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'It was embarrassing'
Technical staff left out Soca Warriors' windfall
Ian Prescott
Monday, June 26th 2006
Soca Warriors manager Bruce Aanensen, left, and trainer Wayne Lawson look on at proceedings during the presentation of awards to the Trinidad and Tobago national football team on Saturday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
WHILE the Soca Warriors received millions in cash and UTC units and national awards from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago as rewards for their performances at the 2006 World Cup , some of the squad's backroom staff are upset at being overlooked by Government.
Members of the team's technical staff are disappointed that their contribution to the World Cup success was not recognised by the T&T Government.
Not mentioned for reward in Prime Minister Patrick Manning's speech at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Saturday were Bruce Aanensen (Manager); George Joseph (Assistant manager); Zephrinus Nicholas (Trainer/physio); Dr Terrence Babwah (Team doctor); Wayne Lawson (Physical trainer), Ikin Williams (Equipment manager); Esmond O'Brien (Assistant equipment manager); Dutch assistant coach/scout Mario Been; Oba Gulston (Physiotherapist); team chef Cecil Wint; media officer Shaun Fuentes; European manager Hans Hagelstein; nor ex-scout David Nakhid and Sam Phillips, who was also assistant manager up to the World Cup qualifying match against Bahrain last November.
On Saturday, Manning announced that each of the 24 members of the T&T World Cup squad-including Silvio Spann, who was injured just before the start of the tournament and replaced by Evans Wise-will receive $1 million, consisting of $750,000 in UTC units and $250,000 cash.
In addition, the 16 footballers failing to make the final roster will get $200,000 in units and $50,000 cash.
Team captain Dwight Yorke received $1 million in units and $250,000 cash.
Assistant coaches Wim Rijsbergen (Holland), Anton Corneal (T&T) and goalkeeper coach Michael Maurice will each receive $250,000.
Dutch head coach Leo Beenhakker was offered $1 million cash and the Chaconia Medal (Gold) for steering T&T to their first-ever World Cup Finals.
In announcing the rewards to be given to the players, Manning said: "This is one of the happiest occasions for me, as Prime Minister, to address the people of our nation. I feel extremely honoured, and on behalf of the entire nation, let me say how grateful I am to the Soca Warriors for providing this unprecented opportunity. The Warriors have filled the hearts of our entire nation with pride."
But team trainer/physio Nicholas said he was embarrassed that their contribution to the Soca Warriors' World Cup campaign went unrecognised.
Nicholas, who helped with the team's physical preparation during qualifying and at the World Cup, returns to his duties today as physical training instructor (PTI) with the Defence Force.
"It was embarrassing," he said, commenting on Saturday's slight at the Stadium. "But I expected that, because people do not show any respect to their own. I can't do anything about it, so life goes on. If they think that the players just went out there on their own with Beenhakker and did well at the World Cup, then the Prime Minister should not have a Cabinet.
"But, I not taking on that...the man above, he gives me my reward. I take this experience, put it in a bottle, and save it. After that, life goes on as usual."
Equipment manager Williams was also dismayed.
Having served many years in that capacity with T&T national football teams, Williams said: "I was very disappointed. But, if they wanted to give us something, it is up to them. Maybe they have something for us, but just have not announced it yet."
After checking out of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, where the team stayed following the awards function on Saturday, manager Aanensen offered little comment yesterday, but there was obvious disappointment in his voice.
The normally very forthright Aanensen said: "I'm just chilling out for a few days. Right now, I'm not sure I want to comment on what went on there. Maybe on Tuesday."
Apart from the slight on the part of the Government, Nicholas rates the World Cup experience as the best in his career.
He was thrilled to work on the same stage with teams such as England and Sweden and to observe the techniques of their trainers.
"I got the chance to see how the mighty England train. Their players wanted for nothing. They had five, six trainers...people to bring them water on the field, and everything they needed.
"Yet, we, little Trinidad and Tobago, were able to put up a fight against them."