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NO PROTEST

There was never going to be a Soca Warriors boycott of the 2014 Caribbean Cup final over pay issues, similar to the action taken by the West Indies players on the recently-aborted tour of India.

Despite grouses within the Trinidad and Tobago national football team over outstanding wages owed to players, staff and coach Stephen Hart, who had not been paid for many months, Trinidad and Tobago took the field against Jamaica in the final last night.

Yesterday, in Jamaica around 7.30 a.m., assistant-coach Hutson Charles was asked to confirm whether the team was going to boycott the final in protest. Charles-- a soldier in the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force-- was head coach when the Warriors took second place two years ago in Antigua and Barbuda, and is also one of the coaches owed several months salary by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

“No,” Charles replied, when asked whether there was any truth to a report that the team was boycotting the final against hosts Jamaica in protest. “We are playing the final (last night) and the team is ready and rearing to go and win the game.”

Early yesterday, Sheldon Phillips, TTFA general secretary, added that William Wallace, one of two team managers, was already en route to Jamaica with money to pay players. Wallace, the team’s main manager, had remained in Trinidad sorting out the matter, while David Muhammad kept daily team duties.

“Players never broke camp and continued training,” Phillips said. “We knew the players and staff were near breaking point and as a result, we worked alongside Government to expedite the process and address the problem. This resulted in a $10 million cabinet note. Government has been very co-operative in getting the process to work as fast as possible.

“We have been working on this note for some time and wanted to ensure that he (Stephen Hart) was taken care of. He had been tremendous through this ordeal,’’ continued Phillips. “The Ministry (of Sport) note included his (Hart) pay as well. Everyone; coaches, players and staff, we made sure no one is left out.”

Phillips added that the TTFA had substantially reduced its debt since the current administration, headed by president Raymond Tim Kee, came into office two years ago. Initially, the TTFA was said to have been left a $25 million debt by its predecessors, but audited reports show it to be far greater.

The local governing body still owes several other national team coaches, along with former coach Russell Latapy and former women’s coach Even Pellerud.

“We will now work on other coaches and staff arrears built up over the years,” Phillips promised. “This is part of the process of chipping away the debt we met. We have now reduced the debt by close to $15 million."