Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: FireBrand on June 03, 2011, 09:42:37 AM
-
Touching base with Keith Look Loy.
By: Inshan Mohammed.
The Soca Warriors Online (SWO) would like to welcome our readers to an exclusive interview with Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) Technical Adviser Mr. Keith Look Loy.
Read his views on the past, future and current state of football in Trinidad and Tobago.
Below are the responses to 22 questions Keith Look Loy was asked:
1. Now you are the current President of FC Santa Rosa and in April 2010 it was stated in a Newsday edition that FC Santa Rosa is going global. It further states that "This is being done through popular football website (simplyfutbol.com) which conducts the promotion of Latin American football. Such a promotion will allow the club to not only highlight the positives of the club as well as that of local football, but will also create an avenue where players can earn trials and contracts with clubs in Latin America and eventually the wider football community internationally". My question to you is, did anything ever materialized from this? Furthermore, what are your future plans for the club as it was once mentioned that you would considered playing in the T&T Pro League.
KLL: FC Santa Rosa was founded on 19 September 1992 as Santa Rosa Soccer School. I created it on the suggestion of my wife in order to ensure my two young sons (10 and 5 at the time) had a proper environment within which to learn the game. We began with 21 Arima boys - sons of neighbours and friends mainly - and have continued to grow since that time. Over the course of the 19 years of our existence Santa Rosa Soccer School "morphed" into 1st FC Santa Rosa (2000) and further into FC Santa Rosa (2011).
We remain in philosophy and practice an Arima club for Arima people. We have seen many of our members enter and graduate from tertiary education both in Trinidad and Tobago and in the United States. Our members have won many InterCols over the years and we have also seen members graduate into the ranks of international and professional football. The captain of the current national Under 17 team, Duane Muckette, is a member of the club's Under 17 team.
He joined us at age six. The scorer of Trinidad and Tobago's equalizing goal against the host team at the 2009 FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Egypt, Jean Luc Rochford, joined us at age five, and represented the club through age group football before joining Joe Public FC. he is now back on our books and on loan to Caledonia AIA. We are seeking an international contract for him. In December 2010 we hosted a series of trial matches for Sporting Kansas City (SKC) of Major League Soccer. That MLS club retains an interest in signing two players seen at those trial matches but we have not been able to agree on an appropriate deal. Other professional clubs in the USA and Europe have expressed an interest in contracting young Muckette but the club and the family have agreed a career path for him that will require them to wait a few more years before anything materializes.
He is, after all, fifteen years old. The point of all of this is that the club is producing players of quality. We currently campaign in the TTFF Super League youth competition and have been champions at different levels during each of its three years of existence. We have applied for entry into the TT Pro League. We are awaiting the final disposition of our application by the league's board of directors.
2. For a football club to survive obliviously it has to be run like a business and sometimes they have to sell some of their best players to make ends meet. Daneil Cyrus comes to mind, he was a standout for Mason Hall and El Dorado Secondary in the SSFL and both the U-17 and U-20 respectively as well. In the later part of his U-20 career and early part of his senior team exploits he joined FC Santa Rosa. Now, I am assuming he was not connected to a professional club prior to Santa Rosa, despite reports saying he was a Stokley Vale player at a tender age. My question to you is; Cyrus was recently offered a contract with MLS club Sporting Kansas City and it was turned down for the mere fact that the club was not willing to pay a transfer fee for the player. If this is true do you think you acted in the player’s best interest and do you feel this could come back one day and haunt the player? Wasn't there a way to negotiate a deal more reasonable so all parties involved could benefit?
KLL: Daneil Cyrus is an international player, with two FIFA World Cups under his belt. He is also a member of the Trinidad and Tobago senior men's national team at the age of 22. There is no way any club, in any part of the world, in any league, would allow a richer club, from a stronger league, to have that player on a free transfer. Let me state very clearly that Cyrus was fully in agreement with the decision to decline the SKC contract offer as the personal terms offered him were also not satisfactory. Since that time, SKC have sought to return to the negotiating table and we hope to do the business within the immediate future. it all depends on SKC.
3. Apart from Jevaughn Vance, Isaiah Mejias, Theon James and Duane Muckette, who are some of the top players at Santa Rosa? Do you feel these players should be playing at a higher level if they are to be more marketable?
KLL: Mejias and James are not part of Santa Rosa. Our best hopes for the future are to be found in our younger age groups. Aaron Auguste (Super League Under 15 Golden Boot 2010), Xae-Pierre de Fou (Super League MVP 2010), John Paul Rochford, Romario Williams and Isaiah Lee (all Under 13), are examples of young players with real potential for international and professional football coming through the Santa Rosa ranks. In our men's team, which averages 21 years of age, we have Jasimar Ashers, Jean Paul Aqui and Ethan Robinson (who have all won titles with the club) and new signing Hayden de Verteuil. These are young players aged between 18 and 21 who are progressing well.
4. What titles do you currently hold at the TTFF? If I remember clearly you were sometimes referred to in the local press as the Technical Committee Chairman, Technical Advisor, Fifa Technical Committee member and most recently Technical Director. Do you feel one man could handle all these positions successfully and how did you obtain these titles? Was there some voting process?
KLL: I am the TTFF's technical adviser and chairman of the Technical Committee. I am also a member of FIFA's Football Committee. I multi-task well. Time management is never an issue for me. I have been involved in national football since I was 15, starting, naturally, as a player. I have been a coach for 25 years - at SSFL, club and international level. I have won titles with Malick Comprehensive, Joe Public FC, and of course, Santa Rosa. My professional qualifications include certification from the Brasilian Football Academy, the El Salvador Coaches Federation, the NSCAA (United States soccer coaches association), the English FA and UEFA. I have served on the Technical Study Group of CONCACAF and FIFA tournaments. I also serve as an instructor in FIFA courses. Between 2000 and 2005, as FIFA Development Officer, I was responsible for FIFA’s development programme in Central America and the Caribbean. I think I have a little experience in technical matters.
5. Now that Jack Warner seems to have distance himself from T&T football, it seems you are the man turning the wheels at the TTFF. What are your main short term and long term plans for T&T football from an overall perspective.
KLL: I don't know that Jack Warner has "distanced" himself from local football, nor am I "the man turning the wheels". I have responsibility for technical matters. In that regard, there are several priorities that we have been successfully addressing: A) Coach education - in 2011 we have instituted a programme of coaching courses, under the umbrella of the TTFF Academy and with the support of the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB). This includes the training of a panel of local instructors who implement the programme. We began with our C licence and will introduce the B licence in 2012; B) Player development - we have established a network of player development centres across the country (one in each regional association), which includes Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 players. These centres are properly staffed and equipped, and a standardized syllabus is applied by technical staff across the country. We have also made significant progress in the women's programme.
For the first time we have an ongoing Under 13 and Under 15 player development programme for girls, which supports the ongoing national teams' programme (Under 17, Under 20 and senior). C) Youth competitions - we have created a national youth league (TTFF Super League referred to above), which in 2011 has entered its third season of competition. This league supports clubs financially and provides some equipment as well. In 2011 we intend to introduce a national competition for the various age group champions of the six regional associations. This will provide an additional layer of national competition for young players, soecifically, those not invloved in the Super League. The idea is, therefore, immediately and over the medium to long term, to provide competitions for young players, where talent could be spotted; to select that talent into a structured player development programme that supports national teams; and to ensure that talent is provided coaches who are well educated and professional.
6. Otto Pfister is now the new head coach for T&T and is being paid top dollars while other parts of our football is suffering. Do you think that this money could have been better utilized? Now don't get me wrong, we need a top coach, however what’s the sense of having a top coach who doesn't have the tools to carry out his duties as he needs to; as money and sometimes politics prevent measures to be met in order to be successful.
KLL: If you want success you must invest. We are making investments for future returns, as described above, but we also live in the real world of international competition and World Cup qualification with its immediate demands. In this regard, Trinidad and Tobago has experienced the ultimate success of qualifying for a world tournament on four occasions - Portugal 1991 (Under 20), Germany 2006, South Korea 2007(Under 17), and Egypt 2009 (Under 20). Local and foreign coaches share the credit for these achievements equally - Bertille St. Clair, Leo Beenhakker, Anton Corneal and Zoran Vranes, respectively.
We understand this, and the role that long term investment has played in securing these qualifications, but in the immediate context we cannot have it both ways. We either want to ensure that we have a Brasil 2014 qualification project that has a real chance of success (and which begins in September 2011), requiring as it does a well-experienced foreign coach and the use of as many fully professional players as we could provide him - or we want to invest in a development project under the tutelage of a local head coach. Opting for the former, therefore, I was asked to provide the TTFF with a coach, which I have done. The decision was taken to contract Pfister’s services and his resume cannot be challenged. He is an Under 20 World Cup winner, he has been to the senior World Cup several times, he has coached some of the biggest names in world football, and experienced success on several continents. Now we have to give him the tools to work with and, yes, this is the challenge facing the TTFF.
7.In my view, former Technical Director Mr. Lincoln Phillips did a great job in his role as Technical Director, even with the limited resources he had to work with. He has tons of experience and good knowledge of the game as well and was paid by the government and not the TTFF. Why did the TTFF refused to renew his contract and what is your view on LP as Technical Director, in other words, were you happy with his performance?
KLL: I cannot comment on the contractual and financial relationship between Lincoln Phillips and the TTFF. My role is technical and I am not involved in contractual and financial matters. I will say this: I have known Lincoln since I was 18 years old. He offered me a scholarship to Howard University when I was captain of Trinidad and Tobago’s Under 19 national team and I readily accepted it. I completed two degrees at Howard University, which remains close to my heart, and I am the man I am today as a consequence of my accepting this scholarship. I owe Lincoln for that. I will also say, however, that my TTFF responsibilities have expanded over the last two years, or so, as a result of a tremendous void in the technical sphere.
8. What is the criteria for holding a coaching position in Trinidad & Tobago? We’ve seen that the hiring of Russell Latapy and his assistant Ross Russell was a complete failure, though it may not have been Russell’s fault all entirely. Now we see Anton Corneal, Jefferson George and Hutson Charles as Pfister's assistants. Shouldn't these men (including Latapy) start at Junior level and work their way up the ladder instead of throwing them into the hot seat; or maybe start out coaching a local club and then fit them into a senior team role according to their success? Having local coaches work alongside an experienced international coach is important, but choosing the local coaches is another story. Lincoln Phillips, Terry Fenwick and Everald Cummings may have been better choices. W Connection's Stuart Charles comes to mind as well.
KLL: TTFF national team coaches are selected on the basis of two objective criteria, 1) professional formation and certification, and 2) record of achievement. There is also a subjective criterion that is best articulated in the form of a question: Will this person be a cultural, and personality fit? Anton Corneal and Hutson Charles could hardly be described as inexperienced. Both hold coaching certificates from the English FA and KNVB. Anton holds a diploma from the German Sports School. Anton has qualified a national team for a world tournament (2007 Under 17). Hutson was his assistant.
They both also have been to the Under 20 world tournament (2009). Anton also went to Germany 2006 as an assistant to Beenhakker. With due respect, no other coach in Trinidad and Tobago can declare such a combination of assets and experience. All of that said. Jefferson George is the future of goalkeeper coaching in this country. He has international experience, has been trained by the KNVB and is bright and ambitious - two qualities that I look for in young people. I assure you I have absolutely no interest in seeking the assistance of foreign coaches ad infinitum. It was necessary to attach young coaches of potential to Pfister as an investment in the future – and this is what he wanted. Indeed, he has repeatedly assured me of his complete satisfaction with his staff. In conjunction with the appointment of young local coaches to our junior national teams, these senior team appointments will allow us to stand our own feet in the future.
9. Our youth teams have been doing relatively poor in the past 5 sets of qualifiers. Speaking of which, do you think that Zoran Vranes is past his best or does he needs more support?
KLL: I dispute that assessment. In the past five years we have played in three youth world tournaments: South Korea (2007), Egypt (2009), and Trinidad and Tobago (2010). Forgive me, but we usually talk as if it is accepted that Trinidad and Tobago is a world power. The bald truth is that we are not even a consistent CONCACAF power. In global terms, we have the population, player pool and resources, of a small city. We lack a developed football culture – even in comparison to Central America. No-one cares to make a meaningful investment in football – certainly not the private sector. But we expect success every time we take the field. That is guaranteed to no-one. Ask Jamaica, Honduras, and Canada – and lately even Costa Rica, and the USA, which failed to qualify for Colombia 2011 (Under 20). I won’t name others further afield.
Zoran Vranes was good enough two years ago (in 2009). His team lost to Italy 2:1 and drew with Paraguay 0:0. He didn’t suddenly move “past his best”. There was nothing in that team’s preparation that would have led anyone to believe they would crash and burn in Guatemala. Remember, they spent almost four weeks on tour in Colombia and Honduras prior to arriving at the tournament venue. They won several matches on this trip. But there is no guarantee for success and this time around it didn’t work. Frankly, the fact is that his players, most of them, never lived up to their billing. In the wake of the disaster, team captain, Sheldon Bateau, honestly stated that the team “never performed”. As is the way of football, however, Vranes has paid the price of failure and he has been replaced by Angus Eve.
10. One of the members on the SWO was quoted as saying: "T&T have had no games this year and the first looks like it’s going to be in August, so we're kind of 8 months behind in preparation for 2014. Let’s not worry at this point about blame. Let’s draw a line and move forward."
"The Pro League teams will soon begin preseason, so why not organize 4 or 5 matches against them? Pfister will have a double advantage as he can see the locals play the locals. Sometimes a guy will perform much better for his team than in the national set up for various reasons including familiarity with teammates and his club coach knowing his strengths and weaknesses intimately. At least this will aid team building and Pfister will get to see a lot of players." What are your thoughts regarding these comments.
KLL: It is always useful to play international matches. It was not possible to do so in early June as we could not find an opponent that met Pfister’s approval at such short notice. We are seeking an appropriate opponent for 10 August. Moreover, the coach has indicated that he is not in the business of playing “improvised” matches – against Barbados, pro league teams, etc – at a moment’s notice. He intends to turn out his very best team against the very best opponent available at any point in time. The screening of local players is well underway. Pfister has advised of his satisfaction with several of them, and he will continue looking at locals in their natural setting – in club training sessions. To those locals selected will be added the foreign based and the foreign-born.
11. For years now we continue to lose hundreds of decent players in the North American college system. We also continue to hear false promises like hosting training camps in the US and so on from the TTFF. While it might be expensive to bring players back to T&T, a camp in North America twice a year could be worthwhile. Can this become a reality so that tabs can be kept on our players who play in the US college system?
KLL: This is a much-discussed concept and we have done it with success in the women’s programme. It has to be applied on the men’s side, I agree. The issue, as ever, is funding. With adequate funding we could implement any number of good ideas but there are always priorities. That said, in recent years we have accommodated local trials for both male and female overseasbased and foreign-born players, and several have been included in national teams.
12. I propose that we have a 4 tier league structure in T&T and allow for a promotion and relegation system, ex. 1) T&T Pro League (Pro League), 2) National Super League (NSL), 3) T&T Elite Football League (EFL), 4) National Zonal League (NZL). There are too many small leagues that negatively affect the major leagues in T&T. It’s time to pool our resources and work together. Of course we may need the financial assistance of the T&T government to help promoted teams during their first year in the top flight. What are your thoughts on this?
KLL: Of course, there is already a relationship between the regional league and the TTFF Super League. The issue is to connect the TT Pro League to the rest of football and this is political. In early 2010, the TTFF hosted a seminar on Club Development and Administration, to which all regional associations, affiliated leagues and Super League clubs were invited to participate. This included the TT Pro League. The product of the four day activity was “The Port of Spain Declaration”, which included an analysis of the current football status quo and a call for certain measures to be adopted in order to move the game forward. One of the many critical measures identified is the creation of a four-tiered league, including “minor leagues” (division four), regional leagues (division three), Super League (division two) and TT Pro League (division one). The TT Pro League did not sign the document and has never delivered on its promise to “get back” to the TTFF on this matter.
13. In your opinion, what do you feel can be done to preserve and improve the SSFL in Trinidad and Tobago?
KLL: No serious football country gives the prominence to schools’ football that we do in Trinidad and Tobago. In a professional football environment schools football is a recreational, extra-curricular, activity and serious player development takes place within the clubs. To the contrary, in Trinidad and Tobago youth club competition ceases in July to allow the schools to play their three-month season which, including their pre-season, accounts for four months for the players in programmes of varying quality. Then comes the off-season and Carnival! I can just imagine Pep Guardiola saying to the young talent at La Masia (FC Barcelona’s training academy) in August – “Go ahead and play with your school. We will see you in March next year” (smile and possibly wave)… The Mexican team that just beat the stuffing out of our Under 20s in Guatemala (5:0) comprised first division professionals. We sent how many schoolboys? As long as we give pride of place to the SSFL – it is the country’s biggest and most popular league – and continue to avoid the hard political decision to promote club youth football ahead of schools’ football, we will continue to undermine the country’s ability to produce top level youth teams.
14. The majority of our current under 23 team has had two World Cups under their belts (U-17 in Korea & U-20 in Egypt), so we as fans are expecting nothing but continued success in the future. How are we preparing them for the upcoming Olympic and PanAmerican games ? Running around the Savannah is good exercise, but can this alone really help?
KLL: I don’t know to what you refer. This team was training twice weekly for months. With qualification for London 2012 to begin in July the frequency has been increased. The staff has long been requested, and has delivered, an international programme. The TTFF will attempt to satisfy the team’s requirements. Of course, Angus Eve is now the team’s head coach. He is supported by Clint Marcelle and Derek King – (investments in the future of local coaching). I recently saw them play and they look good.
