Where was Russell Latapy?
By: Bc Pires (Express).[/size]
Former Trinidad & Tobago striker and coach of the Strike Squad that just failed to qualify for the 1990 World Cup, Everald "Gally" Cummings talks freely about the Soca Warriors and the World Cup.
Q: Were you satisfied with the Soca Warriors' performance?
A: Satisfied to the point that we were not disgraced; but our way of playing, I was not satisfied with.
What would you have done differently?
A: I'd have put in more offence. World Cup is about showcasing your style of play but I don't think we were allowed to play our Trinbagonian way. We do have our own style of play, contrary to what a lot of people believe. I proved that in 1989.
But we were successful in drawing the first game v Sweden?
A: It's a great achievement to tie your first World Cup game; but I thought we should have played a little more football after. The Africans showed they're not afraid to match their skills with anybody. They looked like heroes.
1.3 million people want to know why Russell Latapy didn't play in the England game?
A: I would have played him. In the last 15 minutes, England was frustrated, you could have seen it. If we had put Latapy on before [English coach Sven-Goran] Erikkson substituted his own, Erikkson would have had to put on a defender, not an attacker. In a way, when Latapy is on the field, is a threat to Beenhakker.
The team is a better team when Latapy is on the field; we all know that, we all saw that! But Beenhakker wants that team to play defensive and Latapy is offensive; and because of Latapy's leadership qualities and his inspiration as a player and a person, he knows the team will go forward too much. So he has to keep it out! In other words [chuckling], Latapy has such a strong personality that Beenhakker is afraid of him.
It was a deliberate ploy to retain control by the coach?
A: That's my feeling! That's what I see!
But Latapy came on in the last game and we lost?
A: Because he came on when we were one-down! Latapy was the last substitution in the last game! He should have started.
He smokes 40 cigarettes a day, though, and doesn't have the lungs?
A: Rubbish! How much did Ronaldinho run in this tournament? And he's still the best player in the world. Didn't Latapy play the whole game against Guatemala? And we won? Stern John scored. Stern John, Dwight Yorke, are better players, the entire team is a better team when Latapy's on the field.
Latapy's experienced enough, whether he smokes cigarettes or not. If you let the ball do the work, you're not going to be tired. We coaches all see things differently but I think there times in games that were earmarked for him [like] the last 20 minutes.
But you were pleased with us getting to the World Cup?
A: Oh yeah. Since I left Fatima college I've dedicated myself to our football, nothing else. Some people do it part-time and halfway. If is one person who has been involved in football all my life, is Gally Cummings. I didn't go away and coach foreign teams, I stayed right here and worked with our boys for our football and it was a dream to see our team get to the World Cup; and it finally came true.
Sitting there in the stadium looking at the first game, you couldn't help but come to tears, seeing your boys performing for the whole world. The cultural contingent was also making us proud. It was like a Jouvert morning. I saw my country, for the first time in a long time, doing the thing I've always advocated: marriage of culture and sport.
We lost the football and won the party?
A: Reminds me of 1989 when we lost the game and won the country!
So do we become the next Costa Rica or Jamaica?
A: We qualify without a proper structure in place. If you had looked at England, you'd have seen [future England coach Steve] McLaren sitting down next to Erikkson. I've always advocated that, if you bring a foreigner here, have somebody [local] there who can carry on. And the right person, not just somebody' friend. We shortlist coaches very funny in this country. I don't understand who does it or how.
Somebody mightn't like BC Pires but the thing about it is, they must like what you can do for the country. Sometimes Beenhakker says to newspapers, "I'm only going to talk to you for two minutes". And nobody says anything. I know Lincoln Phillips has been trying to do a job but I can say it has been done before.
I was technical director on two occasions and had a proper structure in place from the Under-15s go right up to the national team. So there ain't nothing new that Lincoln is doing. We must focus on the national team. We don't want to end up like Jamaica. Costa Rica and those Latin countries have always had structures and that is why they always go to the World Cup. And they're all on the same page: one agenda. In Trinidad we have too much vindictiveness, politics and bickering interfering with the issue itself.
If you could make one change, what would it be?
A: I would change the philosophy of our football administration and its vindictiveness.
What stage of the World Cup produces the best games?
A: When teams get into the second round. During finals, you don't see the best games. Anybody could win, really. It has to do with which team scores the first goal, or what decision a referee might make. In the middle of the tournament is where you see the good football.
What can FIFA do to improve the quality of play from quarter-finals on?
A: Make sure that, before World Cup, players are rested properly. If you looked at Brazil, some of them looked very tired.
There's another question: what happened to Brazil this year?
Is not what happened to Brazil; is what happened to France! France had been playing a kind of lackadaisical, slow, boring kind of football but [against] Brazil, it was different. People say Brazil didn't play well against France but it was [more like] France didn't allow Brazil to play well. France have three [midfielders] of world standing: [Claude] Makelele, [Zinedine] Zidane and [Patrick] Vieira.
Those are six-footers! And you're trying to bring up little fellas like Kaka and Ronaldinho against them. Zidane, on a good day, is the best footballer you could see. France closed the middle with those players and forced Brazil to the sides, where they have their more aged players, Cafu and Roberto Carlos.
So who do you like for the final today, then?
A: Well, boy, to be honest, I always like Zidane and these guys how they play. But they have a team where things ain't bound to go right.
Because they focus on [Thierry] Henry in front alone. Whereas Italy have different people who could score goals and they play until the fat lady sings. I would say France has a better all-round team; but Italy have what it takes to win.
So you're hedging your bets?
A: [Nodding, smiling] I hedging.
Will we see penalty kicks to decide the game?
A: I think this one will be decided, maybe late in the game, but I don't feel we'll go to penalty kicks. I don't think penalty kicks is a nice way to lose a World Cup.
But there's no greater excitement for the viewer?
A: As a coach, I could tell you penalty kicks is nerve-wracking. Preparation and having the best players don't guarantee you success. England proved that! But I think this was one of the best World Cups I've seen. Being in Germany, I thought it was one of the most organised, with respect to security, to people having fun, representing their country in a free spirit. I was at the Fan Fest.
My wife, Roslyn Khan-Cummings, is the deputy PS of the Ministry of Culture and the chef de mission of the cultural contingent. I was there through Mykon Travel Ltd and I saw for myself. I travel in the buses with the Strike Squad and the '73 team-and when I mention those players, I feel very sad. I don't think they were treated properly. I really thought we, the '73 and '89 squads, would have gotten the opportunity to visit our Soca Warriors and wish them all the best in Germany but that wasn't to be.
Was that bad organisation or bad mind?
A: It wasn't badly organised at all. I wouldn't use, "bad mind", I would use [pauses, shrugs shoulders] actually, yeah, it was bad mind in truth because it started from here. If a [private] company [Mykon Travel Ltd] have to take you there and your football association don't' really care, it's a bad thing for the youngsters to see. I'm a living example of that. You hear all kinds of names calling in football and you don't hear mine, and I have done more than most.
I've given my life to the country and others have given theirs abroad-and they come back and hold big jobs and I'm out only because I have an opinion of my own, and it appears you can't have that these days. People in this country seem to always go for people they can control. I've seen foreign coaches come here when they want, make all the money, go on vacation when they want-and be treated like kings.
The kind of way we treat our own has to change. I proved myself. I don't think anybody did the kind of job I did with the kind of resources I had in '89. I've done enough to be holding an office. I'm not begging for anything; I deserve it!
