ANOTHER PERSPECTIVEThough willing to serve, Jack Warner has reservations about helping a govt which blanked the Soca Warriors last year.
Jack Warner
By Gail Alexander - Source: Trinidad Express[/color]
FIFA vice president Jack Warner, while willing to serve on a Goverment team on football, says he has reservations, since he was blanked by the PNM administration last year when he begged for help for the Soca Warriors.
He said yesterday he had spoken with team coach Leo Beenhakker on the weekend and Beenhakker has said he would be guided by Warner in the issue of the proposed football committee.
And Warner has also expressed disappointment at the fact that members of the Warriors’ support unit were left out of commendation or honours during last weekend’s “reward ceremony” for the team by Government.
Warner returned from Germany last night via Miami.
During Government’s celebration for the Warriors, on Saturday, Prime Minister Patrick Manning had said he would invite Warner, coach Leo Beenhakker and team captain Dwight Yorke to have discussions on Government’s role in getting T&T’s participation in World Cup 2010.
On that occasion, Manning had also thanked Warner for his role with the team, although he was the “forgotten man” during last Thursday’s homecoming bash at Piarco Airport.
Warner said yesterday: “I’ve received no word or otherwise from anyone in the Government to serve on any committee on the development of sport or football.
“I learned of my proposed involvement, like everyone else, via the media.
“So it’s difficult to make much comment and decide whether I’ll be part of any so-called committee.
“However, while I’m willing to assist with football as I’ve devoted my life to doing, I have some reservations about any such Goverment committee, because a year ago I’d desperately begged Government for help with the team and was soundly blanked.” Warner recalled that he had been in financial difficulty a year ago and had gone to Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams to seek assistance for the Warriors.
“I went begging to her for help. Kenny de Silva, of the NCC then, went with me. He knows what happened. “I even told Joan I was prepared to let the team help the PNM in their 50th anniversary celebrations this year.
“I went to her, since there was no headway with Sports Minister (Roger) Boynes. That seemed ineffective, and I knew Joan had the Prime Minister’s ear.
“But the team was blanked and nothing was done by her for them. Such was the level of Government’s support for the team.
“So when they come now to tell me Government wants me on their committee to further the sport, it seems hypocritical, and I have grave reservations.
“I will serve if they ask me, since football has been my life. But from everything that has happened before, it would appear that the current offer is for cosmetic purposes.”
Warner said if Government was serious, he was prepared to give them a ten-point plan all the way to 2010.
“And let’s see if they understand the value of football. So while I’m willing to help, understand why I have reservations.”
While Warner will not be contributing to the team financially in future, he said he would assist in a different way.
“Whereas before I was putting my hand in my pocket, I will now be prepared to assist them as a resource person with ideas, experience and contacts.
“But my family and I cannot continue to do what we did before, and it is time for Government to do something now.”
Warner, who spoke to coach Beenhakker on the weekend, said both agreed to postpone discussions on Beenhakker’s continuation with the Warriors until the issue of the Government committee was dealt with.
He said Beenhakker said he would be guided by Warner’s decisions in that matter. Asked how Beenhakker felt about being awarded the nation’s second highest honour and a $1 million in cash, Warner said:
“He hasn’t mentioned anything about it to me.”
Beenhakker was being paid (US)$100,000 monthly by Warner, the latter confirmed. Warner said he had no comment on the fact that his name wasn’t among those listed for honours on the World Cup effort.
“I’m deeply disappointed that other members of the team’s support unit were not honoured or even mentioned by the Prime Minister for their very significant contributions.
“It was hard for them to sit there and endure such ingratitude and humiliation.
“My heart particularly goes out to Silvio Spann, who I heard sat forlornly on the bench alone while everyone else had gotten their accolades until the crowd pressed Government to call him up.
“It’s these oversights that grieve me most.”
Warner said members of the Warriors and the support team called him after they received their honours last Saturday.
“They spoke to me about everything. The team officials also called me to note they had been overlooked. But I didn’t take all the calls or comment to them, because I didn’t want it to seem political.
“I thought they should have received much more, and I’m sure they (team) did, too. Not only in terms of money, but also the legacy they have left.
“What street did they name after them, what institution? What is there of lasting significance to denote their work?
“Money isn’t everything.”
Warner is scheduled to return to Germany on Thursday for further Fifa duties in the World Cup.
Well boy....man say one ting in de Express and den come and say nutting decided until dey have dis committee meeting.
Tantana Faddah.