15. We are 2 years behind any CONCACAF top footballing country in preparations for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Even smaller teams such as Guatemala, Haiti, El Salvador, Jamaica and the improving Panama are miles ahead of us. To my understanding, the "Road to Rio" starts in November of this year. Do you feel we are on course for Brazil and what do you think is needed to get us there?
KLL: I don’t know that we are “2 years behind”. Preparation is not measured only in months, and time (and effort) spent are no guarantee of success. Beenhakker inherited a disorganized and demoralized team and turned it around in a matter of weeks. Yes, he had access to a generation of players based in the English leagues. Pfister also has some of that, and we are seeking foreignborn players to supplement their talents. We could hardly argue with this approach. It has given us Chris Birchall.
16. As far as foreign imports go, why do we always look for a quick fix when we should try and spend the time, money and energy improving the local players. Don't get me wrong, we do have some very good foreign born players, but there is also some uncommitted ones like Bobby Zamora, Justin and Gavin Hoyte to name a few. If you remember clearly back in 2001 in a World Cup qualifier after T&T got drummed by Costa Rica in Costa Rica (3-0), Ian Cox suddenly disappeared. My question is, what sort of commitment we can expect from some of the foreign born players Mr Otto Pfister went searching for? I know having a deep pool of players is very important, but should we have a Plan B, or are we just going to sit and hope some of these players come and save the day for T&T?
KLL: That initiative is well underway. We have spoken to several such players, including the brothers Hoytes, Jlloyd Samuel, Tony Warner, Jake Thomson, Andre Boucaud, and other “possibles” to participate in June training, with an eye towards 10 August. Zamora, as ever, wishes to play for England, and I respect that.
17. Do you feel the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Mr. Anil Roberts is doing a good job for sports in T&T? It seems to the public that he is more involved in promoting concerts and parties.
KLL: I have no comment. I will not comment on political issues.
18. What are your proudest and worst moments in football?
KLL: To be fair, it’s a tie: 1) Leading the national Under 19 team (as it was called then) for the first time at the Queen’s Park Oval in August 1971, and 2) winning the NCAA Division One title with Howard University in 1974, under Lincoln Phillips. That was a great team, filled with West Indians and Africans. As the only Black University playing at that level, we believed we shouldered a tremendous responsibility to non-white people in what was a very hostile environment. We acquitted ourselves with pride. My worst moment was losing to Jamaica 0:1 at home in the Caribbean Championship of 1971. As captain, I felt as if I had betrayed my country and people. (We did go on to win the title, however).
19. Who are your favorite players (both internationally and locally)?
KLL: There are many local players I really admired, Leroy DeLeon (I am old enough to have seen him play, and even to have played a little with him in the USA), Dwight Yorke, Arnold Dwarika (of course, I coached him at Malick in 1990/1991 and he was so often unplayable, but he never really materialized his talent), being among them. My favourite, though, was Russell Latapy, the most creative and refined player we have ever produced. Actually, I once penned an article about him in a weekly column I used to write in the Sunday Mirror. Frankly, I have no particularly favourite foreign player. It all depends on the era.
20. I noticed that you've played for St. Mary's College in 1968 and played alongside some recognizable names as Russell Tesheira, Ian Bain and Hannibal Najjar to name a few. How was the experience playing ball with some top T&T players? Which T&T teams (youth or senior) have you played for and who do you feel could have made the national team in that era but didn't?
KLL: You don’t name Dr. Alvin Henderson, a natural goal scorer who represented Trinidad and Tobago while still a schoolboy – and scored. I also played with him at Howard University in 1972. He is today a member of the TTFF Technical Committee. Trevor Leiba, Luciano Woodley, Keston Nancoo, Anthony Jobes, others, come to mind. I did represent CIC at all levels and at InterCol level between 1968 and 1971. I was captain in 1970 and 1971. Those teams were laden with talent and I won trophies with the teams of ’70 and ’71. The player who should have become an international but never did, for one reason or another, was Neil Williams – a midfielder in the Latapy mould (even if he preceded the “Little Magician”). We played together at Howard University between 1973 and 1975.
21. After the 2006 World Cup, T&T should have been building on such success, but politics took its place and T&T declined to probably its worst in history. My question is, why can't the TTFF operate in a more professional and organized manner? Why can't the TTFF get its act together and eliminate the politics to prevent things like this from happening in the future.
KLL: That question is better posed to other persons. I am responsible for technical matters and I am convinced we are making progress. That said, I agree there is much to be done to improve the operations of the Federation.
22. Do you support a players’ union?
KLL: A workers’ representative body is essential in any area of economic life. I was the education officer of the teachers’ union (TTUTA) for four years during the 1980s. I understand the value of such an organization, which would go far beyond bread and butter issues- i.e. money. It must address professional development issues. A players’ organization must prove itself capable of making a serious contribution to the lives of its members and to the game to be taken seriously, however. Frankly, that is still to be seen with the local players’ body, which, to my knowledge, hardly exists.
Soca Warriors Online and the Warrior Nation would like to extend our gratitude to Keith Look Loy for taking the time to do this interview and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
Copyrights of the Soca Warriors Online - Any press using the following article written by Inshan Mohammed are welcome to do so providing they reveal the source and writer. Furthermore, no portion of this article may be copied without proper credit as well.
-
Even in the times when you have family emergencies you still get the time to do these great interviews Flex, job well done.
Keith Look Loy answered them very well for most parts.
Anton Corneal part I did not like to much, Anton is only the most qualified local coach because he had the backing from the TTFF from the start, he had a God father there, even under failure, some other local coach would have been sacked a long time ago.
Anton qualified a team with one win. Same for Vranes, except Vranes had a better showing in the actual WC.
How can Keith say that Anton is a good coach when he had all the favors in his court.
Since the under 20 WC in Egypt T&T have been embarrass, forget that the fact that we didn't qualify, the team played very poorly and were poorly coached, from the under 17 to under 20.
Come on Keith, it explains why Zoran was removed as under 23 coach, but yet Anton who have a worst record is there there and being promoted again as asistant head coach, what did Anton learn from Beenhakker ?
Having a coaching license does not make you a good coach, its just a piece of paper.
Look anyone could get a driver's licence these day, but does that mean they are good drivers ?
Keith, you seems smarter than that.
-
Even in the times when you have family emergencies you still get the time to do these great interviews Flex, job well done.
Keith Look Loy answered them very well for most parts.
Anton Corneal part I did not like to much, Anton is only the most qualified local coach because he had the backing from the TTFF from the start, he had a God father there, even under failure, some other local coach would have been sacked a long time ago.
Anton qualified a team with one win. Same for Vranes, except Vranes had a better showing in the actual WC.
How can Keith say that Anton is a good coach when he had all the favors in his court.
Since the under 20 WC in Egypt T&T have been embarrass, forget that the fact that we didn't qualify, the team played very poorly and were poorly coached, from the under 17 to under 20.
Come on Keith, it explains why Zoran was removed as under 23 coach, but yet Anton who have a worst record is there there and being promoted again as asistant head coach, when did Anton learn from Beenhakker ?
Having a coaching license does not make you a good coach, its just a piece of paper.
Look anyone could get a driver's licence these day, but does that mean they are good drivers ?
Keith, you seems smarter than that.
:beermug:
-
great interview flex :beermug:
-
Thanks Flex.
As rightly stated it seems that Look Loy is being groomed. More of the same it seems. All the answers show that the TTFF is on the right track and there's nothing MUCH to change. :-\
-
Thanks Flex.
As rightly stated it seems that Look Loy is being groomed. More of the same it seems. All the answers show that the TTFF is on the right track and there's nothing MUCH to change. :-\
did you read the section about the pro league and how backward they are?
they are refusing to have a tiered league in TT, ttff and jw have no control over the pro league, so you cannot lay the blame squarely at the feet of the ttff
the pro league has to shoulder alot of the blame as well.
-
Thanks Flex.
As rightly stated it seems that Look Loy is being groomed. More of the same it seems. All the answers show that the TTFF is on the right track and there's nothing MUCH to change. :-\
did you read the section about the pro league and how backward they are?
they are refusing to have a tiered league in TT, ttff and jw have no control over the pro league, so you cannot lay the blame squarely at the feet of the ttff
the pro league has to shoulder alot of the blame as well.
Compare and contrast the TTFF initiatives (both finacial and player development) with those of the PL and the various clubs.
-
Thanks Flex.
As rightly stated it seems that Look Loy is being groomed. More of the same it seems. All the answers show that the TTFF is on the right track and there's nothing MUCH to change. :-\
did you read the section about the pro league and how backward they are?
they are refusing to have a tiered league in TT, ttff and jw have no control over the pro league, so you cannot lay the blame squarely at the feet of the ttff
the pro league has to shoulder alot of the blame as well.
once they sign that document... they in bed with the ttff and all their jokey schemes... i woulda stay out of it too
-
Nice interview....
-
Nice work Flex.
Look Loy answer them questions very well, and as Sando pointed out, de only things that getting me vex is de part with Anton Corneal.
And de part when he say we not 2 years behind de other CONCACAF countries, hello, Grenada just kick we out of de Gold Cup for de second time, and all de other CONCACAF countries already preparing for de 2014 qualifers a long time ago, we still running on de beach hoping for a game in August, which I am almost sure will never come off.
Otto wants a top team to play, he should pick Grenada.
Keith should know training alone does not help, we need to play games, ask Latapy.... match fitness is a hell of a thing, we under 23 team need to play against some top international team as well and not Caledonia every week....
4 months left before our first WCQ and we eh even have a team playing together, lets hope we get Bermuda to play again....
Look Loy say de foreign players will come to T&T in June to train, will I waiting to see this.
I eh wishing anyone bad eh, but knowing de TTFF rep, they never dissappoint when it comes to planning and organizing.
And I dont believe Look Loy is telling the truth, he in de press every week about T&T football, he more involved in T&T football, and seems to be de man running things now, nothing wrong with that, just do a good job, thats all we asked.
LP said he was the one who implement all these Dutch coaching programs and training, glad to see he left him mark.
De man say he could multi task, but he still eh answer how he got all them positions ? how anyone does get a position in the TTFF, tomorrow somebody new go come on board with a new position. Maybe Look Loy could teach Cheryl Abrams to multi task too, she is ah nice gal, but she can't handle de wok, then again, is who yuh know when it comes to the TTFF, a family business, Abrams, King, Corneal and Gorden could do no wrong.
If de league and de federation cant see eye to eye how will we have anything successful ?
Isn't Derek King like de fattest coach in the world ?
Anyhow, good interview, I just hope Look Loy and de TTFF could get they acts together, beucase right now we FLAT down in a hole.
PS: Flex, yuh should apply for a job in the TTFF, I think you would be of some assistance, but then again, yuh dont have a God father woking they so you might be out faster than a speeding pittbull...
-
Deeks, Dtool... help me out dey with Neil Williams....
-
Big up Flex.
Keith, you kept your answers very close to your chess.
The answers I find [not al] was were very diplomatic. A copy book reply.
We want to see action !!!!!!!
-
Deeks, Dtool... help me out dey with Neil Williams....
Doc,
Niel Williams was indeed a very good player. One year in intercol at Fatima grounds, he singlehandly destroyed Belmont with Wayne Lewis, Ron and Lennox Laforest. That game, to me he was Johan Cruyff before I ever seen Cruyf played. Maybe Flex or Tall man can repost the Saints 2nd XI picture to see what he looked like. He almost made the youth with LL. But he had to go against Mtichell, Spann, Wayne Smith and a lot of other talented players. But I did not think Niel wanted IT that bad.He went with Maple after Saints, but the drive that he had in Saints was not there, to me at least. In DC he played with a number clubs and I would see flashes of brilliance. But he is one that I thought, got away and did not live up to expectation.
-
Insider, libel laws extend to spreading false information on message boards. Lincoln Phillips was never suspended by the NCAA, whether temporarily or as you say for a lifetime. In fact, he went on to coach Virginia Commonwealth University in 90s and one his players was none other than the current Minister of Sport. LP should be the last person included among anyone you think has hid behind Jack Warner.
-
Flex, I don't know if you can read through the lines with these people. You have to sometimes be the Devil's Advocate...
It depends on the forum... you don't know how the "interview" was conducted. Much else of what you said is either false or inconsequential (for instance, who cares why Look Loy was banned from Malick?).
-
I can only put my 2 cents on two of these questions.
Okay, lets talk about Howard University soccer and why Lincoln Phillips was banned by the NCAA for life.
As far as I know LP never got any life time suspension by the NCAA. Howard got suspended on 2 occasions when LP was coaching. The first have to do with Keith Acqui being ineligeble. The way it was explained to me is that NCAA had dispute his credits on admission. Keith had attended teachers training college in TT and they did not know how to equate the courses from teachers training college with university courses in the US. I think they agreed that teachers training college was equivqlent to junior college in the US. I stand to be corrected. Trevor can help us on that one.
The second occasion was in my first year at Howard. HU was suspened because LP used a transfer student who should have sat out a year. LP argument was that the school the transfer student went to, did not have a soccer program. They just started one the year the student transferred to HU. By the way Keith Acquire graduated from HU law school. The tranfer student who played on the 76 Nigerian Olimpic team(they boycotted Montreal) graduated from HU with master degree in Econ.
After the suspension LP coach Hu again. They went to the play-offs and lost to William and Mary.
[2] Alvin Henderson? Why only St. Marys College, is that your level.
If I remembered correctly, Alvin left school in 1970 and played for QPCC. He was on the TT team when England amateurs toured the Caribbean. He and Ian Bain was selected. Roger Mathews, George Romano, Errol Sebro, Gordon Husbands??? were also on that team. Then I hear the news he was going away to study. 2 yrs later, he was on the HU that toured TT. He was in med school and was playing for Baltimore in the NASL. When he graduated he decided not to play ball and concentrated on medicine. That is it. But he was deadly in front the goal. One of the best strikers to come out of the old CFL.
-
Touching base with Keith Look Loy.
By: Inshan Mohammed.
16. As far as foreign imports go, why do we always look for a quick fix when we should try and spend the time, money and energy improving the local players. Don't get me wrong, we do have some very good foreign born players, but there is also some uncommitted ones like Bobby Zamora, Justin and Gavin Hoyte to name a few. If you remember clearly back in 2001 in a World Cup qualifier after T&T got drummed by Costa Rica in Costa Rica (3-0), Ian Cox suddenly disappeared. My question is, what sort of commitment we can expect from some of the foreign born players Mr Otto Pfister went searching for? I know having a deep pool of players is very important, but should we have a Plan B, or are we just going to sit and hope some of these players come and save the day for T&T?
KLL: That initiative is well underway. We have spoken to several such players, including the brothers Hoytes, Jlloyd Samuel, Tony Warner, Jake Thomson, Andre Boucaud, and other “possibles” to participate in June training, with an eye towards 10 August. Zamora, as ever, wishes to play for England, and I respect that.
who are these possible why the secrets man
-
Sorry guys.... that was some mis info passed on...
Is this true though ?
I know that the NCAA took away Howards second championship title because of Keith Aqui who was a national player and teacher in Trinidad before Lincoln drafted him into Howard University on scholarship. Howard then fired Lincoln as coach. This situation made the NCAA change up all recuitment policies. Lincoln then took Howard to court and won an out of court settlement. Then some years after took over as coach at Virginia Commonwealth.
-
Does anyone know Keith look Loy on a personal level ?
He seems to be like a genuine fella ?
But working for Jack Warner doesn't do much for your reputation ! You automatically gets a bad name even if you are a good person.
And Sando, that was a good post you made there RE: (Anton Conreal), maybe Look Loy likes Corneal because they are both in the same situation where the boss loves them dont matter what, Look Loy was under Jack umbrella since his Joe Public days.
Btw, nice interview Flex and Look Loy made some, I repeat, some sensable replies but some were diplomatic and would come to past if all what he says here come to pass.
Curious to know where Daneil Cyrus would end up and this Duane Muckette player, he is really that good ?
I would also love to see FC Santa Rosa in the pro league.
As a coach I would like to see Look Loy titles in the big leagues ? did he ever win a title while coaching Joe Public ? and why did they let him go ? he said he could multi task very well ?
Corneal had one success as a coach !!!!... one !!!!!!! and he had over 25 games to prepare that under 17 team who got embarrass in Korea, not to mention that team was together since under 15 level. He also won one game to qualify, so I am not sure if that one percent should even hold that much credit.
After Korea he failed big time.
See Flex article.
http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?topic=53516.msg736917#msg736917
-
Wrong again Insider. Howard under Lincoln won NCAA championships in '71 and '74. The NCAA vacated the '71 championship. However, Howard successfully sued the NCAA and forced the NCAA to change their rules regarding foreign students because the courts said such rules violated the 14th amendment equal protection rights of foreign students. However, the courts did not force the NCAA to reinstate the '71 championship for a variety of legal reasons I won't bore you with here. Howard could not participate in post season play in '73. In '74 under the banner of William Cullen Bryant's poem, 'Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again", Howard came back to win the '74 championship with a perfect 19-0-0 record; a record that stood for about 20 years. Howard didn't renew Lincoln's contract in 1980 because he threatened to not return unless the program received more support. He was out of the college until the late 80's when he coached VCU.
You should really do some research before casually spreading mis-information. There is actually quite a bit of information on the Howard team.
