Ex-national manager dies
Trinidad Express
Tuesday, August 12th 2008
Bmobile Joe Public and former Trinidad and Tobago national football team manager Richard Abraham passed away yesterday afternoon from a heart attack.
Abraham, who had heart and kidney problems for years and underwent dialysis for the latter ailment three times a week, succumbed to heart failure just after 2 pm yesterday following dialysis. The affable manager, who is believed to be in his late 50s, was popular within the club and with national players who played under him at youth and senior level during the mid-1990s.
Last month, Abraham handed the majority of his Public duties to Sam Phillip, a national team manager at the 2006 World Cup, due to his faltering health.
Phillip told the Express that Joe Public would request a minute's silence before their 5 pm kick off against United Petrotrin today at the Palo Seco Recreational Ground. He said the "Eastern Lions" would not attempt to put off the Pro League fixture once match referees, who stayed away on the weekend, agreed to officiate.
At present, Public are fifth in the 10-team Pro League standings and eight points behind leaders and defending champions, Clico San Juan Jabloteh. If today's match kicks off, it would mark the debut of Public's new Barbadian coach Keith Griffith.
"He would have wanted (the game to go on)," said Phillip. "We will try to do something special for him."
Public are expected to reveal information on funeral arrangements after discussions with Abraham's family yesterday evening.
