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Offline FireBrand

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Warriors in limbo
« on: October 13, 2006, 04:09:31 PM »
International resignations on hold.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).
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WARRIORS IN LIMBO.

The "Soca Warriors", who made a maiden World Cup appearance at the 2006 tournament in Germany, cruised to a 5-0 win over St Vincent last Saturday and edged Panama 2-1 in a scrappy affair on Wednesday.
But they are not having it their own way with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF).
The players have not drawn up resignation letters just yet, despite their threat to do so last Friday over the distribution of World Cup sponsorship money. But the future commitment of the Warriors remains in limbo as talks continue between the players and the Federation.
They must dispatch resignation letters at least a week before Trinidad and Tobago's next international assignment away to Austria on November 15 or, if they fail to turn out, the players could face sanctions from FIFA.
"We said that we would only change our minds, if there was a change from the T&TFF," said one player, who preferred to remain anonymous. "Nothing has changed yet, so we are still holding our position."
But the player admitted that the 2006 World Cup players had not penned resignation letters, nor had they agreed on a time to do so.
"We still have to meet as a group to decide on that," he said.
The paradoxical position of their verbal but non-binding retirement is symptomatic of the complexities and vagaries of the present impasse between players and administrators.
FIFA vice-president and T&TFF special adviser Jack Warner, according to the players, offered 50 per cent of revenue generated by the Federation in its 2006 World Cup campaign.
The T&TFF agreed to the split but insisted that expenses be deducted before paying the players and, as a result, a declared $18,255,952 bounty was whittled down to just $141,102 for the squad-$5,644.08 per player. The players declined the offer and announced their intention to resign.
But the "Warner World Cup agreement" is still a mystery to the general public and perhaps the players as well.
As both parties haggle over details, it is even less certain what promises were put to paper and which ones remained verbal.
The players admitted to initiating discussions with Sport Minister Roger Boynes as well but said those discussions were also "ongoing" and they were advised not to go public regarding details.
The Government's failure to publicly shed light on financial details with the T&TFF-particularly as the State has a controlling interest in the sporting body's main local sponsor, TSTT-is confusing.
Three months ago, the Government awarded Chaconia Gold Medals to the Warriors, but Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Boynes have not appeared as willing to stand alongside the players in recent times.
The players, too, seem starved for professional help.
The Football Players Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) was formed in 2003 and lists the England-based pair of defender Brent Sancho and goalkeeper Kelvin Jack as president and vice-president, respectively, with local midfielder Travis Mulraine as general secretary.
But FPATT has not held a meeting since and remains non-functional, while the players have not shown a clear link with any trade union.
As a result, players like Coventry City striker Stern John and Swansea defender Dennis Lawrence-both with minimal to no experience of such disputes-are left trying to negotiate with T&TFF president Oliver Camps and Warner, the FIFA finance committee deputy chairman.
The T&TFF look set to offer a new deal. Whether it will do justice to the initial agreement brokered between Warner and the Warriors is another thing altogether.
National coach waxes lyrical.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).
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On a Wim