-
Wrong again Insider. Howard under Lincoln won NCAA championships in '71 and '74. The NCAA vacated the '71 championship. However, Howard successfully sued the NCAA and forced the NCAA to change their rules regarding foreign students because the courts said such rules violated the 14th amendment equal protection rights of foreign students. However, the courts did not force the NCAA to reinstate the '71 championship for a variety of legal reasons I won't bore you with here. Howard could not participate in post season play in '73. In '74 under the banner of William Cullen Bryant's poem, 'Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again", Howard came back to win the '74 championship with a perfect 19-0-0 record; a record that stood for about 20 years. Howard didn't renew Lincoln's contract in 1980 because he threatened to not return unless the program received more support. He was out of the college until the late 80's when he coached VCU.
You should really do some research before casually spreading mis-information. There is actually quite a bit of information on the Howard team.
Maybe because Howard did not prevail on the other two counts upon which it appealed? If yuh going to tell the story then tell the whole story, not a third of it. Howard was not "successful" in their appeal... the court agreed with them on one claim but that was insufficient to overcome the sound basis upon which the penalties were assessed. Couching Howard's situation 'under the banner of' "truth" implies that Howard was somehow wronged when it wasn't.
-
Howard had to prove that the NCAA penalty was tied to an arbitrary and capricious rule. Howard couldn't meet the burden of that high standard of review. In this case Keith Aqui was said to have violated the NCAA five year rule. The reason for the five year rule was to avoid institutions from recruiting athletes that had little to no chance of graduating. With Aqui being a very good student, going on to graduate from law school, it is understandable that the school felt they were wronged.
-
From Keith Look Loy.
I would like to contribute to the discussion regarding the suspension of Howard University from the NCAA in 1973.
The SWO members here are not focusing on the main issue. The case of the NCAA versus Howard University, whatever its legal merits or demerits, was never an issue of law or regulations.
It revolved around the desire of racist elements within the NCAA and the US soccer establishment, which was "lily white", to undermine Howard's rising star and to eliminate the all-black university with a foreign student team, as a meaningful soccer power.
In 1971 Howard University- the ONLY all-black university playing at that level of the game in the United States, NCAA Division One - won the title by defeating St. Louis University, which was the dominant power in US collegiate soccer, in the final.
This was unparalleled in US sporting history and all of black American society celebrated. In December 1972, my first year at Howard, we marched straight to the semi-final round, where we met St. Louis at the Orange Bowl in Miami. By that time the NCAA had suspended two Howard players, including Keith Aqui, from representing the university.
To be safe, Lincoln Phillips decided that three other starting players, including yours truly, would not participate in the match so as not to jeopardize a possible victory. In the event we lost and St. Louis went on the win the final.
In 1973 Howard was suspended from NCAA competition for one year. The 1971 title was stripped from the university and expunged from the official record. All of this was part of the grand design to eliminate Howard as a soccer power.
All of 1973 was spent building towards 1974, which we knew would be a key year if the university were to return to the top of the US collegiate game. In 1974, we played for 20 matches undefeated, which remained a NCAA record for decades, and defeated the arch-enemy St. Louis University at Busch Stadium in St. Louis to win the title yet again.
In 1975, Howard went to the semi-final but lost to St. Louis University, Edwardsville. That marked the end of Howard University's "Golden Years" - 1971 to 1975. The University never repeated its successes thereafter.
I am proud to have been a part of those golden years, playing as a starter between 1972 and 1975, winning one NCAA title (1974) and collecting two semi-finalist trophies in the process (1972 and 1975).
-
The symbolism of race was certainly the underlying factor at that time. Remember, this is 1971 when HU won. Only a couple of years before, the Supreme Court ruled that laws against interracial marriages were unconstitutional. It was a volatile moment in race relations and many conflicts were played out in the courts. However, as much as Keith is correct about the racial implications surrounding the NCAA actions, the Howard case was as much a legal fight as it was a symbol of social conflict.
-
Good to see Look Loy actively monitoring SWO. :beermug:
-
From Keith Look Loy.
I would like to contribute to the discussion regarding the suspension of Howard University from the NCAA in 1973.
The SWO members here are not focusing on the main issue. The case of the NCAA versus Howard University, whatever its legal merits or demerits, was never an issue of law or regulations.
It revolved around the desire of racist elements within the NCAA and the US soccer establishment, which was "lily white", to undermine Howard's rising star and to eliminate the all-black university with a foreign student team, as a meaningful soccer power.
In 1971 Howard University- the ONLY all-black university playing at that level of the game in the United States, NCAA Division One - won the title by defeating St. Louis University, which was the dominant power in US collegiate soccer, in the final.
This was unparalleled in US sporting history and all of black American society celebrated. In December 1972, my first year at Howard, we marched straight to the semi-final round, where we met St. Louis at the Orange Bowl in Miami. By that time the NCAA had suspended two Howard players, including Keith Aqui, from representing the university.
To be safe, Lincoln Phillips decided that three other starting players, including yours truly, would not participate in the match so as not to jeopardize a possible victory. In the event we lost and St. Louis went on the win the final.
In 1973 Howard was suspended from NCAA competition for one year. The 1971 title was stripped from the university and expunged from the official record. All of this was part of the grand design to eliminate Howard as a soccer power.
All of 1973 was spent building towards 1974, which we knew would be a key year if the university were to return to the top of the US collegiate game. In 1974, we played for 20 matches undefeated, which remained a NCAA record for decades, and defeated the arch-enemy St. Louis University at Busch Stadium in St. Louis to win the title yet again.
In 1975, Howard went to the semi-final but lost to St. Louis University, Edwardsville. That marked the end of Howard University's "Golden Years" - 1971 to 1975. The University never repeated its successes thereafter.
I am proud to have been a part of those golden years, playing as a starter between 1972 and 1975, winning one NCAA title (1974) and collecting two semi-finalist trophies in the process (1972 and 1975).
So all this is because they were black and had internationals?
-
My worst moment was losing to Jamaica 0:1 at home in the Caribbean Championship of 1971. As captain, I felt as if I had betrayed my country and people. (We did go on to win the title, however).
ah like lOOK lOY
-
Howard had to prove that the NCAA penalty was tied to an arbitrary and capricious rule. Howard couldn't meet the burden of that high standard of review. In this case Keith Aqui was said to have violated the NCAA five year rule. The reason for the five year rule was to avoid institutions from recruiting athletes that had little to no chance of graduating. With Aqui being a very good student, going on to graduate from law school, it is understandable that the school felt they were wronged.
I believe that you are confusing matters. Howard didn't win anything on appeal... that's for starters. Howard sued on the basis of four things:
1. The "foreign student rule" was unconstitutional
2. The "five year Rule" was unconstitutional
3. The "1.6" rule was unconstitutional
4. The NCAA penalties violated the Due Process of HU and its student athletes.
The reason for the five year rule was not "to avoid institutions from recruiting athletes that had little to no chance of graduating", that is the reason for the 1.6 rule which required scholarship athletes to maintain at least a 1.6 GPA. Students who failed to do so obviously had academic challenges which might prevent them from graduating and so the NCAA didn't want schools abusing that situation, just recruiting athletes for athletic purposes only.
The five year rule on the other hand was meant to help ensure a level playing field by preventing older athletes from competing against younger athletes. So one had to finish up their eligibility within five years of enrolling in college. In Aqui's case he enrolled in Mausica for a number of years before entering Howard as a 25-year old freshman. Mausica counted as a "college" and so his enrollment at Howard came after his eligibility had already expired. In short, he was no longer eligible. The harsh irony is that had he worked after secondary school instead of going to Mausica he wouldn't have had any problem.
At any rate, Howard prevailed on the first claim at the District Court level, the NCAA didn't bother appealing it. The Court agreed that the foreign student rule was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Howard appealed on the remaining three issues and lost.
-
From Keith Look Loy.
I would like to contribute to the discussion regarding the suspension of Howard University from the NCAA in 1973.
The SWO members here are not focusing on the main issue. The case of the NCAA versus Howard University, whatever its legal merits or demerits, was never an issue of law or regulations.
It revolved around the desire of racist elements within the NCAA and the US soccer establishment, which was "lily white", to undermine Howard's rising star and to eliminate the all-black university with a foreign student team, as a meaningful soccer power.
In 1971 Howard University- the ONLY all-black university playing at that level of the game in the United States, NCAA Division One - won the title by defeating St. Louis University, which was the dominant power in US collegiate soccer, in the final.
This was unparalleled in US sporting history and all of black American society celebrated. In December 1972, my first year at Howard, we marched straight to the semi-final round, where we met St. Louis at the Orange Bowl in Miami. By that time the NCAA had suspended two Howard players, including Keith Aqui, from representing the university.
To be safe, Lincoln Phillips decided that three other starting players, including yours truly, would not participate in the match so as not to jeopardize a possible victory. In the event we lost and St. Louis went on the win the final.
In 1973 Howard was suspended from NCAA competition for one year. The 1971 title was stripped from the university and expunged from the official record. All of this was part of the grand design to eliminate Howard as a soccer power.
All of 1973 was spent building towards 1974, which we knew would be a key year if the university were to return to the top of the US collegiate game. In 1974, we played for 20 matches undefeated, which remained a NCAA record for decades, and defeated the arch-enemy St. Louis University at Busch Stadium in St. Louis to win the title yet again.
In 1975, Howard went to the semi-final but lost to St. Louis University, Edwardsville. That marked the end of Howard University's "Golden Years" - 1971 to 1975. The University never repeated its successes thereafter.
I am proud to have been a part of those golden years, playing as a starter between 1972 and 1975, winning one NCAA title (1974) and collecting two semi-finalist trophies in the process (1972 and 1975).
Keith... glad to have you contributing to the forum, this is a welcomed development. No doubt your official duties will keep you from contributing more, but feel free to weigh in via Flex if that works best for you :beermug:
Now, that said...
It very well could be possible that the NCAA's targeting of Howard was motivated by racial animus, but that doesn't address the legitimate fact that the University was in violation of NCAA rules. Now correct me if I'm wrong since I wasn't around then, I just know of the case.... but Aqui entered Mausica in 1965, leaving in 1967. Under NCAA rules his eligibility as a student-athlete then would have expired 4 1/2 years from his matriculation at Mausica. Assuming he entered in September 1965, his eligibility would have expired in March of 1970. He didn't enroll in Howard until August 1970, no? In other words from the time he enrolled he was already ineligible to participate.
I imagine that Howard also used at least one student who was academically ineligible to participate, by failing to maintain at least a 1.6 GPA (or else the NCAA wouldn't have charged the school with that violation, and the courts, both on the District (trial) and appellate levels would not have agreed. There must have been a factual basis for the charges.
As to the foreign student rule, one could argue (I suppose) that the rule was racially motivated (although xenophobia might be a more accurate charge than racism), but on its face the rule is race-neutral as it applies to foreign students no matter their race. As for the penalty of stripping HU of its national title and expunging the records from the history books... that happens all the time. I don't know how often it happened back then, but USC just had that happen to them last year after the NCAA ruled it won the national title (football) with an ineligible player, Reggie Bush. Similarly, Memphis (even though it didn't win a title) had its 2008 records expunged from the history books for using an ineligible player that year... Derrick Rose, who now plays for the Chicago Bulls. That sort of penalty is pretty commonplace. I therefore have to disagree with the sentiment that this was "All of this was part of the grand design to eliminate Howard as a soccer power." Howard had no one to blame for that situation but its own self, the athletic department should have done a better job in making sure only eligible players were used. Again, we could speculate as to the racial part... and I don't know so I can't argue with you on that, but from a legal standpoint there was absolute merit to the charges.
All that said, I appreciate what you and posters like Tempo bring to the discussion, and all this shouldn't detract from the interview that you and Flex did, I welcome greater interaction and cooperation between the TTFF and the only official voice/representative of Soca Warrior fans worldwide. Looking forward to more :beermug:
-
Bakes, you are correct. The foreign player rule was decided at district court level and I left out the matter regarding 1.6 rule. :beermug:
-
From Keith Look Loy.
I would like to contribute to the discussion regarding the suspension of Howard University from the NCAA in 1973.
The SWO members here are not focusing on the main issue. The case of the NCAA versus Howard University, whatever its legal merits or demerits, was never an issue of law or regulations.
It revolved around the desire of racist elements within the NCAA and the US soccer establishment, which was "lily white", to undermine Howard's rising star and to eliminate the all-black university with a foreign student team, as a meaningful soccer power.
In 1971 Howard University- the ONLY all-black university playing at that level of the game in the United States, NCAA Division One - won the title by defeating St. Louis University, which was the dominant power in US collegiate soccer, in the final.
This was unparalleled in US sporting history and all of black American society celebrated. In December 1972, my first year at Howard, we marched straight to the semi-final round, where we met St. Louis at the Orange Bowl in Miami. By that time the NCAA had suspended two Howard players, including Keith Aqui, from representing the university.
To be safe, Lincoln Phillips decided that three other starting players, including yours truly, would not participate in the match so as not to jeopardize a possible victory. In the event we lost and St. Louis went on the win the final.
In 1973 Howard was suspended from NCAA competition for one year. The 1971 title was stripped from the university and expunged from the official record. All of this was part of the grand design to eliminate Howard as a soccer power.
All of 1973 was spent building towards 1974, which we knew would be a key year if the university were to return to the top of the US collegiate game. In 1974, we played for 20 matches undefeated, which remained a NCAA record for decades, and defeated the arch-enemy St. Louis University at Busch Stadium in St. Louis to win the title yet again.
In 1975, Howard went to the semi-final but lost to St. Louis University, Edwardsville. That marked the end of Howard University's "Golden Years" - 1971 to 1975. The University never repeated its successes thereafter.
I am proud to have been a part of those golden years, playing as a starter between 1972 and 1975, winning one NCAA title (1974) and collecting two semi-finalist trophies in the process (1972 and 1975).
Keith... glad to have you contributing to the forum, this is a welcomed development. No doubt your official duties will keep you from contributing more, but feel free to weigh in via Flex if that works best for you :beermug:
Now, that said...
It very well could be possible that the NCAA's targeting of Howard was motivated by racial animus, but that doesn't address the legitimate fact that the University was in violation of NCAA rules. Now correct me if I'm wrong since I wasn't around then, I just know of the case.... but Aqui entered Mausica in 1965, leaving in 1967. Under NCAA rules his eligibility as a student-athlete then would have expired 4 1/2 years from his matriculation at Mausica. Assuming he entered in September 1965, his eligibility would have expired in March of 1970. He didn't enroll in Howard until August 1970, no? In other words from the time he enrolled he was already ineligible to participate.
I imagine that Howard also used at least one student who was academically ineligible to participate, by failing to maintain at least a 1.6 GPA (or else the NCAA wouldn't have charged the school with that violation, and the courts, both on the District (trial) and appellate levels would not have agreed. There must have been a factual basis for the charges.
As to the foreign student rule, one could argue (I suppose) that the rule was racially motivated (although xenophobia might be a more accurate charge than racism), but on its face the rule is race-neutral as it applies to foreign students no matter their race. As for the penalty of stripping HU of its national title and expunging the records from the history books... that happens all the time. I don't know how often it happened back then, but USC just had that happen to them last year after the NCAA ruled it won the national title (football) with an ineligible player, Reggie Bush. Similarly, Memphis (even though it didn't win a title) had its 2008 records expunged from the history books for using an ineligible player that year... Derrick Rose, who now plays for the Chicago Bulls. That sort of penalty is pretty commonplace. I therefore have to disagree with the sentiment that this was "All of this was part of the grand design to eliminate Howard as a soccer power." Howard had no one to blame for that situation but its own self, the athletic department should have done a better job in making sure only eligible players were used. Again, we could speculate as to the racial part... and I don't know so I can't argue with you on that, but from a legal standpoint there was absolute merit to the charges.
All that said, I appreciate what you and posters like Tempo bring to the discussion, and all this should detract from the interview that you and Flex did, I welcome greater interaction and cooperation between the TTFF and the only official voice/representative of Soca Warrior fans worldwide. Looking forward to more :beermug:
Bakes I agree, with your take on the racial part. I tried to argue that today with some friends. That whether or not the powers that be wanted to "take power away" from HU, they (HU) had to have given the NCAA something to get at them with.
-
Anyone want to read the court proceedings on HU v NCAA, it's here:
http://ttfootballhistory.com/node/1711
-
Bakes, you are correct. The foreign player rule was decided at district court level and I left out the matter regarding 1.6 rule. :beermug:
Not a problem, I can't deny that racism played a part or that Howard was targeted... in fact I would bet this little black school with all them foreigners was in fact targeted. But fact is the Athletic Department dropped the ball on this one, I dunno if they had compliance officers back then, but they needed to do a better job vetting those players. You know that they always say, as a black man you have to work twice as hard just to play level in this country (at times). That being the case we really should never give those who would undermine us any ammunition to do so.
I'm sure you have access to the opinion, but in case you don't... or for those who curious the Appellate Court's decision (http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=7713381857904482767&q=510+F.2d+213&hl=en&as_sdt=2,39) can be read online. Feel free to skip past the discussion of Jurisdiction and focus on the Facts and the Constitutional discussion.
EDIT: I see E-man posted a link to the opinion as well. :beermug:
p.s. Good to see St. Louis University returning to prominence after a period of dominance by Indiana and the ACC schools. Hopefully one day Howard will figure out how to right the ship as well.
-
Wrong again Insider. Howard under Lincoln won NCAA championships in '71 and '74. The NCAA vacated the '71 championship. However, Howard successfully sued the NCAA and forced the NCAA to change their rules regarding foreign students because the courts said such rules violated the 14th amendment equal protection rights of foreign students. However, the courts did not force the NCAA to reinstate the '71 championship for a variety of legal reasons I won't bore you with here. Howard could not participate in post season play in '73. In '74 under the banner of William Cullen Bryant's poem, 'Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again", Howard came back to win the '74 championship with a perfect 19-0-0 record; a record that stood for about 20 years. Howard didn't renew Lincoln's contract in 1980 because he threatened to not return unless the program received more support. He was out of the college until the late 80's when he coached VCU.
