Pfister is the man in charge.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF). It is official! German Otto Pfister is the new head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team as he was unveiled in his official capacity at a media conference hosted by the T&T Football Federation at the Crowne Plaza, Port of Spain on Tuesday afternoon.
Pfister, one from a list of coaches screened by the Federation’s technical committee, was selected and deemed the best man for the job and will official begin his duties this month. He takes over the reign from Russell Latapy who took over the position midway through the 2010 World Cup final round up until last December.
It was announced also that Pfister will begin training with a group of home-based players from this month and he will also attend the Concacaf Gold Cup in the summer to view those teams that are likely to be among T&T’s opponents during the 2014 World Cup campaign.
His opening words at the media conference indicated that he was not concerned with his current CV, which had been read to the audience by the chairperson moments earlier, but more so with his role of taking the “Soca Warriors” back among the best in Concacaf and subsequently the best in the world come Brazil 2014.
“Football is not about history so much, for me it’s all about the new challenge I have with the Trinidad and Tobago team. I will give all my best from my side for the qualification for the next World Cup. I know the situation but I also have to analyze in my first time here. Trinidad and Tobago went to the World Cup (in 2006) but they did not go to the Gold Cup. There are some reasons for that but I do not know all right now and I will find out more over the next few days. We have the work together from today. My main thing now is working, working and working …that way we have a chance.
Adding that he already had a list of potential players to make up his squad both based home and abroad, he said "We have to find out who from these boys is ready to play all from the heart for Trinidad and Tobago. who from these boys is ready to take a passport to play for Trinidad and Tobago. We don’t have much time. The football is dominated in this area by United States and Mexico. All the rest fight for the third position. This is my objective from my side that I will give my best for this qualification. I cannot give a guarantee. No coach in the world can give a guarantee. The only guarantee I can you is with my heart and all my knowledge that I will work twenty fours to twenty four hours for Trinidad and Tobago,” Pfister stated on Tuesday.
The former Cameroon and Ghana coach said he intends to work closely with local coaches and will look towards his assistants being from these shores.
Also in attendance at Tuesday’s conference was FIFA Vice President and TTFF Special Adviser Jack Warner who held the position of Acting Prime Minister. He mentioned that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had already requested a budget from Minister of Sports Anil Roberts and the TTFF in relation to T&T’s quest for qualification for the 2014 World Cup Finals.
View Pfister's address