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Messages - president

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61
Football / Re: National football consultation today.
« on: November 28, 2011, 01:32:16 PM »
FC Santa Rosa - or any other club - is free to decide if it wishes to participate in TTFF (read, "FIFA") football or "minor league" football. That said, no club, with ambition to rise to the top of the local game, would sacrifice FIFA-affiliated football for "minor league" play. It would be outside of the mainstream, its players would not be considered for national team selection - and FC Santa Rosa has players in different national teams. Let us be clear - the TTFF and the local game DO NOT BELONG to the current TTFF clique. Why should people run and leave them to have their way? FC Santa Rosa has been fighting them in the Eastern FA for years and will continue to do so, I am certain.
Now, to the "consultation". We have seen multiple re-incarnations of this talk shop over the many years the TTFF clique has been in power. People vent and pose and then nothing happens. Nothing personal, but Shabaaz is talking about people "courting the dictatorship", is he? How else has Caledonia survived all these years other than by "courting the dictatorship"? And how else is he continuing to represent the TTFF and the GFF at the same time - as he did in Mexico recently at a FIFA conference (before Guyana eliminated us)? How is that even conceivable? This is how and why the TTFF clique continues to hold on to power. There are too many people in football who depend on the status quo for favours big and small.
Talk and posturing pal. Smoke and mirrors. As I said above, stay tuned for more mind games...Meantime, the clubs have to organize to move these people. Everything else is talk...

62
Football / Re: National football consultation today.
« on: November 28, 2011, 11:06:05 AM »
...As I said above...

63
Football / Re: A future for football?
« on: November 28, 2011, 11:04:37 AM »
For the record Contro, I signed the petition like a couple hundred other people. I am not an originator of the petition. Nothing before its time...

64
Football / Re: National football consultation today.
« on: November 28, 2011, 10:48:42 AM »
This sham will achieve nothing. What is being said there has been said ad nauseam previously. There will be nothing new revealed. There are no secrets in modern football. Both the Ministry and the TTFF are involved in a PR exercise and the former has the financing to support the latter. Watson is in the media talking about the "new" focus of the TTFF being youth development but the Eastern FA, of which he is still effectively the president, has one of the worst youth development programmes and one of the weakest competitions in the TTFF - two and three teams in an age category. Meantime, the TTFF held a "screening session" for Under 15s yesterday in Ato Boldon Stadium - for the ENTIRE country! On the basis of that they will send a national team to an Under 17! tournament in Colombia in the next days. And when those little boys get the beatings they will get the entire country will want to know why. This initiative is the brain child of the TTFF's two technical advisors (unofficial) - you know who they are. Stay tuned for more mind games...

65
Football / Re: Wales football manager Gary Speed has died at the age of 42.
« on: November 27, 2011, 12:07:04 PM »
The police are treating it as a suicide...

66
Football / Re: Wales football manager Gary Speed has died at the age of 42.
« on: November 27, 2011, 11:40:25 AM »
Exactly. Clinical depression is a serious disease and those who suffer from it should be treated with respect - not made the butt of primitive commentary.

67
Football / Re: Wales football manager Gary Speed has died at the age of 42.
« on: November 27, 2011, 11:28:36 AM »
MEP, I second your sentiment in response to Mad Ras 13's ridiculous comment...

68
Football / Re: A future for football?
« on: November 27, 2011, 07:26:15 AM »
People don't want change apparently. Watson and his cohorts are settling in quite nicely thank you. They are feeling particularly smug after Watson's minion Wayne Cunningham recently "lobbied" got the support of Eastern FA clubs to avoid a proper election there - after many of the clubs had been clamouring for a vote. Too many people with votes want these people there. They benefit in little and big ways from the status quo - and the TTFF clique knows (or believes) that public sentiment cannot move them.
Which brings us to the petition. How many members does SWO have? Four thousand? How many guests visit this site every week? I don't know. Whatever the number, I responded to a post last week that said the petition could generate 200,000 signatures. My response was that if it got 2,000 it would have done well. After almost an entire week, it has generated exactly 207. Not even SWO members are signing the thing. And we want change?
Beyond that, we also need to accept that Trinidad and Tobago football is no longer dominant in the Caribbean. The era of our seven CFU titles is now long gone - and at all levels. The current failure to even beat - never mind dominate - CFU teams has a lot to do with the mentality of our players. Many of don't like to hear this and rush to condemn ONLY the coach whose team struggles in CFU tournaments, but the players MUST bear responsibility as well.
The solution is complex, therefore, and must include these basics, and all that they imply regarding human, financial, and material resources: 1) restructuring and improvement of the TTFF administration, 2) improved and more consistent youth development programmes at both TTFF and club level, 3) more effective management and preparation of our national teams, 4) better administration of regional football and TTFF-affiliated leagues.