You should really do some research before casually spreading mis-information. There is actually quite a bit of information on the Howard team.
LP hired a lawyer name Yallery Arthur and had an out of court settlement with HU. After he was fired from Howard University he never coached at Howard after that, a Bermudian guy was the new coach.
-
Wrong again Insider. Howard under Lincoln won NCAA championships in '71 and '74. The NCAA vacated the '71 championship. However, Howard successfully sued the NCAA and forced the NCAA to change their rules regarding foreign students because the courts said such rules violated the 14th amendment equal protection rights of foreign students. However, the courts did not force the NCAA to reinstate the '71 championship for a variety of legal reasons I won't bore you with here. Howard could not participate in post season play in '73. In '74 under the banner of William Cullen Bryant's poem, 'Truth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise Again", Howard came back to win the '74 championship with a perfect 19-0-0 record; a record that stood for about 20 years. Howard didn't renew Lincoln's contract in 1980 because he threatened to not return unless the program received more support. He was out of the college until the late 80's when he coached VCU.
You should really do some research before casually spreading mis-information. There is actually quite a bit of information on the Howard team.
LP hired a lawyer name Yallery Arthur and had an out of court settlement with HU. After he was fired from Howard University he never coached at Howard after that, a Bermudian guy was the new coach.
Insider,
I enter HU in Jan 77. I played 4 yrs. It was mainly painfull. 77 season HU was 17-1. Lost 2-1 to GWU. We did not make the play-offs because NCAA said we had an ineligible player. The player had transferred to HU and LP let him play. The NCAA said he needed to sit out one year. In addition to the 77 season suspension, NCAA suspended HU from the play-off competition for 78 and 79 season(that is why I say painful). That means we can win all our games, but no post season competition. The 1980 season, we were eligible for post season play and we did. HUlost to William and Mary. LP was the coach then. He was then terminated after that and Keith Tucker(Bermudian) got the job. Keith Tucker and I played under Lincoln. Just to let you know, Yallery Arthur also played on LP's team that won the first championship. He and Keith Acqui, Steve Waldron, Alvin Henderson and Bain all played for LP first championship team.
-
12. I propose that we have a 4 tier league structure in T&T and allow for a promotion and relegation system, ex. 1) T&T Pro League (Pro League), 2) National Super League (NSL), 3) T&T Elite Football League (EFL), 4) National Zonal League (NZL). There are too many small leagues that negatively affect the major leagues in T&T. It’s time to pool our resources and work together. Of course we may need the financial assistance of the T&T government to help promoted teams during their first year in the top flight. What are your thoughts on this?
KLL: Of course, there is already a relationship between the regional league and the TTFF Super League. The issue is to connect the TT Pro League to the rest of football and this is political. In early 2010, the TTFF hosted a seminar on Club Development and Administration, to which all regional associations, affiliated leagues and Super League clubs were invited to participate. This included the TT Pro League. The product of the four day activity was “The Port of Spain Declaration”, which included an analysis of the current football status quo and a call for certain measures to be adopted in order to move the game forward. One of the many critical measures identified is the creation of a four-tiered league, including “minor leagues” (division four), regional leagues (division three), Super League (division two) and TT Pro League (division one). The TT Pro League did not sign the document and has never delivered on its promise to “get back” to the TTFF on this matter.
Flex, I feel you should contact Dexter Skeene to hear his version of this ?
It must have some reason behind this !!
-
Ooh Guuuude. Is like de whole ah T&T play at HU.
-
What successes is KLL talking about?
Everything is on the ground in T&T football. We are talking current not PAST !!!!!!!!!!!
What are they doing and how long can they keep fooling the public?
National programs is a joke.
Dutch training, a German coach and two Trini assistants, this should be interesting.
-
17. Do you feel the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Mr. Anil Roberts is doing a good job for sports in T&T? It seems to the public that he is more involved in promoting concerts and parties.
KLL: I have no comment. I will not comment on political issues.
This was a good question Flex, and as expect Look Loy skip and I cant blame him for doing so, because its about politics and friends.
From a talk show host to the minister of youths and sports, a man who hated Jack Warner is now his best friend.
This would explain why he threw out the T&T team from playing CFU games in the Hasley Crawford Stadium to host a worthless concert that wasn't even sold out on a newely done pitch.
A monkey will always be a monkey, he cant be a lion.
-
13. In your opinion, what do you feel can be done to preserve and improve the SSFL in Trinidad and Tobago?
KLL: No serious football country gives the prominence to schools’ football that we do in Trinidad and Tobago. In a professional football environment schools football is a recreational, extra-curricular, activity and serious player development takes place within the clubs. To the contrary, in Trinidad and Tobago youth club competition ceases in July to allow the schools to play their three-month season which, including their pre-season, accounts for four months for the players in programmes of varying quality. Then comes the off-season and Carnival! I can just imagine Pep Guardiola saying to the young talent at La Masia (FC Barcelona’s training academy) in August – “Go ahead and play with your school. We will see you in March next year” (smile and possibly wave)… The Mexican team that just beat the stuffing out of our Under 20s in Guatemala (5:0) comprised first division professionals. We sent how many schoolboys? As long as we give pride of place to the SSFL – it is the country’s biggest and most popular league – and continue to avoid the hard political decision to promote club youth football ahead of schools’ football, we will continue to undermine the country’s ability to produce top level youth teams.
Look Loy say de SSFL is not good, but yet Kenwyne Jones say that 75% of his development came from playing school football.
Also making a contribution was Jones, who equalled the donation made by the Ministry.“It’s always good to be able to give back because in my case, I can say that 75% of my development came from playing school football,” Jones said “I always look back at those memories and take pride in them.”
Link to story. (http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?topic=53875.msg743900#msg743900)
De thing is, if the TTFF dont have a CONSISTENT development program for the youths, then we have no choice but to rely on the SSFL, until the TTFF start doing better in this area then Look Loy could come talk.
Dwight Yorke learn to play his football in the SSFL before he went Europe.
STORY HERE (http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?topic=53611.msg738445#msg738445)
-
Ask Look Loy if it did not have any SSFL how the TTFF would have gone about finding players and not only this how will a player get a chance to win a scholarship to play in North America like he did.
His best football came from his SSFL but yet he have no respect for it.
-
I see the point KLL is making. At this juncture in our football, the SSFL is not producing the quality of players that can have an immediate impact on the the national as long ago. Maybe they good enough for U-19 and US college level but not for Gold Cup, PanAm, Olimpic and definitely NOT for for WC level football.
Keith developed his skills in SSFL. But it was different then. The league was smaller all the best players were concentrated in POS and Sando. All the best players gravitated to those schools in those two environs. It was basically a north/south competition. The football was different. The players were better because in the off-season all of them use to play for club teams. Them men love the game. So when they get called up for the national team, most of them were mentally ready.
Now with the intense professionalism in the game, the current SSFL has not produce a bunch of players to participate on the international and youth and senior level. TTFF can't prevent from playing for their school. The pro clubs have youth teams, but honestly it is no different from what I have seen in the past. If the pro clubs want them to be real pros they have to come better than that.
They have to give them a stipend and have their own schools so players can do their CXC. They can't have it both ways in this day and age. And forget about the government getting involved in pro football. The present and past gov't have built facilities. YES, BETTER maintenance is needed. They have also provided tax insentives for involvement in sports.The businessmen who have the passion for the game have to take "the bull by horn" and put their money in the game. I honestly think the clubs can do it, but they have to have deep pockets for that kind of investment.
-
Back in the days Deeks, we never qualify for any youth or senior world cup.
Now we have qualified for two under 20, two under 17 one as host and a senior world cup.
If the TTFF was doing more to develop young players then I would agree with Keith Look Loy, but they not, so we have no choice but to rely on de SSFL for now.
I feel the TTFF should just come out with a structure to improve the SSFL, Keith have to remember that the SSFL also helps the less unfortunate players who not bright enough to get into a decent school, but through football the player have a chance and a chance to also go abroad.
Look, if Jason Scotland see he name on a blackboard he go pass it straight, but now he making more money that man who have more education.
90% of our 2006 WC players made a name in the SSFL and went on to better things, so it cant be that bad, it just need better organization, but instead the SSFL, the Pro League and T&T teams not on the same page.
Because of the SSFL T&T was able to discover many good players.
The TTFF dont have a good scouting system, so they have no choice in the matter.
-
Back in the days Deeks, we never qualify for any youth or senior world cup.
Now we have qualified for two under 20, two under 17 one as host and a senior world cup.
If the TTFF was doing more to develop young players then I would agree with Keith Look Loy, but they not, so we have no choice but to rely on de SSFL for now.
I feel the TTFF should just come out with a structure to improve the SSFL, Keith have to remember that the SSFL also helps the less unfortunate players who not bright enough to get into a decent school, but through football the player have a chance and a chance to also go abroad.
Look, if Jason Scotland see he name on a blackboard he go pass it straight, but now he making more money that man who have more education.
90% of our 2006 WC players made a name in the SSFL and went on to better things, so it cant be that bad, it just need better organization, but instead the SSFL, the Pro League and T&T teams not on the same page.
Because of the SSFL T&T was able to discover many good players.
The TTFF dont have a good scouting system, so they have no choice in the matter.
They did not have youth WC in Kieth days or it had just started. I think the 74 team would have qualified for the 2nd youth WC if they have made it. Mex won it and they went. I think Cuba may have gone to the first one(I am not sure on that). But we into senior WC since 66.
Yes KJ and them came from the SSFL and made it in the EPL. But the verdict is still on the current crop of players. I don't see any stand outs. I don't see any in Euro. except Roberts, Hyland, Peltier and another kid. But we lagging behind badly. So the clubs have to pick up the slack. I don't see that happening. We have nothing like the US academy in Bradenton Florida. If we don't have or can't have anything like Bradenton then we will continue as is, hoping the SSFL will produce that batch of good players. The Pro clubs have to step up more and do something different.
Everybody clamouring for clubs to have youth system like the Euros. But unless we go all the way, we spinning top in mud. Can you imagine a club having an acadamy like Ajak, Chelsea, manu, liverpool, or even Mexican teams. They have to have facilities with about 6 fields, sleeping dorms and classroom for football studies and regular CXC studies. Then a stipend for the them. They may have to travel abroad for dallas Cup etc. You have to buy computers for them to keep up will class work etc. What may be the norm for 'poor' Mexico, may be wishfull thinking for 'rich' TT.
I would not discount scouting players, but I ain't putting to much on that. TT ain't so big that you can't find good players. If we had a Caricom team then I can see clubs sending scouts up the islands for young talent.
-
Everybody bawling we dont have de talent and today we have the most amount of local players gaining foreign contracts.
In 1973, Gally went Mexico and a few others went in the US.
In 1989 we had 1 foreign player (Nakhid).
We always have the talent, maybe not as good as before, because the passion is not there, but you still cannot blame the SSFL.... there is talent out there, but the TTFF want exceptional talent instead of trying to improve the ones we have.
When Dwarika came out, he was a Malick player, not a Santa Cruz or Joe Public player, he was recognised in school, same for Keon Daniel, Yorke, Latapy, Lewis, Glen, Stern, Cyrus, Bateau etc etc...
Another problem is, the sport minister does not have a program in place to keep kids from going astray, in these times there is to many distractions, so its harder for kids to maintain, the generation we have now mentally disturbe.
We sport minister could throw a good fete though.
-
there is talent out there, but the TTFF want exceptional talent instead of trying to improve the ones we have.
The task ahead is as you said, "trying to improve the ones we have"
-
Look Loy is absolutely correct IMO.
No serious footballing nation that I know of uses schoolboy football as a premier development institution for young players. They all use professional clubs
As long as we continue to glorify a league that does absolutely nothing for our football development and have the courage and fortitude to change to a proper structured environment, professional or not, we will continue to struggle at youth level and ultimately, at senior level
-
Look Loy is absolutely correct IMO.
No serious footballing nation that I know of uses schoolboy football as a premier development institution for young players. They all use professional clubs
As long as we continue to glorify a league that does absolutely nothing for our football development and have the courage and fortitude to change to a proper structured environment, professional or not, we will continue to struggle at youth level and ultimately, at senior level
Palos, you right, no serious footballing nation, so that exclude's us.....
-
I am new to this site but there is so much that could be said in response to some of the commentary on this article. I will focus on the SSFL. Players, like Kenwyne Jones, may be GRATEFUL for having the opportunity to play in a league that receives more fan support and media coverage than any other local league - it brings them into public focus - but that does not take away from the fact that the SSFL is essentially non-professional, extra-curricular, and recreational.
We need to extricate ourselves from the illusion that the schools' league creates players. It does not. Players come into this league having been introduced to the game elsewhere than the school - whether informally in their neighbourhood "sweat" or formally through membership in a clinic or club. Youth players spend most of their football lives playing in football clubs of varying quality. And the truth is that is most, if not all schools, the lower divisions are not given serious focus and the players do not receive quality coaching. This is restricted to the Championship division. Finally, on average, the SSFL occupies no more than four months of a young player's athletic year. Compare this recreational, part-time approach to the seriously professional football federations, which have clubs that devote significant resources, human and financial, to the training of young talent, five or six days per week, ten months a year, over the course of ten to twelve years, on average.
Despite all of these limitations the league continues to play an important role in the training of young players. Why? Because local clubs, professional and non-professional alike, continue to fail, most of them, to properly prepare the next generation of players. Indeed, the youth programme and competitions of the TT Pro League are in some ways farcical, with clubs "adopting" school teams for three months, thereby circumventing the league's requirement for each club to establish and maintain a proper youth development programme. Indeed, in that league we have seen the absurdity of an external youth club or coaching clinic representing more than one professional club in different divisions in the same competition.
So the point is not whether or not the SSFL is a good league. The point is that the SSFL is not good ENOUGH to allow us to compete consistently in serious international competition. Where, in serious footballing nations, the professional clubs work hard at developing top young players, in Trinidad and Tobago the TT Pro League, the TTFF Super League and the regional association leagues cease their youth football, generally held between April/May and July, in order to avoid conflict with the SSFL, which begins in September and runs until November! And we want to compete?
Until and unless the hard political decision is taken by all concerned to relegate the SSFL to what its true status - recreational league - and to cease its (no doubt well-meaning) undermining of youth player development, so long will we continue to complain about our national youth teams inconsistent performance and results in international competition. And THAT is the truth.
-
I am new to this site but there is so much that could be said in response to some of the commentary on this article. I will focus on the SSFL. Players, like Kenwyne Jones, may be GRATEFUL for having the opportunity to play in a league that receives more fan support and media coverage than any other local league - it brings them into public focus - but that does not take away from the fact that the SSFL is essentially non-professional, extra-curricular, and recreational.
We need to extricate ourselves from the illusion that the schools' league creates players. It does not. Players come into this league having been introduced to the game elsewhere than the school - whether informally in their neighbourhood "sweat" or formally through membership in a clinic or club. Youth players spend most of their football lives playing in football clubs of varying quality. And the truth is that is most, if not all schools, the lower divisions are not given serious focus and the players do not receive quality coaching. This is restricted to the Championship division. Finally, on average, the SSFL occupies no more than four months of a young player's athletic year. Compare this recreational, part-time approach to the seriously professional football federations, which have clubs that devote significant resources, human and financial, to the training of young talent, five or six days per week, ten months a year, over the course of ten to twelve years, on average.
Despite all of these limitations the league continues to play an important role in the training of young players. Why? Because local clubs, professional and non-professional alike, continue to fail, most of them, to properly prepare the next generation of players. Indeed, the youth programme and competitions of the TT Pro League are in some ways farcical, with clubs "adopting" school teams for three months, thereby circumventing the league's requirement for each club to establish and maintain a proper youth development programme. Indeed, in that league we have seen the absurdity of an external youth club or coaching clinic representing more than one professional club in different divisions in the same competition.
So the point is not whether or not the SSFL is a good league. The point is that the SSFL is not good ENOUGH to allow us to compete consistently in serious international competition. Where, in serious footballing nations, the professional clubs work hard at developing top young players, in Trinidad and Tobago the TT Pro League, the TTFF Super League and the regional association leagues cease their youth football, generally held between April/May and July, in order to avoid conflict with the SSFL, which begins in September and runs until November! And we want to compete?
Until and unless the hard political decision is taken by all concerned to relegate the SSFL to what its true status - recreational league - and to cease its (no doubt well-meaning) undermining of youth player development, so long will we continue to complain about our national youth teams inconsistent performance and results in international competition. And THAT is the truth.
Mr President [I always wanted to say that], let me be the first to welcome you.
For most parts I agree with your post, however, when you use a remark saying that because local clubs, professional and non-professional alike, continue to fail and not add the TTFF to that list it makes me wonder.
I believe all football entity in T&T should hold some responsibility. Because when there is no SSFL games the TTFF do not take advantage of players free time, they rely and put all responsibilities on the club and not try to play a part, then they rush off and prepare a team a month in advance not giving the players ample time to gel to play important games and then the team fail.
Our Technical man in the TTFF Keith Look Loy did this interview as you can see and he himself if I am not mistaking benefitted from the SSFL, so what was the difference between his time and now ?
Otherwise, good post.
-
Our Technical man in the TTFF Keith Look Loy did this interview as you know and he himself if I am not mistaking benefitted from the SSFL, so what was the difference between his time and now ?
the yutes now are defficient in skills(ball control, first touch), stamina, etc. They cannot compete at the international level.
