Ministry backs 'players'
...Association to get Government $$.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).[/size]
Shaka Hislop, interim Football Players Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) president and 2006 World Cup standout, yesterday declared the local players' union an alternative vehicle for investment in football in Trinidad and Tobago as he revealed a new three-year deal with the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.
Sport Ministry representative Dave Bobb as well as FPATT vice-president Clayton Morris, treasurer Leonson Lewis and communication and operations manager Debbie Maya McMillan, were also present at yesterday's press conference in the President's Box of the Queen's Park Oval.
Hislop did not give financial details--he claimed both parties still expected some changes to their budget--but said that FPATT's three unofficial watchwords were transparency, accountability and value for money.
"There won't be a guessing game as to where your money is spent," said Hislop, who now works as a soccer commentator with United States network, ESPN. "I can assure you of that."
Bobb, who apologised for the absence of Minister Gary Hunt, expressed satisfaction with FPATT's vision of addressing the concerns of professional footballers in Trinidad and Tobago.
"The Ministry recognises the importance of the effect being made by the Football Players Association," said Bobb, "to have a body to represent footballers, similar to what the West Indies Players Association is doing."
This will be a great move for football players and football in this country."
FIFA vice-president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) special advisor Jack Warner and T&TFF president Oliver Camps recently attacked the Sport Ministry and Hunt, in particular, for allegedly discriminating against football.
But Hislop applauded Hunt's supposed vision "to bring sport into the 21st century" and pointedly revealed that FPATT, unlike other local sporting bodies, had satisfied the Sport Ministry by providing the relevant documentation for funding. The documents offered included a three-year budget, constitution, registration and forecasts aimed at making FPATT self-sufficient within three years.
Hislop revealed that FPATT first approached Hunt for funding last December and maintained communication ever since.
FPATT became functional last June and, at present, has 65 members. Hislop expressed confidence that membership would "swell considerably" as the organisation, buoyed by their new financial partnership, spreads it wings.
Although FPATT is geared towards local professionals, at present, Hislop promised that it would eventually branch out and offer support for semi-professionals and women as well.
He stressed that, although independent of the T&TFF, FPATT hoped to work with the local governing body. But Hislop, who routinely represented his international colleagues as a player, warned of imminent changes to the way things are conducted at international level.
FPATT already made it clear that they intend to represent the "Soca Warriors" although Warner, thus far, has asked the T&TFF to ignore the fledgling body.
"We intend to take away the day-to-day worry of the professional player," said Hislop."I do not think it right for national players to sit down with the FIFA vice-president and the likes to discuss (match fees and related business) when there is a game in three days to worry about."
Hislop agreed that players should not expect to get "rich" from international duty but insisted they would expect fair compensation.
"It is an honour to represent your country and that is the main motivation," said the former England Premier League goalkeeper, "but this is also our livelihood (and) we are part of that money making machine and expect to be compensated for our role. We expect no more and no less."
The interim FPATT president also offered verbal support for national women's Olympic team coach Jamaal Shabazz and his players who were criticised by Warner, in a press conference held on their return, for failing to defeat Costa Rica.
"Players expect criticisms from fans," said Hislop. "But players expect support from their officials and, when that doesn't come, it is demoralizing to an individual and to a team." I was disappointed in (Warner's) comments and the forum in which they were made."
Hislop is one of 16 players whose case against the T&TFF, as regards 2006 World Cup bonus and sponsorship money, will be heard in London on April 28, 29 and 30.
However, he reiterated that the legal suit before the Sports Dispute Resolution Committee was not an initiative of FPATT, who are merely "keen observers."
FPATT signaled their intention to be much more pro-active in the local game over the next three years, though.