Jack Warner critical of new organisation
By Walter Alibey (Trinidad Newsday)
JACK WARNER, special advisor to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) is critical of the new Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SCOTT) which was launched with fanfare yesterday at the Hilton Trinidad.
The FIFA vice-president who was among the specially invited guests at the gala breakfast function said while it may be the catalyst for change the Sports Company by itself will not make a difference.
Warner told the media that what was crucially important for Trinidad and Tobago was meeting the needs and finding out what the problems were for the stakeholders in sports.
He made it clear it was impossible for administrators to sit in their ivory towers and assume what the problems are.
Warner advised that unless the Sports Company officials begin to interact with the sportsmen and sports organisations they will continue to live in a "dream world."
Yesterday at the function Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes extended an offer to the Football Federation of more money if the need arose.
Warner said his focus will be the implementation of a system to keep national coach Dutchman Leo Beenhakker here in Trinidad and Tobago to work on a training programme with other coaches.
He said this would ensure that there will be coaches to carry on after the Dutchman leaves.
Warner stressed that a system to have all sporting facilities well-lit, as have been done in many other countries, is a move in the right direction.
"In other countries with fewer resources, such as Cayman Islands and Norway, a number of facilities have been constructed," Warner said. He added that there is a need to emulate what is being done internationally.
The football boss, however, pointed out that while he will be happy for added financial assistance, the federation has heard such offers in the past but still they have had to dip into their own pockets and acquire sponsorship to fund the national team. Warner, who is also president of CONCACAF, the regional football organisation said, "All I know is that for the World Cup campaign to date I have spent $17 million of my money and the Government has put in $1.3 million.
"If that is any indication of what Government will spend, then I am not happy. But if it is a new dawn in sports, then I am happy," he said.
The the long-serving football administrator also said he was confident ahead of tomorrow’s crucial World Cup qualifier against regional giants Mexico at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
He said Trinidad and Tobago would make history.
Warner also stressed that he has invested too much money and too much time for him not to maintain his faith and is convinced that his team will qualify for the World Cup in Germany next year.