-
In the 1960s and 1970s the SSFL filled an important void and played a critical role since, outside of of the schools' league, essentially there was no organized youth football. Moreover, prior to that era the school teams played in open, men's leagues, POSFL, SFL, etc, and for that reason schoolboys could hold their own against men and even played for the national team. As an example, Look Loy himself was selected to the North men's team for the inter-zonal tournament of 1971, while still at St. Mary's College. This is hardly the case now, when the average age of a school team must be seventeen, and there is an abundance of youth clubs, coaching clinics and youth programmes. Unlike the 1960s and before, the issue now is not quantity but quality. No comparison, I'm afraid.
-
This is why I feel the SSFL is important today even though it maynot be as good as the ones in the past.
1. They provide opportunities for kids to play for better schools in T&T and even gain a scholarship to play abroad. I remember players getting picked to play for Pres, St Anthony's, Benedicts, Naps, etc and they pass common entrance for a Junior Seconday.
2. Its the biggest league in T&T, so why not build on it. Furthermore, have requirements for coaches who coach in the SSFL where they must posses a valid TTFF/FIFA license.
3. The TTFF rely on the league to scout players because they have no scouting network.
There is some valid points Flex made here, allyuh need to read it.
http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?topic=53611.msg738445#msg738445
I never knew our school boys played in the big leagues in T&T, hhhhmmmmm, very interesting, but good idea.
My question is, why is there so much seperation in the leagues in T&T ? maybe they TTFF is not respected, maybe everybody in every league wants to be a hero ? whats the problem with the men who control the leagues in T&T ?
-
A few bullet point responses:
- In a seriously professional environment the SSFL would have a role to play. To provide recreation for those boys not good enough to make it into a professional club environment.
- The TTFF does not rely on the SSFL to identify players. In fact, the national coaches look at the TT Pro League for most of their selections.
- Playing for an SSFL member school does not get you into a US university. Playing for a national team AND your SAT score is the best guarantee for that.
- The TTFF and the TT Pro League need to make the political decision to establish a serious national youth league that runs for eight or nine months a year, regardless of the SSFL response to that.
- Part-time youth football is guaranteed to continue our inconsistent international record at youth level.
-
In the 1960s and 1970s the SSFL filled an important void and played a critical role since, outside of of the schools' league, essentially there was no organized youth football. Moreover, prior to that era the school teams played in open, men's leagues, POSFL, SFL, etc, and for that reason schoolboys could hold their own against men and even played for the national team. As an example, Look Loy himself was selected to the North men's team for the inter-zonal tournament of 1971, while still at St. Mary's College. This is hardly the case now, when the average age of a school team must be seventeen, and there is an abundance of youth clubs, coaching clinics and youth programmes. Unlike the 1960s and before, the issue now is not quantity but quality. No comparison, I'm afraid.
A variety of systems were used. I remember when there was juvenile football in the POSFL in the early seventies. Maple, Malvern, Regiment, etc had teams. I think Providence win it. Guess what? I was told Providence was Tranquil. Roderick Warner who use to teach there at Tranquil and he played for Providence. Some players were actually playing for clubs. They would come off the bench. But the players really honed there skills in the many minor leagues around the countries. Most of them were very organized and got fans support. It was amazing. The big daddy of them all was the Eddie Hart league. Amateur, Pros, juniors, senior, over 30 all use to clash in that league. And money(under-the-table) used to pass big time. Playing in the 4 month SSFL alone is not enough to enhance your skill. I remember Dr. Alvin Henderson and his big brother, Robert, had a team called Via Madrid and used to in the Sunday morning league in St. Joseph savannah
-
The SSFL is well supported, if we stop the league, how will the fans connect to the national team ?
Every supporter go out there to support they school, our league is not connected to the communities and our national team play two games a year.
My point is, football needs to go back to the communities and a youth league needs to be created, until then we have no choice but to rely on the SSFL.
We have Anil Roberts a man who is close to the TTFF and he is in government, why cant he actually start working for his money and do something about the youths in T&T ?
PS: We cannot continue to blame the SSFL for our failure at international youth level. We do not prepare our teams properly and expect success. I can guarentee you now that our under 17 and under 20 teams have fail the team will be disbanded and we may not see any of them in action until a month before the next tournament.
-
Just a thought.
We in T&T should be careful not to be too quick to discard what has been working for us. I mean, for instance, the US uses their college league and USL as feeders to their MLS. To strip SSFL of its role instead of strengthening it with a more professional set-up may be a mistake. That is, unless we have a better replacement that can guarantee the interest and fan support etc.
-
You clearly don't follow our national youth teams. These teams are in continuous action, training on a weekly basis, ahead of youth World Cup qualifying. What DOES present an obstacle to this preparation is the SSFL schedule, the parents who want their son to be in the school team, the players who want to be seen on TV and in the dailies and get some girls, and the school officials who believe the school team is more important than the national team. They ALL give priority to the school at the expense of the nation. Indeed, the last Under 17 team is now "disbanded" until December in order to allow the players time to participate in TT Pro League and SSFL competitions. You can't have your cake and eat it...
-
...and Cocorite, I hear you, but the truth is that the MLS clubs have long ago seen the limitations of the collegiate system as a feeder. The MLS clubs all have junior teams that increasingly recruit players directly and avoid four wasted years in college. Could you imagine Messi turning pro at 22? Meantime, the USSF has also established its academy system for elite youth clubs. The fact is that "US soccer" is moving away from the high school and university as the basis for its professional game and national teams.
-
The SSFL is well supported, if we stop the league, how will the fans connect to the national team ?
The SSFL will always be there. As Coops says, it will be there for the guys who don't make the pro-clubs or are not interested in Pro ball. Some body asked why there is a gap between the SSFL and the TTFF. Good reason. The old CFL always distanced themselves from the TFA because they feared(justifably) that they(TFA) wanted to control and run school football. The CFL made money because the schools had their own grounds. Plus intercol was as big as North-South classics or even international games. But now the SSFL is actually struggling to keep its autonomy. This government can forced them to comply with TTFF. Anil and Jack. For instance, last year only 1 round of football was played because of the women's WC. 2 rounds could have been played, but them SSFL official bowed to jack to follow the leader.
One thing about the past CFL. With exception of QRC and Sando Tech, all the school which played in the old colleges league division1 were non government schools. The power was in the hands of Saints, fatima, Belmont, Benedicts, Naps, Pres. I would add QRC in this group even though gov't took it over. But when the league was expanded, the so-called big schools lost their power(both in the administration and on the field of play).
-
But now the SSFL is actually struggling to keep its autonomy. This government can forced them to comply with TTFF. Anil and Jack. For instance, last year only 1 round of football was played because of the women's WC. 2 rounds could have been played, but them SSFL official bowed to jack to follow the leader.
One thing about the past CFL. With exception of QRC and Sando Tech, all the school which played in the old colleges league division1 were non government schools. The power was in the hands of Saints, fatima, Belmont, Benedicts, Naps, Pres. I would add QRC in this group even though gov't took it over. But when the league was expanded, the so-called big schools lost their power(both in the administration and on the field of play).
Deeks, you are correct the old Colleges Football League always maintained political distance between itself and the old TTFA, (but the schools' league did participate in the association's inter-league competition and never looked out of place). But a few comments:
- ALL football leagues were affected by the 2010 Women's Under 17 World Cup. I am certain you will agree that domestic football could not proceed with a World Cup being simultaneously played. However, the decision to play one round of post-World Cup football was entirely an SSFL decision. In contrast, the Northern FA and the Tobago FA both played TWO rounds, as is normal in league football. The government and Jack Warner and the TTFF did not force anyone to do anything in this regard.
- I agree that the expansion of schools' football beyond the traditional CFL schools was excellent. (I will also argue that the league now needs to revisit its structure as today we have schools that clearly do not have the minimum quality playing in the zonal Championship divisions. We need a return to one NATIONAL Championship division, which would concentrate the best talent.
- Finally, government did not "take over" QRC. The school was established in 1859 by the British colonial government for the secondary education of local boys. It has been a government school since that time.
- You should be careful with your "facts".
-
uuuuuuummmm President, welcome eh, but yuh might want to change yuh avatar.....we goh mistake yuh for Coop's which is a good thing and a bad thing sometimes..... :devil: ;D
-
Brown sugar, thanks for the greeting. I hear you. Change made...
-
I think the SSFL should be restructured. They should have a 10 or 12 team Dv1, a 10 Div2 and then the respective zones. I think all school should play Inter-col, even Junior sec. I remember when Saints got demoted they were allowed to play intercol. What good for the goose should be good for the gander.
-
Agreed Deeks!
-
Historically, the college football league or SSFL is where the development of soccer in T&T has taken place. It was the best time of my football career. In Europe and the US, soccer development takes place in the club system. Question – How strong is the youth club system in T&T presently?
-
"The Washington Post’s Paul Tenorio did an excellent job reporting on the dilemma in a recent article headlined, “Is it best to play in high school, or on an academy team?”
Tony Lepore, director of scouting for U.S. youth national teams and a technical adviser for the Development Academy, says, “In top footballing nations, school soccer is not where the top players play and develop. That’s how this has evolved and how this shift has continued. ... We’ve given the choice to the clubs. It’s not a mandate yet, but we totally get why they’re choosing that and that’s why we’re supporting it.”
All of the above is a quote from "Soccer America" (27 May 2011). NOBODY who is serious about developing young talent could argue that a schools' league is the place to do it. We fall short in this regard in Trinidad and Tobago and, while it is simple and easy to blame the TTFF, the clubs at every level of the local game must also shoulder responsibility in equal measure. Indeed, more so, as a national association is not responsible for developing talent at grassroots and club levels. The clubs and community football organizations are. The responsibility of the national association is to cream the talent and prepare it for international competition.
To answer your question, a few local clubs are seeking to develop young talent in a proper manner but generally, for all the talk, youth development is seen as a burden by most of the "big" clubs and they readily concede ground to the SSFL. For its part, the TTFF has established regional centres at Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 level.
-
Thanks for your response, President. I felt as much.
I am acquainted with the article written in the Washington Post, and I extremely familiar with the club versus high school soccer issue in the DC metropolitan area. High school soccer around DC is pathetic. Without a doubt, soccer development takes place in the club structure in the DC area. Currently, club soccer is going through major changes. Regional leagues (e.g., along the east coast) for the elite clubs, instead of the local leagues, are beginning to take precedent. These regional leagues are providing much better show cases for college scouts.
-
- ALL football leagues were affected by the 2010 Women's Under 17 World Cup. I am certain you will agree that domestic football could not proceed with a World Cup being simultaneously played. However, the decision to play one round of post-World Cup football was entirely an SSFL decision.
I spoke to a former teamate of mine who coaches in SSFL. He said that he did explain to the SSFL admin. at a meeting that could play 2 rounds of football, but they shot down the idea. Jack has ilfiltrated that organization too. I honestly thinkthat the SSFL is concerned that if the pro clubs get a good youth program going, it could siphone the talented players from schools to the clubs. I think that may well be true but the SSFL will survive with lesser talent. They will have to readjust.
-
I spoke to a former teamate of mine who coaches in SSFL. He said that he did explain to the SSFL admin. at a meeting that could play 2 rounds of football, but they shot down the idea. Jack has ilfiltrated that organization too. I honestly thinkthat the SSFL is concerned that if the pro clubs get a good youth program going, it could siphone the talented players from schools to the clubs. I think that may well be true but the SSFL will survive with lesser talent. They will have to readjust.
Deeks, come on man. Jack has infiltrated the SSFL but not the Northern FA or Tobago FA? They played two rounds of football in 2010. I do agree with you, 'though, that the SSFL, and its members, has always been opposed to the creation of serious club youth programmes and a quality national youth league. They believe their interests over-ride the national interest, and they are encouraged in this by the media and the public in general because they supposedly provide the basis for national selection. This is a myth of public perception that even you apparently believe. The fact is the players would not be "siphoned from schools to clubs". Quite the opposite, the schools get their players from clubs! THIS is the reality. If we get going in a serious, professional manner, the SSFL would be for the boys who cannot make a club team.
-
"The Washington Post’s Paul Tenorio did an excellent job reporting on the dilemma in a recent article headlined, “Is it best to play in high school, or on an academy team?”
Tony Lepore, director of scouting for U.S. youth national teams and a technical adviser for the Development Academy, says, “In top footballing nations, school soccer is not where the top players play and develop. That’s how this has evolved and how this shift has continued. ... We’ve given the choice to the clubs. It’s not a mandate yet, but we totally get why they’re choosing that and that’s why we’re supporting it.”
All of the above is a quote from "Soccer America" (27 May 2011). NOBODY who is serious about developing young talent could argue that a schools' league is the place to do it. We fall short in this regard in Trinidad and Tobago and, while it is simple and easy to blame the TTFF, the clubs at every level of the local game must also shoulder responsibility in equal measure. Indeed, more so, as a national association is not responsible for developing talent at grassroots and club levels. The clubs and community football organizations are. The responsibility of the national association is to cream the talent and prepare it for international competition.
To answer your question, a few local clubs are seeking to develop young talent in a proper manner but generally, for all the talk, youth development is seen as a burden by most of the "big" clubs and they readily concede ground to the SSFL. For its part, the TTFF has established regional centres at Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 level.
Not necessarily true. The National associations play a major part in the development of youth players, through various aspects of the developmental process such as, coaching education, options for youth players to have access to national and regional coaches, curriculum guidance (methodology, etc), administarive assistance to clubs, etc. To say that the development of players lies at the feet of clubs and grassroot organizations is partly correct and missing a major piece of the developmental puzzle.
The debates continue in the USA with the Olympic development Program being Challenged by the now Academy Developmental Program and each one being supported by the USYSA and the USSF. Recently Claudio Reyna and a couple other (April Heinrich and Jill Ellis comes to mind) was charged with the development of a comprehensive curriculum that will be handed down to youth organizations as a blue print for how the USSF wants the US player to be developed. This is a main reason as to why the USA beat us in 1990 and has been beating us since, the "hands on" approach that US Youth Soccer and the USSF has taken in assisting club in gaining updated and relevant ideas in player and coach developmental strategies.
If T&T is to progress and regain some semblance of pride in CONCACAF football (forget world football for the mean time), then the TTFF cannot just arbitrarily excuse itself from the responsibility they OWE to youth players in T&T. They would need to commission a National Referendum addressing the past failings, the present Melancholic state of football, and the way forward. It MUST start with the head (TTFF) if T&T is to show its true footballing potential.
-
To say that the development of players lies at the feet of clubs and grassroot organizations is partly correct and missing a major piece of the developmental puzzle.
We live in a society where people like to look to the authorities for everything. The clubs have daily contact with the mass of players. They have the most critical role to play in youth development. The national association could only provide selected tools to assist them in doing so. What does this mean? That the direct responsibility lies with the clubs.
You evidently live in the USA and you would know the USSF does not and cannot coach club players - despite their massive resources. Obviously, the national association - in our case, the TTFF - must 1) implement a coaching education programme (ongoing in association with the KNVB); 2) select the best youth talent for advanced training (regional training centres applying a standardized training syllabus have been established with the assistance of FIFA); 3) create a national youth league (this has been done, also with the assistance of FIFA, it is now in its third season); 4) establish minimal criteria for the registration of clubs (underway after a FIFA club development course but not moving fast enough).
Any other conceptual framework would be futility.
-
president, you try putting them ideas to jack and see where that will get you!!!!!
-
Deeks, these ideas are ALREADY in motion...
-
Deeks, these ideas are ALREADY in motion...
In motion? Slow or morocoy!!!!??????
-
OK pal. Your mind is made up. Don't confuse yourself with facts. You win...
-
OK pal. Your mind is made up. Don't confuse yourself with facts. You win...
Care to point out any one program the TTFF implemented that will effectively assist the youth players of Trinidad and Tobago?
-
2013 team : A new low (1-17) Record?
http://hubison.com/schedule.aspx?path=msoc&tab=soccer2
1974 team : (19-0) Record still stands (40 year anniversary this year)
-
Might be the only clear beneficiary of the government shutdown ... playing Navy could have made it 1-18.
-
2013 team : A new low (1-17) Record?
http://hubison.com/schedule.aspx?path=msoc&tab=soccer2
1974 team : (19-0) Record still stands (40 year anniversary this year)
Just stumbled across this statistic: it's the worst W-L-T record in all of Division I. 198 out of 198 programs. Ironically, last year HU was also 198th, but in 2012 there were 202 teams.
-
Asylumseeker like yuh had some prior information.
Howard University dismisses head coach
The 2013 college soccer season was perhaps the most successful ever for the Washington region: nine teams in the NCAA men’s tournament, four top-16 seeds, two College Cup participants, two women’s teams in the national semifinals, Hermann Trophy finalists for men and women.
At Howard University, however, the once-elite men’s program remains in shambles.
And after a 1-17-0 season — the victory came against a team from a small-school independent conference — Michael Lawrence was dismissed as head coach following six losing seasons. News of the move began circulating in the local soccer community this week and Athletic Director Louis Perkins confirmed the decision to the Insider this morning.
Lawrence had replaced Joseph Okoh, who, in early 2008, was caught soliciting a minor online. Okoh was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Howard, a historically black university in Washington, was a national power in the 1970s under Lincoln Phillips, defeating Saint Louis in both the 1971 and ’74 NCAA championships with a brigade of African and Caribbean players. (The ’71 title was later vacated for using two ineligible players.) In 1972, the Bison lost to the Billikens in the semifinals.
With Shaka Hislop manning the net, the program returned to prominence in the late-1980s. The Bison lost to Indiana in the 1988 final and advanced to the quarterfinals the following year, losing again to the Hoosiers. Since then, they have qualified for the NCAA tournament once (1997) in 24 seasons.
