larger field. Andre “Sweetness” Toussaint is our key to replacing the likes of the diminutive and exceptionally illusive, “Little Magician”. He is the one who can best represent what we had and now, sorely miss, i.e. the mastery on the ball, vision for the field and the game clock. “Sweetness” is, in my opinion, the best replacement for Russell and Arnold Dwarika, our best two play-makers at the mid-field position in a very long while. Andre’s skill is deafening and mesmerizing and I hope that he is in the mind-mode to take up that general, mid-field role. Well done Wim, your decision is a wise one and you will reap the rewards – that’s my sentiment. Well done “Sweetness”, not only am happy for you and proud of your achievements, I will be praying for good health, wise living and a futuristic perspective on your behalf, so that you can successfully carry the torch. Andre was a younger invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003.
What about Silvio Spann? - I do not care that Silvio is not on a team, he has to be called for this occasion. Silvio has grown so much in stature and maturity that I am proud of him as I am of his father, and one I would like to call, friend, Leroy (I hope he will allow me that privilege). Quite frankly, I would rather blame the T&TFF for leaving Silvio without participation in the game, at least, even within our local league while he awaits other developments – any “friendly” contract could have been written up to facilitate him in the interim. We cannot, and must not, be derelict in our duties to bargain for Silvio Spann. In fact, what he seems to be needing is, game time, if he is to strengthen his appeal and petitioning with foreign clubs. And to this end, representation in the T&T team over these next two games, will stand him in good stead and by this, us also. Furthermore, Silvio is good, mature and proven enough that, even without being exactly involved in a league or club for this period, he can still make a sizeable contribution. We, at least owe it to him particularly given the unfortunate circumstances that shattered him prior to the World Cup, and which left him out of the team. His inclusion is best for our nation, and the returns on an investment as this, in these two games, are immeasurable. Silvio was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003.
What about Cornell Glenn? - I love these two players and we have to pray that Cornell’s injuries do not have a lasting blow to his playing career. I have a great deal of time for this young man. He is not easily swayed and has his own mind. He seeks sincerity in leadership and will call a spade a spade. He is confident in his own abilities and does not discredit anyone who possesses something that he admires – he is not xenophobic about anything or anyone (smile Ian). What a talent Cornell is!! He can demolish anyone with his blow-out speed and he is strong enough to withstand any challenge at the highest international level. Cornell however needs to work more on his timing of all things, for with proper timing share strength could be corralled when not needed – he can then better deal with particularly, shoulder challenges but, other contesting equations and situations. This young man is elegant and beautiful to watch, as he is also cantankerously effective – he can win a game for you out of nothing; when taunted or “furied’, he posses that one-blow that can bring about a thunderous effect. Keep Cornell in our prayers, I will! Cornell was an invitee during my time of coaching during 2002-2003.