"It is the same if you have a stone or a diamond," said Trinidad and Tobago head coach Wim Rijsbergen. "You can't change a stone. But, if you have a diamond, you can make it better by polishing it."
It was helpful advice for amateur jewelers and there may have been a few at the post-game press conference on Wednesday after Trinidad and Tobago's scrappy 2-1 win over Panama at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
However, the reporter wanted to know why Trinidad and Tobago's wingers were not providing Stern John and Kenwyne Jones-both imposing men in the air-with decent crosses in the opposing penalty area.
Rijsbergen's response was open to several interpretations. His predecessor, compatriot and former boss Leo Beenhakker was many things but never vague.
Rijsbergen, a former Dutch World Cup player, can be blunt too.
If he had his way, one feels that secondary school principals who delayed in handing over students for national duty would get a week's detention. He also hinted that the standard of local football would be better if all players were flown abroad. Something for T&T Pro League chairman Larry Romany to consider, I suppose.
But, on Wednesday, he went for the more genteel approach.
Rijsbergen is a young coach and needs time to develop his own persona and methodology. Fans might not be particularly inspired by his early efforts, though. It is uncertain what the players thought.
Beenhakker was not a particularly sophisticated man.
He prowled the sidelines, grimaced, stamped and twirled as if in the grip of some inner turmoil. He slapped the substitutes' bench, shot icy stares, hauled players off before the halftime whistle and drew on cigarettes in much the same way that asthmatics savour inhalers.
Rijsbergen knows Beenhakker's feverish mannerisms better than anyone. The pair worked together for years. Before Beenhakker introduced Cornell Glen as a substitute against Sweden in T&T's opening Group B encounter at the 2006 World Cup-one of his more ingenious tactical changes during his stint with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF)-he walked over to the bench and consulted with his Dutch assistant.
Rijsbergen, almost certainly, did not tell him how to clean his bracelets. He shared direct, intelligent analysis gleaned from years as a top professional player.
The new coach can still dissect an opponent. At the post-game press conference, he confirmed his squad's shortcomings against the gritty but unfashionable Panamanians.
"We started playing the same as Panama (did) with a lot of long balls," said Rijsbergen. "We should have played more of a passing game It all depends on the intelligence of your players.
"If one team is playing that kind of rhythm, you have to break that rhythm. The only way you can break that rhythm is by playing another game."
On Wednesday, the problem seemed to be that Rijsbergen could not impose his thoughts on the team. He sat on the bench as if waiting for the "Soca Warriors" to figure it out.
The Dutch national team is famed-or blighted-for cerebral players like Rijsbergen's former teammate, the inimitable Johan Cruyff. When Warriors' captain Dwight Yorke plays, as Beenhakker once remarked, it is like having a second coach on the pitch.
The national players failed to compensate for Yorke's absence on Wednesday and perhaps the same could be said for Rijsbergen.
Central defender Dennis Lawrence and full backs Cyd Gray and Avery John are too well versed in the Dutch philosophy not to have assessed the flaw in Trinidad and Tobago's approach play. Instead of passing to promising, rookie goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams and turning their backs, they should have offered angles of support so as to play the ball from defence into the midfield-particularly as Williams cannot yet kick over distance with the accuracy and consistency of overseas custodians like Kelvin Jack or Shaka Hislop.
In their defence, midfielder Chris Birchall did not seem anxious to receive the ball in his own half of the field. Even without Yorke, Aurtis Whitley, Silvio Spann and Densill Theobald have the confidence to collect and pass in front of their own defenders and, on Wednesday's evidence, they remain valuable commodities whatever their present problems.
Rijsbergen must be part-school master, part-psychologist. It is a difficult job but he already knows this.
Up front, Trinidad and Tobago look set to benefit from the blossoming of several attacking players.
Kenwyne Jones' speed, power and work rate constantly threatened the Panama back four and allowed Stern John, who made his 100th cap as a stand-in captain, to show off his link up play with several neat touches and intelligent passes as well as his usual ghosting runs into the penalty box. He has a national record 67 goals and is now one item behind legendary German poacher Gerd Muller, although his strikes came from just 62 caps.
Jason Scotland also served notice of his talent with a confident display on Saturday, albeit against a weak Vincentian team, while the injured Glen and overlooked Scott Sealy have improved considerably in recent months.
The Pro League has striking talent too, including the likes of Anthony Wolfe, Kerry Noray, Kendal Jagdeosingh, Andre Toussaint, Gary Glasgow and Conrad Smith-although the latter two may be better suited to midfield posts.
Some of those players need only exposure and guidance to develop their gifts. Others might not have the proper technique, physique and personality to impose themselves at a higher level.
Rijsbergen may have meant something similar when he spoke of stones and diamonds on Wednesday night. But there is already a scarcity of straight talk in local football circles as the uneasy relations between players and administrators continue. The communication between coaches and players should improve in the coming months. It must.
« Last Edit: October 14, 2006, 07:37:13 AM by Flex »
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Offline Socafan

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Re: Warriors in limbo
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2006, 05:42:49 PM »
Ahhh.....revealing article....
Warriors in limbo: International resignations on hold.
By Lasana Liburn (Trinidad Express).

The paradoxical position of their verbal but non-binding retirement is symptomatic of the complexities and vagaries of the present impasse between players and administrators.
Wee papayo. Dem big word just so!
Quote
FIFA vice-president and T&TFF special adviser Jack Warner, according to the players, offered 50 per cent of revenue generated by the Federation in its 2006 World Cup campaign. The T&TFF agreed to the split but insisted that expenses be deducted before paying the players and, as a result, a declared $18,255,952 bounty was whittled down to just $141,102 for the squad-$5,644.08 per player. The players declined the offer and announced their intention to resign.
But the "Warner World Cup agreement" is still a mystery to the general public and perhaps the players as well.