69
Football / Re: T&T U-23s Final Round Olympic Qualifiers Thread
« on: November 27, 2011, 06:18:39 AM »
People don't want change apparently. Watson and his cohorts are settling in quite nicely thank you. They are feeling particularly smug after Watson's minion Wayne Cunningham recently "lobbied" got the support of Eastern FA clubs to avoid a proper election there - after many of the clubs had been clamouring for a vote. Too many people with votes want these people there. They benefit in little and big ways from the status quo - and the TTFF clique knows (or believes) that public sentiment cannot move them.
Which brings us to the petition. How many members does SWO have? Four thousand? How many guests visit this site every week? I don't know. Whatever the number, I responded to a post last week that said the petition could generate 200,000 signatures. My response was that if it got 2,000 it would have done well. After almost an entire week, it has generated exactly 207. Not even SWO members are signing the thing. And we want change?
Beyond that, we also need to accept that Trinidad and Tobago football is no longer dominant in the Caribbean. The era of our seven CFU titles is now long gone - and at all levels. The current failure to even beat - never mind dominate - CFU teams has a lot to do with the mentality of our players. Many of don't like to hear this and rush to condemn ONLY the coach whose team struggles in CFU tournaments, but the players MUST bear responsibility as well.
The solution is complex, therefore, and must include these basics, and all that they imply regarding human, financial, and material resources: 1) restructuring and improvement of the TTFF administration, 2) improved and more consistent youth development programmes at both TTFF and club level, 3) more effective management and preparation of our national teams, 4) better administration of regional football and TTFF-affiliated leagues.

70
Football / Re: Fenwick says no racism in Pro League.
« on: November 24, 2011, 04:40:32 PM »
No racism in the Pro League is, as they say, a "no brainer". The players and staff are 99.9% black. To say there is no racism in football is another matter. Old stereotypes die hard, and the ideas that Indians can't play football (only cricket), and "it eh hah no good Chinee" linger. The potential elite players of these groups disappear almost before they are seen. Yes, there are socio-economic reasons for their disappearance - essentially after an SSFL career - but how many talented "non-black" players make it into a national team? Let's think deeper on the issue.

71
Football / Re: Yorke helps raise £126,000 for Children In Need 2011
« on: November 23, 2011, 12:04:22 PM »
Yes, but charity begins at home. I praise him for helping needy children anywhere. Would LOVE to see him doing that for our kids...

72
Football / Re: Petition for the resignation of the TTFF Executive Committee
« on: November 23, 2011, 07:20:08 AM »
If we get 2,000 we would have done well. Talk is hard to back up man...

73
Football / Re: Lessons from T&T’s World Cup loss!
« on: November 22, 2011, 05:56:13 PM »
...and there's somebody in Guyana saying a foreigner should not be coaching Guyana...nonsense...

74
Football / Re: Petition for the resignation of the TTFF Executive Committee
« on: November 22, 2011, 04:16:46 PM »
The public MUST sign this petition. Get your peeps to do so. I have signed and I am promoting the petition as far and as wide as I can. The public cannot vote in TTFF elections but a strong, clear message MUST be sent to the clique that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Time to leave.

