Blacklisted players want end to standoff.
By: Ian Prescott (Express).
Warriors wait
While they wait on a Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) decision to reinstate them to active duty, the estranged members of the national team have re-stated their desire to play for T&T again.
Speaking with the Express yesterday on the condition on anonymity a member of the "Soca Warriors" declared that the players are ready to represent the country at the Gold Cup from June 6-24 in the United States.
"But, we have heard nothing yet from the T&TFF," said the player who added that normal protocol would have seen the T&TFF contacting them about a month before the tournament and also sending a letter to their clubs.
"None of that has been done for us, the blacklisted 16 this time around," the source said. "But, at the end of the day we are ready to play in the Gold Cup. We are looking forward to be called up. We are serious about establishing the FPA (Football Players Association), which is something that should have been done a long time now."
And the player said further: "From the players point of view, we would like to see this over and done, so we can get back on the field and do our jobs. It has been a difficult past few months, but I think certain things needed to be addressed. It was a case where certain protocol must be established between players and administration. But, more importantly, we would like to get back unto the field and do our jobs."
Meanwhile, the blacklisted group will keep active with a second friendly match, this time in Tobago from 7.30 p.m tomorrow at Dwight Yorke Stadium.
The match is the second such one to promote the formation of the Trinidad & Tobago Football Players Association (T&TFPA) and follows up Sunday's 'Funday' at the Hasely Crawford stadium which saw the Soca Warriors meeting a celebrity eleven.
And today, Kevin Harrison, a financial adviser to the English Professional Football Players Association (FPA), flies into the country to further assist the players in their attempts to properly establish the T&TFPA, which will in the future negotiate on behalf of players.
Friday's match in Tobago will see the majority of the Soca Warriors in action, with the exception of goalkeeper Clayton Ince, who is still England.
Stern John is due to fly back into the country from Miami, while defender Dennis Lawrence comes in from London, making almost everyone available at a moment's notice should the T&TFF call them up for Gold Cup action. Among the Warriors already here are Carlos Edwards, Jason Scotland, Marvin Andrews, Kelvin Jack, Chris Birchall, Kenwyne Jones, Brent Sancho, Cornell Glen, Aurtis Whitley and Cyd Gray.
Meanwhile, Harrison has been a big help in advising the group about how to establish T&TFPA, which is the 43rd players association in the world. While here, Harrison will conduct workshops with local clubs and players and explain the importance of having a representative body. The T&TFPA will also be going on a recruitment drive among local players.
"First of all, we want them to know that the Football Players Association is not here to fight down the T&TFF.
We are just seeking representation which will ensure that certain protocol are established and that there is a smooth relationship between players and the administration. At the end of the day, none of us overseas players will benefit from this in any significant way," the player stated. "It is the local boys who will receive the benefits of having a players association in the future."