Quote

Obviously this was not a written document and signed by anyone in particular before World Cup.
Big mistake. Is Jacula and the TTFF they dealing with. Should have known better. Still, revenue is revenue as opposed to profit so no deductions before payout. TTFF make ah BIG mistake.


Quote
As both parties haggle over details, it is even less certain what promises were put to paper and which ones remained verbal.
Quote
Madness....The players really need a professional support group. Anyone interested?

Quote
The Government's failure to publicly shed light on financial details with the T&TFF-particularly as the State has a controlling interest in the sporting body's main local sponsor, TSTT-is confusing.
Three months ago, the Government awarded Chaconia Gold Medals to the Warriors, but Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Boynes have not appeared as willing to stand alongside the players in recent times.
Quote

Government's failure to try to shed some light on ANY AND ALL financial dealings of the TTFF and Jacula is what is really confusing, not just on their own dealings with the TTFF. It begs the question, is the TTFF a public enterprise as a lot of the public think, or is it a private enterprise? How come there is no LOCAL official demand for enquiry into the TTFF's financial affairs with all the accusations of bobol going on? Is the TTFF autonomous? How come there is no Public pressure? And why does Boynes appear to be just a boy? No real authority. Isn't this right up his alley? What the hell does he do? In another country, this sort of activity would make the career of a Minister of Sports. It's an opportunity to play himself and come out looking like the star who solved everything. Why doesn't he seize the opportunity?  Maybe the problems with the TTFF are a direct result of the lack of involvement  of the Ministry of Sports. Again, how autonomous is the TTFF?

Quote
The Football Players Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) was formed in 2003 and lists the England-based pair of defender Brent Sancho and goalkeeper Kelvin Jack as president and vice-president, respectively, with local midfielder Travis Mulraine as general secretary.
But FPATT has not held a meeting since and remains non-functional, while the players have not shown a clear link with any trade union.
As a result, players like Coventry City striker Stern John and Swansea defender Dennis Lawrence-both with minimal to no experience of such disputes-are left trying to negotiate with T&TFF president Oliver Camps and Warner, the FIFA finance committee deputy chairman.
Quote

Obviously the FPATT eh wokkin' and it cannot work with active players at it's head.

Question to the Forum massive and The WarriorNation...is anyone interested in forming a players union? Obviously, there is dire need for such an entity, and it WILL be an income generator for the principals. Anyone think that they are Professional and knowledgeable enough to form and operate such an entity?





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Re: Warriors in limbo
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2006, 09:47:45 PM »
Quote

FIFA vice-president and T&TFF special adviser Jack Warner, according to the players, offered 50 per cent of revenue generated by the Federation in its 2006 World Cup campaign.
The T&TFF agreed to the split but insisted that expenses be deducted before paying the players and, as a result, a declared $18,255,952 bounty was whittled down to just $141,102 for the squad-$5,644.08 per player. 


you see how ttff screwing the players. they tell them we'll give you half the REVENUE, and now it becomes half the PROFIT
Hart for president

Offline dcs

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Re: Warriors in limbo
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2006, 12:05:57 AM »
How much would they get if it was half the revenue?


I posted this in the comments right under the article:

Players Association    Posted: 2006-10-13 08:31:00 AM
Please use the organisation that you formed in 2003. I am sure many citizens of T&T will offer their professional services to FPATT free of charge. Accountants, lawyers, name it...people will offer their services for free. The exposure alone will make it more than worth it.


I also agree that current players would find it difficult to run the assoc.  I was thinking people like Leonson Lewis, Angus Eve and others would be the most suitable.  Leonson was very vocal about past players being treated badly.  There are many past players who got college degrees and became professionals.  Look Dexter Skeene went Colombia and have a set of degrees.  I think Marlon Morris is another one.  Shaka's father was involved in getting FPATT off the ground from what I remember.  The players might be afraid of victimization but FPATT is actually there to protect them from that.
Maybe WN could talk to them to find out exactly what were the main problems they faced so we can see how best to help them (if they want help).

So who is volunteering to work on this?

Offline weary1969

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Re: Warriors in limbo
« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2006, 05:11:38 PM »
FPATT is dormant and they need some teeth. WIPA fought and the cricketers got there just dues. They also got help from the OWTU. They need real support if the TTFA is not to continue having their way.
Today you're the dog, tomorrow you're the hydrant - so be good to others - it comes back!"

 

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