During the 1988 tournament, Hislop converted the winning penalty kick during a nine-round tiebreaker with Philadelphia Textile and the Bison came from two goals down to upset Bruce Arena‘s Virginia in the quarterfinals.
The final four in Bloomington, Ind., featured an extraordinary collection of goalkeeping: Hislop, a freshman, joined Portland freshman Kasey Keller and Indiana sophomore Juergen Sommer. All went on to play in the English Premier League and go to the World Cup (Keller and Sommer for the United States, Hislop for Trinidad & Tobago).
This year the Bison conceded 28 goals in the final five matches and were outscored 59-11 overall. In six home matches, the team averaged 64 spectators.
The women’s program, guided by former George Mason player Brent Leiba, is on much stabler ground: 6-7-2 record this year.
Courtesy
Washingtonpost.com
-
When i told Elan about Football in the Va,Baltimore and Washington DC area this is what i'm talking about,Soccer is huge in these States and crowd support is great.
-
HU must be the laughing stock of the division. 64 spectators per home game! Wow those are some terrible vibes.
I'm glad it was much better when I was there.
As for the win/loss record they can't do much worse, hopefully the program heads can turn things around.
-
HU must be the laughing stock of the division. 64 spectators per home game! Wow those are some terrible vibes.
I'm glad it was much better when I was there.
As for the win/loss record they can't do much worse, hopefully the program heads can turn things around.
Lol. Why yuh lying? I was there when u was there and ah there again. That team never win probably more than 3-4 games any season and the support was never good.
-
HU must be the laughing stock of the division. 64 spectators per home game! Wow those are some terrible vibes.
I'm glad it was much better when I was there.
As for the win/loss record they can't do much worse, hopefully the program heads can turn things around.
Lol. Why yuh lying? I was there when u was there and ah there again. That team never win probably more than 3-4 games any season and the support was never good.
ROFL.... There was more talent at the intramural level than the varsity level.
-
HU must be the laughing stock of the division. 64 spectators per home game! Wow those are some terrible vibes.
I'm glad it was much better when I was there.
As for the win/loss record they can't do much worse, hopefully the program heads can turn things around.
Lol. Why yuh lying? I was there when u was there and ah there again. That team never win probably more than 3-4 games any season and the support was never good.
ROFL.... There was more talent at the intramural level than the varsity level.
Even in the worst season we had we used to lose some close games.
This side get 9-zip all kinda ting.
Doh be so quick to trash yuh alma mater son.
And you g yeah in intramural we used to carry on, I miss it bad.
-
this really saddens me
-
HU athletic administration does not support soccer there anymore. Sometimes you can look at the coach, but that is not always the case, men"s D I college soccer is way more difficult to be successful now than in the past. Recruiting and funding has to be on par with the competition just to start with. Look at the roster and you see 2 trinis and a Jmicn...every other player is US based and the top US black players not interested in HU, when they are recruited by Maryland, N Carolina, Akron and top 20 teams. NCAA rules and funding makes it much more difficult to recruit international players at the D I level too. Take a look at USC UPstate a once successful DII program who transitioned to DI and after 7 years still can't see their way at the new level, they have the same coach who used to get big time players from all over the world, they still have the same DII budget and can't get top players anymore so they one step above HU.
HU alum should send a message to the athletic administration to let them know how important a legacy HU soccer is and that it is very necessary to properly fund the program and hire an experienced coach who could work to restore the program to some level of respectability....tall order though!
-
Howard University looking for a Coach
http://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/5936279/head-men-s-soccer-coach
-
HU must be the laughing stock of the division. 64 spectators per home game! Wow those are some terrible vibes.
I'm glad it was much better when I was there.
As for the win/loss record they can't do much worse, hopefully the program heads can turn things around.
Lol. Why yuh lying? I was there when u was there and ah there again. That team never win probably more than 3-4 games any season and the support was never good.
ROFL.... There was more talent at the intramural level than the varsity level.
Even in the worst season we had we used to lose some close games.
This side get 9-zip all kinda ting.
Doh be so quick to trash yuh alma mater son.
And you g yeah in intramural we used to carry on, I miss it bad.
Video of some game highlights is available on YouTube. When yuh view them yuh will have a lil insight into the scenes.
-
Under the hood: Look Loy reviews T&T’s unsuccessful U-20 campaign
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)
(Part One)
“They lost because of individual errors,” said CONCACAF technical study group member Keith Look Loy. “But, as a general statement, I cannot be satisfied with the statistical performance of the team. Seven goals in five games are not good enough…
“Five against Aruba and none against Panama, none against Guatemala and none against the United States… You’re not going anywhere with that.”
Look Loy, a former national player and coach at youth and senior level, covered the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Jamaica alongside Wired868 and was generous enough to give his insight on the tournament in general and Trinidad and Tobago’s performance in particular.
The following is the first in a three-part interview that touches on the performance of the teenaged “Soca Warriors” but also goes on to discuss the merits of the local school and professional game, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) responsibility to football development, exactly what football fans should expect in the short and long-term future and a CONCACAF model for success:
Wired868: How long have you worked on the CONCACAF technical study group?
Keith Look Loy: That started with myself and Luis Hernandez, who is the president of the Cuba Football Association, and we started this work two years ago with the last (CONCACAF) Under-20 tournament in Puebla, Mexico. Since then we have multiplied the group and have well over a dozen people working as you saw in Jamaica.
We look at all the tournaments, male and female and all age groups, and by that I mean not only CONCACAF but CFU and UNCAF as well. We analyse the games and the technical capacity of the players and the tactical organisation of the teams and their strategy and, most importantly, their weaknesses and we look at the statistics as well. We issue reports based on that and have been doing that since two years ago. All of those reports are ultimately published on the CONCACAF website.
Wired868: What was your view on the recent CONCACAF Under-20 tournament?
Look Loy: This was an expanded tournament. We normally have eight teams with three group matches (instead there were 12 teams with five group matches each)… The concept here, mainly looking at the Caribbean and some of the Central American teams, (was that) they come to the tournament unprepared with a shortage of international tournaments and experience. So the thinking was to give them more matches. So this was novel…
The four teams that qualified and even some of the others like El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago, I thought that we saw a good level from them. The level generally was good and I fully expect the four qualifiers will hold their own in New Zealand…
(He was particularly proud of tournament runner-up Panama’s continued improvement at CONCACAF level).
Fifteen years ago, Panama were seen as a baseball and boxing country and they were not taken seriously. But they put in the work and you are seeing the results now.
Over half of their players at this tournament played at the last Under-17 World Cup. And what Panama has been able to do over the last decade or so is build up a reservoir of players who now have junior World Cup experience.
They have now qualified for their fourth junior World Cup in the last six (tournaments). And they have played in most of the recent Under-17 tournaments. So they now have a pool of players in senior football who have World Cup experience and that is why they have been in the last two Gold Cup finals and conceivably will be fighting for honours in the next one as well.
Consistent investment with thought guiding it pays dividends and they are seeing that…
Wired868: Trinidad and Tobago and the United States were both beaten quarterfinalists at CONCACAF Under-17 level two years ago but now the US is heading to the World Cup. What can we take from that?
Look Loy: This is one of the weakest United States teams we have seen in a junior tournament and they had their problems but in the end big fish know how to survive.
As we said in Jamaica, it is not a two year jump to under-20 football it is a three year jump. (Some players, like Duane Muckette and Neveal Hackshaw, who were too old for the under-17s two years ago were able to join them as under-20s now). So you would have the possibility of including players who were not in the last programme.
But, two, whereas our players went on playing school football, their footballers have gone on to the German Bundesliga, the English Premier Division, the Scottish Premier League, etcetera, etcetera. In those two years, they have left high school football behind. So the level and quality of their experience has added to their ability to come now, having failed two years ago, and qualify for a World Youth Cup. There are no secrets here and I know you know that full well.
Wired868: What tactical trends or patterns did you notice at the tournament?
Look Loy: Most teams played with 4-4-2 with different variations… One team played with three defenders which was Jamaica and that didn’t help them at all. (Coach Theodore Whitmore) never fielded the same line-up in any match, he changed the position of his players from match to match and even within the same matches. He was never at ease with his team. Never…
The best teams had a stable line-up. Panama for the duration of the tournament made only three changes to their starting line-up in six matches and those three starting positions were in regular rotation (between the same six players).
Mexico changed once when they rested players after they had already won the group, Honduras was stable and, after the second game, United States also became stable and that speaks to preparation.
(Trinidad and Tobago made 15 changes in four group matches after their opening 2-2 draw with Jamaica. Just four of those changes were due to either suspension or injury).
The coaches of these teams came knowing their best line-ups; they were not guessing… If there is a trend to be pointed out here, it is that the best teams came prepared and the Caribbean teams all came unprepared including Trinidad and Tobago and the host, Jamaica.
Wired868: What would you say Trinidad and Tobago added to the competition?
Look Loy: At an individual level, there was general consensus that Trinidad and Tobago had good players and, from a technical standpoint, it was one of the best teams that Trinidad and Tobago sent to a CONCACAF tournament for a while now.
The players have ability and not just physical ability but technical ability… We liked the tactical ability of Neveal Hackshaw from North East and the skipper (Shannon Gomez) who came to our attention immediately in the first match but then kind of faded during the tournament. But you could see the boy is a capable player.
We liked (Duane) Muckette who is my player. But he is coming off a serious injury and he didn’t really impress himself upon the tournament as I really believe he could… But everybody recognised his importance to the team.
Akeem Garcia is a very tricky, dodgy guy and he has ability. Ricardo John is a useful player. We were very surprised not to see him appear at all against the United States. He played by himself upfront against Panama and did very well. I was personally shocked (not to see him against the US) because I thought as a lone forward he had a very good game upfront against Panama holding the ball and moving off the ball. He was physically strong and quick and so on. But the coaches would have their reasoning.
These were the outstanding players but we could see generally the pool (of Trinidad and Tobago players) was a good one on a technical level.
Wired868: And what did you think of Trinidad and Tobago’s performances?
Look Loy: On a tactical level, we were impressed with the fact that they could hold their defensive organisation for 60 or 70 minutes. But the problem is the team lacked physical fitness, which has to do with preparation. Even within those minutes and especially after those minutes the team was very, very vulnerable and this is when they lost.
They lost because of individual errors. As a general statement, I cannot be satisfied with the statistical performance of the team. Seven goals in six games are not good enough.
Five (goals) against Aruba and none against Panama, none against Guatemala and none against the United States; that isn’t good enough. You’re not going anywhere with that. Extract Aruba from the equation, you can’t score two goals in four games against your main rivals and go anywhere.
The team had real problems with goal scoring and the missed chances against Jamaica hurt them very, very badly. It was a match they should have won. And, despite good collective organisation in defence, you had a catalogue of defensive individual errors.
Look at the goal conceded by the goalkeeper (Johan Welch) against Guatemala, which was the second goal after an own goal to open the scoring. I don’t want to point fingers at him but look at the goal that Panama scored. There is no collective training to address (errors like) that or to address the goalkeeper coming and looking to dribble a man 35 yards from his goal and giving away a goal. There is no training to deal with that.
Yes, the players have individual ability and yes they were able to maintain some quality level and defensive organisation for most of the match. But then that faded and individual errors and errors of positioning and discipline cost them.
Look at the game against Panama. A match you are fighting for your life and then (Kadeem Corbin) makes a foolish tackle, which is a lack of due concern and care and you find yourself (sent off) and then an elbow to the face (by Akeem Humphrey). And then from being able to fight for a place for the World Cup, you are down to nine men.
These are individual errors of concentration. The coach can’t cater for that… And then it fell apart and another opportunity fades away.
Wired868: Can you talk more about the preparation of the team?
Look Loy: The TTFA is consistently failing national teams in that regard and we can go back in time and say the TTFF as well. When the TTFF wanted to find the means to support a team, they did it you know whether it was Jack Warner’s money or whoever else’s.
Let us not forget the last Under-17 women’s team that played in that very Catherine Hall Stadium was the worse team in the tournament. They didn’t score a goal and didn’t get a point and came home disgraced. And yet that was the successor to the National Under-17 team that Even Pellerud had that beat Chile in the World Cup and gave a good account of their selves.
They found the means to prepare Pellerud’s team but they didn’t find the means to support the team Marlon Charles had and that is the kind of lackadaisical don’t care attitude that transcends into the modern era with the TTFA.
That Under-20 team wasn’t prepared. And if it had been prepared you cannot guarantee success in football but they would have been better able to fight for a World Cup place…
Preparation is not only about lasting 90 minutes. Panama and Mexico played six group matches in two weeks and were asked to play extra time and if you saw those Panamanians run you would think it was their first match. And why? Because they were mentally and physically prepared to play six games in two weeks. Trinidad couldn’t do that…
(He speaks about a CONCACAF pre-tournament model he wrote for coaches on planning, physical preparation, tactical preparation and match analysis).
Part of your preparation is: okay, we are going into a tournament that has six games in two weeks, so let’s do that. Let’s play six games in two weeks. I don’t care if you play against North East, south east, whatever you could get; but six games in two weeks. So (your players) have a mental experience of doing that. When they get to the tournament we have done that before…
If you have the money to go through Central America and play Panama, Costa Rica and all of them in two weeks, then okay fine. It depends on your resources. But preparation includes dress rehearsal for the event and we don’t do this…
That has nothing to do with money. That is planning, vision and foresight. But nobody in the TTFA is thinking like that.
-
:cursing:I wonder what would be done differently in the future by My Loy and his partisans to prevent these short comings which he was so careful to point out...he obviously had little difficulty in identifying them since these are the very same shortcomings and deficiencies which have been plagueing the various national teams for many years.
-
Might have been an inspiring guy long ago, with good contributions here & abroad yesteryear & doing something good for Santa Rosa
but daiz about it. I doh take President seriously anymore since suspected to be corrupted by Jackulito, Scampito, Rodent, Uncle Tim & the rest. Cushy position, occasional talk and dats it. When time to make a stand and do what's right ...... silence, deafening silence.
Stay right there wriiting yuh occasional comment for T&T public to hear ... and please don't try a power grab for the TTFA again.
-
Look Loy: Schools football is hurting the Soca Warriors
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)
Part two of a three-part interview:
“When we have boys who should be fighting for a place in W Connection or Central’s first team at 17, 18 and 19 choosing to play schools football,” said CONCACAF technical study group member and FC Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy, “where they can do what they want and where they keep all their bad habits and still be stars. It is a joke.”
Look Loy, a former national player and coach at youth and senior level, covered the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Jamaica alongside Wired868 and offered his insight on the tournament in general and Trinidad and Tobago’s showing in particular.
The following is the second in a three-part interview that touches on the performance of the teenaged “Soca Warriors” but also discusses the merits of the local school and professional game, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) responsibility to football development, exactly what fans should expect in the short and long-term future and a CONCACAF model for success:
Wired868: The Trinidad and Tobago National Under-17 team leaves for CONCACAF battle next week. What should fans brace themselves for after their disappointment with the under-prepared Under-20 Team?
Keith Look Loy: This Under-17 team is also unprepared and I won’t say I don’t expect much from them but I am saying if they come home after the group stage it won’t surprise me. No doubt they have talent and I have a player too in that team (FC Santa Rosa midfielder John-Paul Rochford) who is 14 years old. But when we look at the best players in these tournaments, we are sending schoolboys to play and they are sending professional players.
Yes, they may not be all be professional players who are starting in first division teams although some of them are. (The Mexico Under-20 team had two first team players in Liga MX and the United States had a starter who got extensive playing time in the England Championship).
But we are doing the reverse. (Our Pro League is) already at a lower level than the clubs I am talking about and they are electing to leave that and go and play schools football. This is a joke.
Wired868: What role do you see the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) playing in the local game?
(Look Loy is a former national title winning coach with Malick Senior Comprehensive).
Look Loy: There was a time when the colleges’ league, which transformed to become the secondary schools league, played a very important role. I played for St Mary’s College in the 1960s and early 70s. It played a role because there was no organised youth football in Trinidad and Tobago at the time. You couldn’t find the youth football that exists today. A lot of the youth football today remains disorganised but at least it exists. There was nothing then. The only organised youth football was the colleges’ league…
Today, the secondary schools league is an obstacle to the best youth talent in Trinidad and Tobago. The standard is low regardless of what the media might write. You know it and I know it and anyone who goes to the game knows it.
When we have boys who should be fighting for a place in W Connection or Central’s first team at 17, 18 and 19 choosing to play schools football where they can do what they want and where they keep all their bad habits and still be stars. It is a joke. We saw how Levi Garcia looked (in the CONCACAF Under-20 tournament). He was terrible. He had no impact on the tournament at all. He couldn’t even hold a first place team.
He was lucky to have been seen here (in the Caribbean cup) and get a contract because if he had been judged on the CONCACAF tournament in Jamaica he wasn’t getting a contract. Tell me I’m wrong. For a player like that what does it do for your football development to play against schoolboys…
And I know the political pressure (student footballers) are put under by school principals and what not. But a boy doesn’t pass his exam and enter school at form one to play football, he enters as a student. I think it is absolutely incorrect for some principals and coaches to tell students we wouldn’t let you repeat or we wouldn’t give you a form six place unless you represent the school. They don’t have the boy’s best interest at heart. Because that boy should be allowed to come to school and do his school work but play in the environment that does the most for his future prospects as a player.
Wired868: So you think the schoolboys’ league has outlived its benefits?
Look Loy: I will tell you a story. In 1992, I went to Brazil for two months to do a course at the Brazilian football academy and (Sebastião) Lazaroni was one of the instructors in that programme. And one day we were talking outside the formal context of class and I asked him tell me about school football in Brazil and he said what do you mean. And I said football among schools. And he said ‘I don’t understand.’