75
Football / Re: Look Loy candidate for EFA president.
« on: November 21, 2011, 11:23:42 AM »
Where have you been pal? Not following the evolution of this, I see. The vote last Saturday was forced on the TTFF clique, who voted for Camps, I remind you - after three months of struggle against anti-democratic, unconstitutional behaviour and denial of an election. On Saturday, clubs that had been for an election since 28 August, and which had signed every letter and petition that had been forwarded to the EFA/TTFF in support of their position, suddenly changed sides and voted AGAINST having an election. You think this was Democracy at work? Was the nonsense at the Hyatt months ago Democracy at work? You think all these CFU people are being banned and fined due to a figment of someone's imagination? That was your so-called "lobbying".
Based on your very casual acceptance of so-called democratic practice, you should have no problem in accepting the rot at the TTFF. ALL of the politicians at Abercromby Street have been ELECTED by someone. Your naivete - or cynicism - is shocking. It's the TTFF we are talking about.
All of that said, no problem. To be cliche, "The voice of the People is the voice of God". We will all have to live with the consequences of having those clubs which voted against an election in the EFA decide the course of the Association over the next two years.
P.S. The Look Loy faction" had nothing other than ideas, a vision and lots of hard work to offer to the clubs. Those who seek to overthrow the status quo usually find themselves in that position. More importantly, what did the EFA/TTFF clique have to offer the clubs? More of the very same thing that you say you are against. This is not an intellectual exercise we are involved in here pal. It is the very future of our football - something that many of us work hard for on the ground in very difficult conditions every day - that we are fighting for. Despite the slogan up above, we don't just talk.

76
Football / Re: Look Loy candidate for EFA president.
« on: November 21, 2011, 09:34:35 AM »
The anti-democratic, monopolistic, parasitic elite is entrenched throughout the body politic, financial and social, of Trinidad and Tobago. The manipulation of votes in the EFA is not a surprise. Dictatorship always depends on people to work against against their own interests in order to maintain its rule. The "contra" clubs have agreed to band together and to work towards a grassroots democratic solution to the stagnation of the TTFF. All the talk about installing Sancho, Hislop, and ANYONE else, including Look Loy, at the top is futile talk. Rst assured of that. Only a movement of clubs could save the TTFF and TT football for the people of TT...

77
Football / Re: Look Loy candidate for EFA president.
« on: November 19, 2011, 07:37:24 PM »
The Watson clique attempted to "steal" the Prisons vote by claiming that the club's representative was illegal and that they had the REAL representative present to vote - for them, of course! That was defeated after half an hour of heated debate. Also, could you imagine they brought out Colin Murray of Carib - who has never attended an EFA meeting previously! Apparently, the "plebs" who run the Carib team, and who are in favour of change, were not to be trusted to deliver the Carib vote to the clique. Hence the front office turned up. At the end of the day, people get exactly the government they deserve. The struggle isn't over but today demonstrates that old adage.

78
Football / Re: Look Loy candidate for EFA president.
« on: November 19, 2011, 11:36:15 AM »
The "politics of the belly" have prevailed yet again but there is room for hope - six clubs stood firm. One year ago it would have been FC Santa Rosa alone. A luta continua...the struggle continues...

79
Football / Re: Look Loy candidate for EFA president.
« on: November 19, 2011, 10:56:33 AM »
The Watson/Ferguson/Cunningham clique won the vote 10:6 this morning at the CONCACAF Centre of Excellence. The clubs IN FAVOUR of having an election were:

- Barataria Ballplayers Sports Club
- FC Santa Rosa
- La Horquetta Sporting Academy
- Pinto United Sports Club
- Prisons Sports Club
- St. John's United FC.

Those OPPOSED were:

- Boss FC
- Carib FC (who were represented by Colin Murray)
- Joe Public FC
- La Horquetta XF
- Malabar FC
- Maloney FC
- Tunapuna Titans FC
- Upper Santa Cruz FC
- Valtrin FC
- WASA FC

Creek FC, one of the signatories to the petition for an election did not vote. Certain other clubs - Upper Santa Cruz, Tunapuna Titans and Malabar FC - jumped ship in the last days and the clubs have spoken. They have chosen to maintain the staus quo.

The "losers" in this vote have determined to continue the painstaking work of building a national, democratic, movement of clubs, on which to base the transformation of the TTFF and local football culture. WE have nothing to offer by way of material benefit to those who join us - only ideas, a vision and lots of hard work to achieve it. Naive? Idealistic? Maybe, but this is the only way.

