From Strike Squad player to coach.
By: Stephon Nicholas (Newsday).Many great football players have hung up their boots and taken on a new role in football — not on the field but on the sidelines.
Former Holland internationals such as Frank Rijkaard (Barcelona FC), Marco Van Basten (Netherlands) and Ruud Gullit (LA Galaxy) are recent examples.
Our very own “Little Magician” Russell Latapy has been named as one of the possible candidates to fill the managerial role in Scotland’s St Johnstone FC after being player/coach for FC Falkirk for three seasons.
Love for footballAnd now we have former national Strike Squad defender Brian Williams describing his transition from highly rated local footballer to coach.
He has been involved in the sport since he was a child and it was only natural that after he retired he would take the next step in the sport.
Born in Santa Flora, south Trinidad, Williams began to show interest in football from an early age. He joined the Palo Seco Football Academy and played at the Under-12, and Under-14 level.
He began representing TT at the age of 17 and by the time he retired 15 years later, he had been capped 78 times.
A versatile and skilful wing-back, Williams can play right-back or left-back and even played defensive midfield a few times. He feels most comfortable, however, in his customary right-back position.
The skilful player now successful coach has pledged his life to sport in TT and hopes one day to take charge of the national team.
A true patriot, Williams declared that whenever he is asked to serve he will always make himself available. His dream is for TT to hold a permanent position among the top three teams in the CONCACAF region and be a force to be reckoned with in the international arena.
A closer lookThe tough defender was raised by his mother after his father migrated to Canada in the early 1970s. His mother, Glendova Williams supported him by attending all the matches he played and was by his side when he began his coaching career.
He made his debut as a coach for the Palo Seco Football Academy and in the 1998/1999 season won the national Under-20 title.
He later took charge of W Connection and his success continued as he led the team to the national Under-20 league title and prestigious FA Trophy.
Williams is a key figure in the community he grew up in and assisted in several workshops at the Palo Seco Sporting Club as well as the Naparima Soccer Clinic.
His only regret was not being able to play in a foreign league. He attributed this to the limited opportunities available to footballers at that time and the lack of international exposure local football received.
But despite this, he has thoroughly enjoyed playing football for about 25 years from the Under-12 level up to his retirement from First Division football in 1997.
Lessons learnt in 1989Despite the heartbreak of losing to the USA 1-0 in that epic match on November 19, 1989 that crushed the country’s dream of a first ever World Cup appearance, he preferred to view the event as ‘‘a learning experience.”
The sturdy defender was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his sterling performance at the back during that World Cup qualifying match but this accolade was a mere pittance in relation to what was missed.
“There is life after football,” Williams stated, “and what the country needs to do is press on. I felt relieved when we qualified in 2006 but we must not stop there,” he advised.
Now the United Petrotrin coach has revealed that he has always admired coaching and now that he has retired from playing he feels that he can transfer his football ability to others through coaching.
Even though he did not take an active part in the qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he believes that he still has a role to play in developing local talent.
Football is more than a payday“Football and sport has a great role to play in society,” said Williams in his familiar husky voice, a distinguishing feature as much as his dreadlocked style.
“Sport has united all creeds and races and brought a true sense of national pride to citizens. The authorities are now grasping on to this concept.”
He pleaded for local footballers to be more committed to the sport and spend more time improving their game instead of focusing on the money.
“The football administrators and players need to show a sense of maturity because at the end of the day football is bigger than all of them,” he said.
He considers himself to be a fair coach and he bases his selection process on commitment to training and loyalty to the team.
“The right attitude is needed, because a professional is a professional anywhere,” he said.
World Cup 2010Speaking with Newsday on Wednesday, Williams expressed great disappointment at what took place after the Soca Warriors qualified for the World Cup in 2006.
Apart from an ordinary performance at the Under-17 World Cup in South Korea, football in TT has not shown the continuity necessary after such a historic occasion.
“But it is not too late, all expertise must come on board to ensure that we are adequately prepared for our first game in June next year,” he warned.
“There will be no Latapy or Dwight Yorke this time around so the mantle rests on the young players to step up,” he said.
He lamented the state of stagnancy our football has found itself in when qualification for the world’s biggest stage is just around the corner.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation also came in for some criticism from him as he compared their programme with that of United States Soccer Federation.
The United States men’s national team, he declared, “has played 18 international matches for 2007 while our team has only played a handful.”