I said when the schools have a representative team and they play a league against other each other. And he said: ‘Oh, okay. But that is for the boys who don’t have talent. Any boy in school who has talent is in a club.’
If we are serious, we have to get past the emotional attachment we have with school football for developing boys. Let the boys who cannot get in a team play for their schools… For the best talent, playing school football is a waste of time.
Wired868: The stated mission of the SSFL’s Premier Division is to create a more concentrated pool of talent. Do you think that would lift the standard of the schoolboys’ game?
Look Loy: I don’t buy that. It will ensure that there will be promotion and relegation and teams will fight for that. So it will have the best teams in the top division, which is quite apart from the best talent.
There is no guarantee that the good players from Chaguanas when they are demoted will all transfer to St Benedict’s College. (Those players) will be forced to play second division football. But that hypothetical boy doesn’t need to be playing in a second division league with Pleasantville. He should be fighting for a place with Connection or Club Sando or whatever and be in a tougher environment for his football development. That is when Trinidad and Tobago football will go to a top level.
‘Gally’ Cummings and them were not playing for Fatima College beyond 14 or 15 years old. Ask them. They were not playing school football. In the football world, that is for boys who cannot make a good club team.
But we have to ensure that the clubs are structured and provide a proper environment and the TTFA has to introduce requirements for clubs depending on its level to ensure that if a boy says he is not playing for St Mary’s College (and) he is going to play for Maple, there is an environment there that is proper to ensure his football development.
Feb-01st.
-
Here's Shaka's take..
Shaka: Here’s why T&T football needs the SSFL
By Shaka Hislop (Wired868.com)
Before I get going in earnest let me start by admitting my own bias. I haven’t actually lived in Trinidad and Tobago for well over 25 years now. As much as I’ve tried to keep up with the local game, it’s been through the media and I fully appreciate that being ‘on the ground’ provides an invaluable insight into our footballing landscape.
Also, I am a product and a huge fan of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL)—or the Colleges League at it was called back then. As much as I represented T&T at just about every youth level as far as I can remember, without my ‘escape’ to the Colleges League, I can say with some certainty, I would’ve quit the game by age 16.
So please don’t try to convince me that the Secondary Schools Football League is detrimental to our game. Please, don’t.
Over the last few years I’ve been afforded the opportunity to interact with some of the major stakeholders and decision makers in the game, regionally and globally. Regionally, particularly in the United States and Mexico, the approach can be summed up by the saying “a rising tide lifts all boats.”
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that phrase used over the last 18 months or so. The objective isn’t to gleam the cream off the top, but to raise the standard of the game at every level. By doing so, those at the top would ultimately benefit most.
And let’s be honest here, taking the best players out of the league would effectively kill the SSFL, and with it the opportunity for those players who may not be deemed good enough or do not want to play at a Pro League academy. At 16 or 17, I would’ve fallen into one of those two categories.
Apart from which, why is the SSFL to blame when “we have boys who should be fighting for a place in W Connection or Central’s first team at 17, 18 or 19 choosing to play school’s football?”
There are any number of people you can castigate for that: the TT Pro League, the clubs, their academies, the coaches, the player, the player’s parents, look you can blame Brer Anancy for all I care. But you surely can’t blame and consequently punish the SSFL for giving a player an opportunity that he enjoys.
Through all the talk and suggestion about what or who is at fault for our recent failings and how it should be addressed, I believe it is high time that we have an honest and earnest discussion about our football. We need to define our footballing identity and let that be the foundation on which all of our game is built. We have to get away from this four-year shifting of focus, that merely reflects who won the last World Cup. (We aren’t the only ones guilty of this by any means).
After 1998 when France won, there were calls for a Bloemfontein-esque national football academy. Then in 2002, we needed to play more beach soccer and futsal—a game I’m a huge fan of as a development tool, but that’s for another day—like the Brazilians do.
After 2006, we needed to be better defensively and tactically just like the Italians. In 2010, we needed more tikki-takka (more on Spain in a minute) as Spain rewrote the way the game was supposed to be played. And now we have to be more disciplined, just like the Germans.
When and where will this nonsense stop?
I read somewhere that, late in the last century, Spain’s footballing minds sat down to have a look at their consistent failings and how it should be addressed. They admitted that they’d never be able to match the likes of the Germans and the English in a physical game. Their fans didn’t want to see them playing defensively like the Italians, even if it meant winning 1-0. But they knew they were very good technically.
The resulting philosophy was simple, if we had the ball the opposition didn’t, they couldn’t hurt us and we’d dictate the game for the most part. And so tikki-takka was born.
They then set out to certify as many coaches as possible, at every level—Spain has more certified coaches than almost anyone—so that everyone, from the bottom to the top, understood the philosophy.
Yes, they were buoyed by Barcelona playing similarly, and the success that they had. And, yes, the style may vary slightly depending on the personnel or the coach. And, yes, you may criticize tikki-takka itself. But what you cannot question is the success that having a clear national footballing identity has brought to the Spanish national team.
Back in the early 2000s, I met with the newly appointed Minister of Sport, Roger Boynes—I really can’t remember what was the intended nature of the meeting—as it happened, the soon-to-be Minister of Sport Anil Roberts was also present. The TT Pro League was still in its infancy.
I suggested that the approach of the league could better benefit all of our football. I felt, and still do, that clubs should align themselves with schools in their region. The clubs would have first ‘dibs’ on the players coming out of those schools, that’d ensure a natural progression of the talent coming out of the SSFL.
Probably more importantly, given the crowds at Pro League games, there’d also be a natural progression of the fan base—the SSFL was well supported back then.
The Pro League club would also be responsible for sending coaches to oversee and assist in the coaching of the school teams, ensuring that all the players were exposed to the professionalism it takes to earn a living playing the game, the best players were well educated in the club’s philosophy and the club’s young and upcoming coaches were given an opportunity to gain valuable experience.
The investment and benefit would be mutual without affecting either’s autonomy.
As luck would have it—and, yes, I’m fully aware of how politicized our football has become—there is a TTFA Presidential election and a general election coming up this year. Regardless of their outcomes, whoever wins will have the minimum security of a four-year term to properly address the game.
It’s high time to get all our game’s stakeholders—the TTFA, TT Pro League, SSFL, Primary Schools Football league, Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Education, coaches and commercial partners—to define our own footballing identity.
How can we lift all boats? Let that be our New Year’s resolution for 2016.
Progress, after all, is not a zero-sum game.
-
I suggested that the approach of the league could better benefit all of our football. I felt, and still do, that clubs should align themselves with schools in their region. The clubs would have first ‘dibs’ on the players coming out of those schools, that’d ensure a natural progression of the talent coming out of the SSFL.
There in lies the question. Keith right or Shaka right? I have heard this above statement quoted above by Shaka many times. But I eh sure that will work. They can try it. But at the end of the day, the school want their pro-affiliated players playing in the inter-col and for the SSFL league champs or to fight from being demoted. At the end of the day, the clubs want their young players to fit into their scheme. Who will have he upper hand ? The clubs who investing their money or the principal who is in charge of educating the students?
-
I think what is required is a change in the (local) cultural mindset so that the best players are encouraged to seek out the pro-league contracts. However, we may find ourselves fighting against the lure of the US college system, in that students who have pro-league contracts may not be eligible for athletic scholarships to those schools, so players/students who see that as their opportunity may still decide to go the SSFL route as opposed to pro. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this.
-
I think what is required is a change in the (local) cultural mindset so that the best players are encouraged to seek out the pro-league contracts. However, we may find ourselves fighting against the lure of the US college system, in that students who have pro-league contracts may not be eligible for athletic scholarships to those schools, so players/students who see that as their opportunity may still decide to go the SSFL route as opposed to pro. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this.
We've been losing players to the US College system for a long time. But it really doesn't matter, because football as a career is not the main priority for those who take up scholarships.
-
I think what is required is a change in the (local) cultural mindset so that the best players are encouraged to seek out the pro-league contracts. However, we may find ourselves fighting against the lure of the US college system, in that students who have pro-league contracts may not be eligible for athletic scholarships to those schools, so players/students who see that as their opportunity may still decide to go the SSFL route as opposed to pro. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this.
We've been losing players to the US College system for a long time. But it really doesn't matter, because football as a career is not the main priority for those who take up scholarships.
What about players like Da Silva (sp?) and Leston Paul? Didn't they take the US scholarship road? Shaka himself went that route. I'm sure there are others as well, but I don't know the full numbers. It could be that it's not significant but that there will always be exceptions who go that route but end up making a career of it. Either way, I believe, like Shaka said, there needs to be some sort of discussion on how to move forward.
-
I think what is required is a change in the (local) cultural mindset so that the best players are encouraged to seek out the pro-league contracts. However, we may find ourselves fighting against the lure of the US college system, in that students who have pro-league contracts may not be eligible for athletic scholarships to those schools, so players/students who see that as their opportunity may still decide to go the SSFL route as opposed to pro. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this.
We've been losing players to the US College system for a long time. But it really doesn't matter, because football as a career is not the main priority for those who take up scholarships.
What about players like Da Silva (sp?) and Leston Paul? Didn't they take the US scholarship road? Shaka himself went that route. I'm sure there are others as well, but I don't know the full numbers. It could be that it's not significant but that there will always be exceptions who go that route but end up making a career of it. Either way, I believe, like Shaka said, there needs to be some sort of discussion on how to move forward.
DeSilva and Paul are the exception in this time period. Long ago, college players would be drafted into clubs. But time has changed. This has changed since the USSF created their academy in florida.
-
I think what is required is a change in the (local) cultural mindset so that the best players are encouraged to seek out the pro-league contracts. However, we may find ourselves fighting against the lure of the US college system, in that students who have pro-league contracts may not be eligible for athletic scholarships to those schools, so players/students who see that as their opportunity may still decide to go the SSFL route as opposed to pro. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this.
We've been losing players to the US College system for a long time. But it really doesn't matter, because football as a career is not the main priority for those who take up scholarships.
What about players like Da Silva (sp?) and Leston Paul? Didn't they take the US scholarship road? Shaka himself went that route. I'm sure there are others as well, but I don't know the full numbers. It could be that it's not significant but that there will always be exceptions who go that route but end up making a career of it. Either way, I believe, like Shaka said, there needs to be some sort of discussion on how to move forward.
Yes, there are exceptions, but the numbers are small. But even look at two of the names mentioned. De Silva is 25 and Leston Paul will be 25 in March. Where are they in their respective careers? Now compare that to Molino, Hyland, Bateau, Cyrus etc. who were on the same U-20 team as them.
-
Were Hyland, Cyrus, Molino etc academically inclined or were they more concered with putting food in their mouths and money in their pockets?
I think a case could be made for sending players/footballers to the US for scholarships at the age of 16 instead of 18/19 etc. Also remember that different people have different priorities. I think Paul and DeSilva would have attended St Mary's College and completed their advanced levels. Compare that to players like Molino, Hyland etc who would probably be attending their school with one purpose only, football and ssfl.
-
Nothing not hampering football besides football
It have nothing to do with school football or pro league or youth development or anything like that.
At the end of the day it comes down to the ambition of each player as an individual and their application to improvement
Sometimes you have to excel irregardless of environment
-
I wonder why Mr Loy is saying these things. Some of the things he is saying I can agree with but he seems to be taking the stance that the present state of football in Trinidad and Tobago is in disrepair.
I thought guys like Loy were partly responsible for it's present state but I was wrong. Loy wants to see change and he is very dissatisfied right now.
I hope Loy can come up with some solutions ..but saying that school football is hurting the National set up ...rubbish.
Why not find a real solution to the problem...kids want to play for their school..kids don't play football everyday like the old days..kids don't play in the streets like the old days..principals don't allow kids to go outside at sweat during recess, lunchtime and after school any more..San Fernando Tech and John D are no longer in the league..
These are some of the reasons why the players aren't as good as the players of yesteryear..they spend more time playing virtual soccer than actually playing the real thing..having them go and train with an academy under some coach who lacks real qualification is certainly not the answer..that is not how stars are made..they are made on the playground, on the streets , in the school yard, the academies are for special players who are managed and supervised by experienced qualified coaches and trainers..I don't think those so called academies in Trinidad are suitable for honing such talent.
-
Recently, I was watching a video of Naparima College vs St. Mary's College and after watching part of the first half I became increasingly bored and disgusted by what I saw. So, I immediately went to another sports channel and saw that Real Madrid had recently signed a young baller, aged 16 or 17 years old, with Messi and Ronaldindo like skills and vision. And it dawned on me that this kid was so lucky to not be plying his trade in Trinidad at that tender age and how misguided he would have been. So, I youtubed the kid and I was absolutely blown away by this 16 year old's technical and tactical abilities. He truly reminded me of Ronaldindo and he looked like the reincarnation of Messi and it so happens that he is left footed just like Messi. Not knowing anything about who nurtured his abilities or his training, the kid is Norwegian, I can almost guarantee you that he would have been wasting his time playing in the SSFL. I am not talking about Thiago Alcantarra, but speaking about Thiago. He is another young superstar that would have died in SSFL as a starlet. This kid is a midfield general, that if he stays healthy, he will replace Xavi as Spain's next midfield ace. Do you think that these two starlets would have been this successful plying their trade in the SSFL in Trinidad? Yeah, I don't think so. They would have been misguided by selfish individuals, wasting their time just to make a schoolboy hall of fame or the talk of the town.
SSFL vs Pro Football 0 & 2.
-
Recently, I was watching a video of Naparima College vs St. Mary's College and after watching part of the first half I became increasingly bored and disgusted by what I saw. So, I immediately went to another sports channel and saw that Real Madrid had recently signed a young baller, aged 16 or 17 years old, with Messi and Ronaldindo like skills and vision. And it dawned on me that this kid was so lucky to not be plying his trade in Trinidad at that tender age and how misguided he would have been. So, I youtubed the kid and I was absolutely blown away by this 16 year old's technical and tactical abilities. He truly reminded me of Ronaldindo and he looked like the reincarnation of Messi and it so happens that he is left footed just like Messi. Not knowing anything about who nurtured his abilities or his training, the kid is Norwegian, I can almost guarantee you that he would have been wasting his time playing in the SSFL. I am not talking about Thiago Alcantarra, but speaking about Thiago. He is another young superstar that would have died in SSFL as a starlet. This kid is a midfield general, that if he stays healthy, he will replace Xavi as Spain's next midfield ace. Do you think that these two starlets would have been this successful plying their trade in the SSFL in Trinidad? Yeah, I don't think so. They would have been misguided by selfish individuals, wasting their time just to make a schoolboy hall of fame or the talk of the town.
SSFL vs Pro Football 0 & 2.
Shaka say if he didn't have intercol he would have quit.
-
Recently, I was watching a video of Naparima College vs St. Mary's College and after watching part of the first half I became increasingly bored and disgusted by what I saw. So, I immediately went to another sports channel and saw that Real Madrid had recently signed a young baller, aged 16 or 17 years old, with Messi and Ronaldindo like skills and vision. And it dawned on me that this kid was so lucky to not be plying his trade in Trinidad at that tender age and how misguided he would have been. So, I youtubed the kid and I was absolutely blown away by this 16 year old's technical and tactical abilities. He truly reminded me of Ronaldindo and he looked like the reincarnation of Messi and it so happens that he is left footed just like Messi. Not knowing anything about who nurtured his abilities or his training, the kid is Norwegian, I can almost guarantee you that he would have been wasting his time playing in the SSFL. I am not talking about Thiago Alcantarra, but speaking about Thiago. He is another young superstar that would have died in SSFL as a starlet. This kid is a midfield general, that if he stays healthy, he will replace Xavi as Spain's next midfield ace. Do you think that these two starlets would have been this successful plying their trade in the SSFL in Trinidad? Yeah, I don't think so. They would have been misguided by selfish individuals, wasting their time just to make a schoolboy hall of fame or the talk of the town.
SSFL vs Pro Football 0 & 2.
Shaka say if he didn't have intercol he would have quit.
Don't misunderstand me. I didn't say T&T Pro Football. I said Pro Football meaning professional football in the outside world where the term is synonymous with real professional football. Maybe, if Shaka had an agent to guide him or maybe if he was good enough at that early age to sign with an EPL club, he would not be talking that shit. Afterall, he is still an Englishman with Trini linkage.
-
I still stand by my opinion that the pro league teams have to have academies with their own teachers or tutors. Depending on the college league to help them will not work. The SSFL has their league to boost students moral. What does that have to do with the pro league. Schools primary job is education first, sports second. The first priority of the pro is football. The SSFL probably look at the pros as trying to kill college football.
-
Lose one Shaka, gain three. Not a problem.
-
So Look Loy didn't know all this when he was T&T technical director?
Or like he was to busy playing marble pitch with Jack Warner nuts like de rest of them.
-
Thanks Sam. these guys were in charge of Technical development & restructuring. What was Look Loy and Anton Legacy. They left no structure and the current crop of players can be traced back to their development.
T&T have one footballer right now Molino. He is the only player clubs really want. The rest struggling to find a decent club and playing all in Vietnam, Lithuania and far out leagues like Star Trek, where no man has gone before.
What he did mention is what all of us saying & Hart said it as well. We need money that can be invested in the football. Not just teams, but schools & Academy. Look Loy talk with out giving any real answers. . :frustrated: Sancho not going and do nothing for football, watch :banginghead:
My friends all say that football finish in T&T. Skeen not doing one thing after 10+ years of pro league.
Nobody watching and the football standard real poor. Last year I was home and watch some Intercol, not a single player look like he have a future in ball outside the local league. Went to see a South zone game also, talk about shit.