80
Football / Re: Look Loy candidate for EFA president.
« on: November 19, 2011, 04:19:09 AM »
This Newsday report is partially incorrect. The Extraordinary General Meeting to be held today will decide if an election of officers - to all posts - will be held. If the resolution is successful, then an election will be held. If it is not, then those who claim to have been elected on 28 August - although no vote was held - will remain in office illegally and an election must be held to replace Watson. Then again, the EFA/TTFF clique do whatever they want irrespective of the Constitution so the article may be correct. Whatever happens, the truth is that the road to transformation of the TTFF - or blocking it - rests via the regional associations, and in the hands of the regional clubs. The TTFF clique understand this, which is why they pay no attention to the TT Pro League and the SSFL.
Now are the regional clubs ready to challenge the established order of business? They categorically rejected Marlon Morris in the recent Northern FA election - he lost by 2 votes to 17 - and today's EFA decision will confirm their acceptance of the status quo or their readiness to change it. Meantime, the clubs of the TT Pro League, from which Look Loy has repeatedly and unsuccessfully requested public support for the EFA clubs' struggle, continue their love-hate relationship with the TTFF, wanting to maintain their independence from the clique, but hoping for benefits from the football and governmental power-brokers at the same time.
It will not be easy to transform the TTFF. So many people have a stake in the established order.

81
Football / Re: Look Loy candidate for EFA president.
« on: November 18, 2011, 02:37:03 PM »
Of the thirteen clubs that signed the first petition calling for an election - on the very day of the election (28 August 2011) aborted by Watson and his clique by having Look Loy's slate declared improperly seconded - only SEVEN appear to remain solid in their demand for an election. This will be decided tomorrow.
By way of threat of victimization, including job loss, promises of benefits to be provided by acting TTFF president Watson, and a slander campaign against Look Loy, the EFA/TTFF clique, supported by corporate and poilitical figures, have been able to seduce and/or bully support away from the Look Loy camp. Clubs that have beeen strong in their criticism of the EFA clique over many months have turned tail and run in the last week. There are no ethical considerations here. And, of course, there were already clubs that actually SUPPORT the TTFF clique because they enjoy little benefits from the system.
Win, lose, or draw on Saturday, people generally, and on SWO, in particular, need to understand the EFA is a microcosm of the TTFF and removing the TTFF clique and transforming the Federation will not happen simply because the public and football players are fed up of them. The TTFF clique is entrenched in so many areas of football and national life. This is the nature of dictatorship. The options are: 1) a long term grassroots struggle by the clubs for democracy, and/or 2) FIFA intervention in the wake of the Federation being declared bankrupt in December.
All of the above said, the progressive clubs will attend tomorrow's meeting to fight for what is right. Win lose or draw in that vote, the PEOPLE of TNT need to demonstrate TANGIBLY that they support the transformation that everybody is demanding but not enough people are FIGHTING for. Maybe it's time for an "Occupy TTFF" Movement?

82
Football / Re: T&T to face Finland in opening match of 2012 calendar
« on: November 17, 2011, 01:45:54 PM »
Juvenal, a leading poet of the ancient democratic Roman Republic prior to its decline into autocratic monarchy said of the Roman masses, "Give them bread and circuses". THIS is EXACTLY the method of distraction the TTFF clique will employ on a public that is apparently incapable of focusing for too long on anything. Christmas...Carnival...Finland...Brands...

83
Football / Re: T&T to face Finland in opening match of 2012 calendar
« on: November 17, 2011, 01:06:35 PM »
The issue is not if we get a good friendly or not. The issue is not if they publish a proper financial statement or not. The issue is not if they keep Pfister or not, or hire a technical director or not. The issue is whether or not the anti-democratic, parasitical, clique that runs the TTFF should be allowed to continue on its merry way. The animal will not change its nature - regardless of the face it will now attempt to present to a public that is FED UP with TTFF incompetence and autocratic rule. THIS is the issue. Give them a few weeks and you will see.

84
Zandolie, POTENTIALLY the real power for transformation of the TTFF rests in the regional associations. Almost every member club of these associations belongs to a community. It is the responsibility of those who believe we need a transformation of the TTFF to join and/or influence the culture and politics of these clubs and to ensure they enter the democratic process by way of which power in the regions will be transferred away from the parasitic clique that now dominates them and into the hands of those who truly represent the best interests of the clubs and the game. THERE IS NO SHORT CUT. Anyone who proposes to ride in from the horizon to "save us from the TTFF" is doomed to failure as he would be surrounded by the elements that now control the TTFF executive committee. Of course, there is another alternative possibility - that the TTFF would be declared bankrupt by the courts of the land; that it would be forced to fold; and that FIFA would be required to appoint a normalization committee, as it is called, to oversee the establishment of a new national association, including elections. This may appear to be the preferable course but I caution that even in that situation we absolutely need a grassroots democratic movement of clubs. The possibility of people coming to power without being "vetted", so to speak, by the clubs is always dangerous.

