SOS for T&T World Cup stars.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express)[/color]
Two-time Colombia World Cup coach Francisco Maturana suffered the indignity of a mass interrogation from his Trinidad and Tobago Pro League counterparts as the T&T Football Federation (T&TFF) pressed the panic button on Wednesday afternoon.
The "Soca Warriors" scraped into the CONCACAF 2010 World Cup qualifying second round with a 3-2 aggregate win against Bermuda over two legs. Bermuda are ranked 52 places below Trinidad and Tobago at 139th in the world.
T&TFF special adviser and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has publicly pronounced his confidence in the squad, but it was a different story in the aftermath of Sunday's nervy win in Hamilton.
Warner chaired a discussion between the national technical staff and the local club coaches in the CONCACAF Centre of Excellence's Nelson Mandela Room at midday on Wednesday.
The Colombian remained in charge at the end of the meeting but his authority, according to a source, was significantly undermined.
On June 1, Maturana reluctantly bowed to Warner's demand to allow Sunderland midfielder and 2006 World Cup captain Dwight Yorke into his squad for the country's centennial match against England. The Colombian might as well leave the team's door open now.
He is likely to be pressured into selecting more than half-dozen players before the next qualifying round, including the World Cup quartet of midfielders Chris Birchall (Coventry) and Densill Theobald (Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA) and defenders Brent Sancho (unattached) and Cyd Gray (CLICO San Juan Jabloteh).
Ma Pau striker Cornell Glen and Miami FC left back Avery John, both also World Cup players, were also mentioned, along with Wrexham midfielder Silvio Spann and W. Connection utility player Clyde Leon.
Maturana's tactics and his perceived reliance on assistant coach Anton Corneal to identify national prospects also drew negative comments from the floor. Corneal allegedly stressed that he was not a decision maker within the technical staff and merely followed orders.
Maturana, a qualified dentist and one of South America's more respected coaches, pointed to his South American Copa Libertadores title and two World Cup appearances to defend his football knowledge and suggested that the cohesion within his squad was breached with the introduction of the country's foreign-based stars.
He singled out one of the more senior Warriors for creating a difficult atmosphere for the younger players to work in. For the most part, the Pro League coaches argued that the T&TFF still lacked a proper structure to identify and develop players at youth level.
It would not have been music to the ears of technical director Lincoln Phillips, who did not attend, although it may add credence to early criticisms from the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.
Warner was said to have acknowledged the need to improve the long-term structure of the organisation, but seemed more interested in saving the present campaign. It could mean a shock recall for Birchall and Sancho, who apparently suffered more than their teammates for their role in the World Cup players' legal action against the Federation.
Maturana supposedly pointed to the lack of playing time for both players in the 2007/08 English club season. However, a Pro League coach pointed out that teenage midfielder Khaleem Hyland was also not playing competitive domestic football.
It was suggested, too, that Sancho could return to the Pro League to ensure he is match fit for the next qualifying round. The T&TFF hope to schedule as many as five friendly matches before their opening semifinal round group match away to Cuba on August 20.
South American neighbours Venezuela are touted as possible opponents, along with Honduras, El Salvador and Suriname. Maturana should still be on the bench-unless the Colombian opts to fall on his own sword. But the squad that struggled to out-do Bermuda is likely to undergo major surgery over the coming three months.