Start supporting Red Force we, because that is where money going.
-
Dudes, Keith and them had all technical this and that to their name. But nothing eh happen because Jack eh make it happen. Who was controlling TTFA.? Keith? Look over the years Jack, And camps had all kind of reports about football and eh do shit about it. Jack eh listening to nobody but himself. Jack was a FIFA vp and you think he could not get reports and technical advice about improving TT.? Actually we all know he had the funds to do it. But kept it for himself. He build the so called Fifa Center for excellence. He brought in LP as a TD and sideline him for much of the time he was there. Breds get Allyuh thinking heads in order,nah!
-
When did it become the job of the SSFL to produce players for national selection? I thought the SSFL like other school sports was to nurture a student into a more all round individual? If the pro league clubs want to invest time and money to develop and nurture their own players then so be it. We can't be blaming the standard of the SSFL for our football woes.
-
Deeks, shut yuh ass nah.
These men under Jack Warner for over 20 years, they accepted de terms, now they not in T&T football anymore and all of a sudden they know everything.
Please...
Go and drink some ca-ril-lie bush and purge yuhself out of all that shit yuh eating.
They sell they soul for peanuts, now they reeling in like a fish who get hook.
What de f00ck Anton, Look Loy and who ever else under Jack did for T&T football?
They work under de devil for 2 decades, now they trying to wash they hands.
I feel Jack did own you once too.
-
Look Loy: T&T football running on pipe dreams; but we can save it.
By Lasana Liburd (wired868).
“We no longer have the pool of players and that fountain of experience we had when we qualified for Germany in 2006,” said CONCACAF technical study group member and FC Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy. “(We had) men playing in the English leagues and Scotland Premier League and so forth for years… Now, with all due respect, we have men in India and Vietnam.
“It is hardly the same. And therefore the level of expectation, I think, should not realistically be the same.”
Look Loy, a former national player and coach at youth and senior level, covered the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Jamaica alongside Wired868 and offered his insight on the tournament in general and Trinidad and Tobago’s showing in particular.
The following is the final instalment in a wide-ranging three-part interview that discussed the performance of the teenaged “Soca Warriors”, the merits of the local school and professional game and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) responsibility to football development.
Now, Look Loy says what local football fans should expect in the short and long-term from their national teams and identifies a model for success based on the remarkable rise of a fellow CONCACAF nation:
Wired868: Should we be encouraged or concerned by the National Under-20 Team’s showing at the CONCACAF Championship and recent trends within the Confederation?
Keith Look Loy: I am going to marry this Under-20 tournament with the last (senior) Caribbean Cup tournament in Montego Bay. Trinidad and Tobago lost on penalty kicks (in the 2014 Caribbean Cup finals) to Jamaica but the performance of that team gave no encouragement for the 2015 Gold cup and the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. I’m being frank.
Never mind the fact that we got to the final. The performance was poor. We were able to survive against Jamaica in the final because we were very defensive. Quite frankly, that Senior Team had 11 players on the field but it was short because certain big name players didn’t pull their weight.
For us to have any kind of chance, starting with the Gold Cup and continuing into the World Cup qualifying campaign, that pool at senior level has to be prepared properly and the final eleven has to pull their weight. Without calling names, it was the talk of the stadium after that final and even during the tournament that certain big name players wearing Trinidad and Tobago shirts were doing absolutely nothing on the pitch and were burdens to the team. They have to do better.
They have to be prepared better and they have to be prepared to come on the field and give everything if they have to have any chance because that was not Jamaica’s best team.
Wired868: Do we have the calibre players who can take us to glory in the short term?
Look Loy: Our real potential is going to be challenged shortly in the Gold Cup and that is in a matter of a few months. Whether the TTFA is going to make it possible for whichever team (Stephen) Hart selects to play on the FIFA dates and to have preparation matches is an issue that is always up in the air. But they are going to have to do that.
Secondly, we no longer have the pool of players and that fountain of experience we had when we qualified for Germany in 2006. (We had) men playing in the English leagues and the Scotland Premier League and so forth for years… Now, with all due respect, we have men in India and Vietnam. It is hardly the same. And therefore the level of expectation I think should not realistically be the same.
We no longer have a Yorke and a Latapy and a Shaka Hislop and Marvin Andrews and all of these guys… That is not to say the players we have are untalented but they don’t have the experience that these guys brought to the table. That is just a fact.
We are facing two questions. Firstly, the preparation of a team to proceed into a tournament and we consistently fail to prepare teams properly. Select the right coach give them the resources, let them train, give them the practice matches, etc, etc. That is team development or preparation.
Then there is the longer team issue of player development. You know what I mean. The players we want to be in the men’s team for Qatar and thereafter, we have to be producing those players now. That speaks to the preparation I just referred to but it also refers to player development in Trinidad and Tobago as a whole.
We need to be preparing from under-10 and under-12 today and that speaks to coach development and coach education, which is non-existent in Trinidad and Tobago and under the umbrella of the TTFA. The coaches in every nook and cranny from Chaguaramas to Toco to Fyzabad and Palo Seco who have to be providing these boys from now at age 6, 7, 8, 9 and coming up the line. We have to be preparing coaches to do that.
And, secondly, we have to be talking about club development and giving the clubs and the players the best possible environment the country can afford to prepare the next set of national team players at whatever level.
The TTFF/TTFA is doing nothing to demand clubs improve their standards and to provide support for clubs to improve their standards. It is just draw up a fixtures and let them come and fight and we go on to the next season. The so-called big clubs: how good are they by international standards?
I’m talking about not their level of football on the field but their internal organisation and their structures. It is a joke. You know what I’m saying is true. But we want to talk about how we want to win CONCACAF Champions League. Pipe dreams!
Wired868: So how do we get there?
Look Loy: We have to establish the infrastructure. I love to talk about Panama because they are taking the painstaking steps to develop infrastructure at every level: club football, national teams, coaches’ education. That is how you create a consistent product, which is what the United States did.
As I was telling one of my colleagues, in 1989 Trinidad and Tobago and the United States were at the same level. They sent a team comprising university students here and beat us 1-0 at the stadium. And between that time and now they have developed the nascent infrastructure they had in place. Look at the route they travelled and where we are. One could argue we have gone backwards in certain areas.
Now, they have a national league that is the sixth largest by attendances in world football. Whereas we talking about we going Russia. We always talking about going here and going there but they’re doing it.
United States is consistently in the last 16 at World Cup level while Panama is now looking for its third Gold Cup final and to win it this year… We’re still holding on to pipe dreams because we will not do the hard work and take the hard decisions.
But let me get back on point about what it takes to get there. I like to talk about Panama because I was the FIFA development officer in charge there and the first thing they did was to develop a FIFA technical centre using their FIFA Goal money. Trinidad and Tobago does not have a technical centre that belongs to the association but we build that centre for them on behalf of FIFA back in 2003 and FIFA financed that.
Two, they put significant monies, millions and millions of dollars, into coaching education.
Three, they have significant private sponsorship and they put significant investment into youth competitions and by that I mean domestic competitions and their youth national teams. Their players go naturally from an Under-15 team to an Under-17 team to an Under-17 World Cup and an Under-20 World Cup on to the Senior National team. They have developed their pipeline.
And, four, they have established a serious professional league that has players from across South America. I have been to their professional games and you get a good crowd and a good level of football. In the CONCACAF Champions League they are not getting to the later stages but they hold their own. When you go to Panama to play against a professional team, no matter who you are, you have to send your good team and you’ve got to play (hard).
And lastly, (Look Loy laughs) they have a stable federation.
So you are talking about a stable professional environment and investment in coaching education, youth football and top level football. And without that you’re going nowhere.
-
Deeks, shut yuh ass nah.
These men under Jack Warner for over 20 years, they accepted de terms, now they not in T&T football anymore and all of a sudden they know everything.
Please...
Go and drink some ca-ril-lie bush and purge yuhself out of all that shit yuh eating.
They sell they soul for peanuts, now they reeling in like a fish who get hook.
What de f00ck Anton, Look Loy and who ever else under Jack did for T&T football?
They work under de devil for 2 decades, now they trying to wash they hands.
I feel Jack did own you once too.
Sam, go and jock yuh teetoe, nah!
-
Sam , I am not making excuses for them. But put yourself in anyone of their shoes. You would either quit or go with the flow and bide your time. It took more than 20 years for that to happen. You with your coconut head full well know that Jack controlled football in that period because of being a Fifa vp. and Fifa has a rule of no govt interference. So imagine Keith or Anton going to Jack about building a TTFf academy like the USSF academy. You think Jack go use TTFf money to do that. Anton and Keith eh have the money to build a real academy. I talking about an academy with dorms, classrooms and teachers and tutors to accommodate the educational needs of the young players.
-
Look Loy: Caribbean back to pre-Jack Warner days.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
It’s back to the pre-Jack Warner days for T&T and Caribbean football, following the exclusion of ex-T&T midfielder and captain David Nakhid from the list of names for the Fifa presidency election in February. At least so says former national football coach Keith Look Loy yesterday.
Look Loy, who himself represented T&T in football, painted a very gloomy picture of football in the Caribbean as it now relates to football development, world representation and qualification of regional teams to the World Cup tournaments in the future and it is not because he felt that Nakhid would have made a difference either. In fact Look Loy, who was the coach of many national youth teams, explained that Nakhid just didn’t have the status or support to be elevated to the position of president of the World governing body for football.
“This is just how the politics go,” Look Loy said. Nakhid who has been campaigning throughout the Caribbean within the last few months saw his name not even included among seven other names when nomination closed last Monday. The reason was because he did not have the required five nominations after it was said that one of his supporters broke election rules and supported another candidate.
It meant the election committee decided not to consider Nakhid’s application as it did not meet the requirement of having five declarations of support. Fifa in a release stated: “David Nakhid’s candidacy has been invalidated due to the fact that he only received four valid football association nominations when candidates require five. It is understood that one national association nominated both Nakhid and another candidate.”
It stated also that: “Under the election rules such a situation would invalidate the nomination.”
Nakhid’s camp has since written to the Fifa to demand an explanation as to how and why he was debarred from running. When quizzed on this turn of events Look Loy said he did not expect that Nakhid would have been in such a situation as he thought the former T&T playmaker had already secured his five nominations. He explained further that Nakhid showed that he was unaware of the operations of the Fifa by this mishap.
Look Loy did not see Nakhid being left out of the election race as a concern for the Caribbean or Concacaf, but he said he is deeply worried about the position that the Caribbean region particularly, has found itself in with absolutely no representation on world football issues and decisions. “The Caribbean would just be some islands in the sea now with no concern about them,” Look Loys said.
In the past under then Concacaf president and Fifa vice president Jack Warner the region secured additional World Cup spots which saw both Jamaica and T&T qualify for the France 1998 and Germany 2006 World Cups, respectively. Concacaf, as far as Look Loy is concerned does not need the Caribbean to stand firm in world football.
“Concacaf does not need us but I think the region definitely needs Concacaf, to make it in world football.” Asked about whether the progress made by regional associations T&T and Jamaica can help us stand firm in world football, Look Loy said no.
“Realistically, progress in football is determined by the ability to consistently qualify for World Cups and both T&T and Jamaica have done so just twice. But there is no doubt in the minds of the world, that the USA, Mexico and Costa Rica are accepted from the Concacaf region,” Look Loy said.
Meanwhile another football administrator William Wallace said Nakhid’s exclusion from the list of names to contest the Fifa election is unfortunate.
“I was happy that Nakhid was in the race because to me it would have been a statement on behalf of the region to the world,” Wallace said.
-
I agree with Keith, there is semblance of the preWarner days. The Caribbean island will be cast aside. But if the Caribbean island speak with one strong voice, the can weather the storm. But I doubt that will happen. There is geographic factions and there is linguistic factions. There is also big island, small island political factions. Jack was able to grease the palms of all the association president, so he had their backings. This not the case now. Our head is under indictment. And I doubt a Trini will be elected to run CFU football in the foreseeable future. They could forget holding any significant post in Concacaf either.
-
This article reflects either a poorly relayed message by Alibey or incompletely developed thoughts by Look Loy. Someone failed to connect all the dots.
-
Look Loy queries selection of T&T team.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).
FC SANTA Rosa coach and owner Keith Look Loy has queried the selection of the national football team, as well as the assistant coaches, for this week’s tour of Nicaragua .
The national team, under recently- appointed coach Tom Saintfiet, were due to face Nicaragua last evening, while both teams will square off again on Friday, at Managua .
According to Look Loy, “to say the least it’s an experimental team.
The selection approach or the selection policy baffles me. I find it a bit erratic. But we hope that this team could do something against Nicaragua because Nicaragua is hardly a world-power of a team or a CONCACAF power.” He continued, “so let us see what they do. The performance and results in Nicaragua will give us an indication of what to expect.” Ahead of the trip to Nicaragua,
Pro League champions and current league leaders Central FC were involved in a club-versus-country row, whereby they insisted that three players (Jan-Michael Williams, Sean De Silva and Nathaniel Garcia) were allowed to play Pro League matches last week, against the national team’s wishes .
De Silva was injured in training while Williams and Garcia played against Morvant Caledonia United last Tuesday, and were subsequently excluded from the team to the Central American nation .
Asked about the stance taken by Central FC, Look Loy noted, “my policy on that is always consistent .
FIFA has rules for the release of players on FIFA dates, five days before (the game). It is at the will of any particular club that a player will be allowed to train or go and represent his country outside the FIFA date. I think that Central were well within their rights .
“Why is there no confusion that players were denied participation by their European clubs. Is it that the European clubs have one standard applied to them and another standard is being applied to the clubs by the coach and the local administration? I think if there is no issue with the foreign clubs, why should there be an issue with the local clubs. There is one rule, there are all professional clubs. If the coach wants to look at players, let him go and watch football.” Look Loy continued, “when the coach of Brazil wants a player, he doesn’t call players to training. He goes and sees a match. (Central FC) are in the middle of a title race .
I wasn’t letting my players go either, to be quite frank. While I’m on that point, I find it hard to fathom that 30 players could be invited and not one player from the National Super League, not even the leading scorer (Andy London of Siparia Spurs, with 26 goals). I find that difficult to accept.”
Defence Force’s striker, Devorn Jorsling, the leading scorer in the TT Pro League with nine goals, was also left out from the training squad. “What is the rationale behind it? You leave out the top scorer in the professional league. So what is the criteria in calling these people. That’s why I’m saying I find the selection approach erratic.” Carlos Edwards, named as captain for the pair of games against Nicaragua, and Cornell Glen were both recalled to the team, after three-year-long spells out of the reckoning .
“It’s not only experience but about actual performance,” said Look Loy. “I don’t look at age.” Former T&T coaches Russell Latapy (now director of youth football) and Jamaal Shabazz (technical coordinator) were named as Saintfiet’s assistants by the TT Football Association (TTFA) .
Look Loy said, “there is no technical justification for Latapy to be appointed assistant coach of the national team when the national Under-17 team was a disaster, that was a couple months ago. If Shabazz is a technical administrator, then let him do that. From the time we start to mix administrators with coaches, then we have a problem.
-
Cautious, cowardly Soca Warriors.
By Keith Look Loy (Guardian).
There will be much discussion surrounding the selection of the team (chaotic and capricious), the match tactics (overly cautious, even cowardly) and the underwhelming team performance (lethargic and unambitious). Yes, Tyrone Charles scored a magnificent equaliser, but the team looked horrible and Suriname deserved to win. Our team belied their moniker—WARRIORS—and tamely conceded the match to an ordinary Surinamer side.
Discussion of the match and the team, however important it may be, is virtually immaterial. Whether we qualify for the 2017 Gold Cup or not, last night we witnessed yet another painful step in the disintegration of a team that qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2015 Gold Cup, and the current final round of qualifying for Russia 2018—hardly the achievements of a small team.
To put a sharp point on it, the disintegration of the Soca Warriors has run a simultaneous course with the coming to power (in October 2015), and the mismanagement of the TTFA (T&T Football Association) and our national teams by the David John-Williams administration.
Starting with the debacle of sending two women’s national teams to simultaneously and disastrously represent us in two different countries, to the humiliation of our Under-15 girls team (22:0 by USA) in CONCACAF play, through the shameful exit of our U-17 men’s team while hosting their CFU qualifying tournament, to the topsy turvy preparation of our U-20 men’s team, to the ridiculous handling of Stephen Hart’s removal and the appointment of (Tom) Sainfiet, and on to last evening’s (Wednesday) debacle, the John-Williams administration has presided over the destruction of our national teams’ programme.
The John-Williams administration is also failing miserably in its management of the Association. Internal communication is as painful as pulling teeth. Technical programmes are being operated like national security secrets. Domestic leagues are being left to their own devices and to fail without TTFA guidance and/or support.
All of this is the CONTEXT which surrounds last evening’s (Wednesday) failure. But our troubles result not only from administrative politics and issues. The players must also bear blame. Too many of them are too easily content and lack an awareness of their lifestyle and concern for truly professional standards.
Truth be told, our football is in decline. To save it we need a true football revolution at every level. Root and branch. One that is democratic and from below. From the clubs and the players and the ordinary football people. One that will propose an alternative to the absolute disaster that is the current TTFA leadership. If only we would see and act on that.
Keith Look Loy
Former national coach
-
Look Loy on point!! :beermug:
-
If this were politricks....To a degree it can be considered such
A no confidence motion would be the order of this day for this current administration
No if's no and's nor but's about that...A tag to go with them leaving
You should have nothing to do with football for the rest of your existence.....The damage they have wrecked on the game is not repairable...I am saying this because the reality is we are going to be non participants in both the Gold and World cups...That really sucks
Rastafari