Apart from the lack of necessary preparation, the World Cup bonus fiasco has hindered coach Wim Rijsbergen’s option of picking his best possible team,” Williams argues.
Life with the “Oilmen”Williams has been the head coach of TT Pro League outfit United Petrotrin since 2005 when they re-entered the league.
The team has never been a serious contender for the Pro League title but has done reasonably well in cup competitions.
Last year, Williams led the team to a historic victory in the Toyota Classic against Superstar Rangers and in 2005 they won the Lucozade Big Six tournament.
Williams was subsequently named “Coach of the Year” for his laudable achievement in leading such a young side to victory despite struggling to cope with the difficulties associated with top flight football.
But after three years Williams thinks that the club should be performing better than they have. Because the club was in its teething stage, there was more emphasis placed on development rather than results but Williams thinks that it is time management begins to see the fruits of its labour.
United Petrotrin currently sits in seventh position in the ten team table — 20 points behind CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh after 27 matches played.
He attributes their dismal display to inconsistent performances that have plagued them for several seasons.
Despite being unsuccessful in the league the team has produced several players that have been called up for the national Under-15, Under-17 and Under-23 teams.
The scouting for young talented players has already begun as administration is looking forward to next season.
Marketing footballTT Pro League Chairman Larry Romany and the CEO Dexter Skeene were praised by Williams for their work in developing the league as one of the best regionally.
But he pointed out there is still a lot more that could be done to enhance the quality and popularity of the league.
“Sometimes there is a double-header and the public is charged $20 for admission but they still do not come out and support,” he argued.
He noted that there is an increase in supporter turn-out during cup tournaments due to the introduction of rhythm sections and other forms of entertainment to create a Carnival-like atmosphere.
“This cannot be done for all matches, but the Pro League needs to formulate a plan to address this problem,” he advised.
He also praised the administrators responsible for the female version of the game as he thinks that they are heading in the right direction and will “soon play a major part on the football stage.”
QualificationsBeing the son of an electrician, Williams had little choice but to follow in the footsteps of his father, Ken Williams. He followed his father at the Siparia Senior Comprehensive School, where he acquired a Part One in Electrical Installation and was awarded a Diploma in Public Relations after completing his studies at the Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies.
Armed with his certificates and in love with a sport which reaped little reward financially, Williams set out to win the hearts of football fans locally and internationally with his skilful yet no-nonsense approach when on the field.
And thinking beyond his playing days he took a giant step in securing his future by acquiring the FA Coaching Badge in 1991. Two years later he quit the national team and in 1997 retired from First Division football to pursue another level of the sport.
Favourite playersBarcelona FC and French striker Thierry Henry is admired by Williams not only for his goal scoring prowess and elegance on the field but outside of it.
“Henry does not make the news for issues for the wrong reasons,” he stated.
And with players’ wages in Europe reaching a staggering high of £150,000 per week excluding personal endorsements as in the case of Chelsea FC player John Terry it has never been reported that the former Arsenal player was involved in any late night partying before matches or being late for practice.
“He has a wonderful work ethic and is a true professional,” Williams noted.
As a young player trying to develop his game, Williams fashioned himself after the great Italian and AC Milan defender Franco Baresi.
The Italian is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders ever to play the game having won six scudetti (Serie A league titles) and three European Cups.
Ironically, upon retiring in the same year as Williams, Baresi took up the position as head coach of AC Milan’s Primavera Under-20 squad in 2002 and is now in charge of their Under-19 team.
WilliamsWhen allowed the opportunity Brian Williams spends time with his namesake David Williams who is the coach of the national cricket team.
“We share ideas and discuss the challenges we face in our careers,” he said. “I love cricket and any chance I get to look at the West Indies team during the day or night I do so,” revealed Williams.
He played cricket for his school but was forced to quit when his career as a professional footballer began to develop. At Petrotrin, he looks forward to participating in the Inter Department Cricket League.
Being a “Rastaman”When anyone is referring to Williams but does not know his name, he is commonly referred to as “The Rasta from the Strike Squad.” His hairstyle has not deterred him, however, in pursuing his goals.
“This is me; it is who I am,” he said.
“Yes, there are barriers that hinder my progress but these have gradually been reduced,” he explained.
Although he has not experienced any serious form of discrimination he revealed that the hairstyle may be a problem for some people and they may be sceptical about offering him a position in a company or club but he believes that his work will speak volumes for him.