85
People need to understand that the intention of the TTFF clique is ABSOLUTELY to survive their current instability and ABSOLUTELY to remain in power. There will be no resignation. There will be no embarrassment at presenting themselves as a new TTFF under a new leadership (Watson's). There will also be no knight in shining armour on the proverbial white horse to save us from all (TTFF) evil. Only a grassroots democratic movement (read uprising) of clubs will provide a solution from the crisis. The problem is that so many of the clubs across the country have bought into the system and benefit from it in all kinds of little ways that are important to them but which undermine the possibilities for democratic change - playing unregistered players or playing them under another players identity; playing without paying registration fees; registering players outside of the registration windows; having disciplinary measures go in their favour. I could go on. It ain't easy but we have to do it so don't fool yourselves - the removal of the TTFF clique and the transformation of the Federation will be difficult even as their world is collapsing around them.

86
Football / Re: T&T ends W/Cup campaign with 2-0 win over Guyana.
« on: November 16, 2011, 11:28:00 AM »
Pfister AND Jones have called for changes to the leadership and administration of the TTFF. According to the latter, we have had six coaches since 2006 but the men who running the association remain in office. Pfister says we need to bring in "young people". Any other issues aside - they are both correct. The problem is how do we achieve that.

Keith Look Loy said on I95FM today that pressure is being exerted from both "corporate boardroom and high political office" on the clubs that are fighting the Watson/Ferguson/Cunningham cabal to desert the struggle for a democratic process.  The TTFF inner clique understand better than anyone else how precarious their position is and they are desperate - and, therefore, capable of anything. I believe Roberts intends to prop them up using the "remains of the day" - the TTD that the Soca Warriors didn't qualify to use - in his new programme. Meantime, it appears the MOST talkative and critical people stand on the sidelines looking on - scared and still hoping for a "bligh"...

87
Football / Re: Getting just desserts.
« on: November 14, 2011, 05:10:53 AM »
...and I need to add - changing the top TTFF face and leaving the backward leadership, political culture and administration intact is a waste of time. What is needed is a thoroughgoing clean out. The Federation officers - president, the vice-presidents, the general secretary and his assistants, the leadership of the regional associations - East, Central, Eastern Counties, in particular, and with the exception of some elements in south and north, and the notable exception of Tobago - ALL need to go. Only the clubs can achieve this.

88
Football / Re: Getting just desserts.
« on: November 14, 2011, 05:04:42 AM »
Ain't this the TRUTH? The clubs in the Eastern FA that are struggling for a democratic election have long called on the TT Pro League, the SSFL, and high profile football personalities known for their on going critique of the TTFF for support. Generally the have been SILENT. Talk is cheap. What are YOU prepared to do is a legitimate question and the ONLY one that matters at this juncture. We could talk about changing the coach, planning for the future, developing youth players and all that nice stuff. The fact is that the resolution of the TTFF crisis rests ONLY in the resolution of the political and leadership paralysis that is crippling the Federation. If you don't want to ACT, then "talk you talk" to yourself and leave people alone.

89
Football / Re: Football talk on i95.5fm Look loy is on
« on: November 14, 2011, 04:49:15 AM »
The TTFF is guilty of any number of failings. So to are the clubs and leagues. Why blame the Federation for technical weaknesses and lack of flair in players when these very players come from the clubs - most of which are not properly organized? Generally, clubs pay little attention to youth development and are content to merely chase points every season while simultaneously absenting themselves from the meetings they are supposed to attend in order to ensure the politics, administration and development of the game at their local AND national level proceeds properly? If club football - the foundation of the national game - and football generally are in a mess, there's enough blame to be shared by both Federation and clubs. The clubs don't get a pass on this one.

90
Football / Re: ‘Gally’ slams woeful ‘Warriors’
« on: November 13, 2011, 09:00:28 AM »
Your "2 cents" are absolutely correct and are, in fact, invaluable, Patriot. We do not need to go "back to the future" into a 1989 time warp. We need to move forward into the REAL future...

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