Foreign clubs eye local duo.
By: Shaun Fuentes.Local-based midfielder Aurtis Whitley could be plying his trade overseas for the coming European season as it has been revealed that he along with CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh teammate Cyd Gray have generated interest following their appearances at the 2006 World Cup.
It is understood that English club Leeds United are in talks with the club about acquiring the services of Whitley but Queen's Park Rangers and Gillingham are also after the rock solid midfielder. Gillingham and Swedish club IFK Gothenberg have also expressed interest in Gray. Whitley was also on trial at Portsmouth before the World Cup.
"Everyone is delighted with the way T&T came through at the World Cup. We didn't progress to the second round but we didn't disgrace and we earned respect there. We are left a lasting impression and now is the time to reap the benefits to come from this," Jabloteh head coach Terry Fenwick said.
"I am getting a lot interest from UK clubs and we are in discussions over transfers for both players. That in itself tells you how highly thought about we are after the Finals. It definitely has brought greater exposure for the local game and people are now starting to ask more questions about the league here and the football in general."
Regarding young Anthony Wolfe, who was also part of the Soca Warriors in Germany, Fenwick added: "He has gained a lot of experience being with the team and he is still younger than the other two and we are looking for him to spearhead our future campaign."
Rijsbergen looking forward to 2010 challenge.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
Newly appointed National Team senior coach Wim Rijsbergen says he's relishing the challenge of leading the national team towards South Africa 2010 but moreso helping this country to maintain the momentum it picked up following its qualification and subsequent performance at the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany.
Just one day following the announcement of his new position Rijsbergen said he was already drawing up plans to assist in the development of the youth system and the senior team.
"I am delighted to be able to take up the position as head coach of Trinidad and Tobago. One of the good things about this is that while I also had to look past some of the other offers which came my way for jobs after the World Cup, the fact that I already had some involvement with Trinidad and that we had already worked towards something and I know what it's like there now, and after discussing with Mr Warner, I said the decision to remain here was something I was looking forward to," Rijsbergen told TTFF Media on Wednesday.
On Leo Beenhakker's appointment in Poland and also his continued affiliation with T&T as technical adviser, Rijsbergen added : "I'm delighted based on the recommendations that Leo can maintain a relationship with us as technical adviser because we have worked here before. Now we have Anton and the other Dutch person who will be on board and also work with the youth teams. Right now there will be a lot of plans being made to start working with the senior team and looking ahead to the Gold Cup and other matches. We will also work towards forming the best team possible and we will continue to look for players as well. In this way too I felt it was right to have players like Russell and Dwight as role models for the other players and we will use them in the best way possible for football in Trinidad and Tobago from the youth system come up."
He mentioned that he was also aware of Jamaica's qualification for France 1998 and their aftermath, having touched base on the situation with former Jamaican World Cup team manager Horace Reid, who worked as chief operations manager of the T&T team.
"It's a challenge in itself for us to continue and move forward with what we already have following the World Cup. I know how it took place with Jamaica and their qualification for France and then it's task of keeping things going after that. For us it will be difficult too but that's what makes the whole situation special. I know the people involved are very anxious to get going and we will all sit down and review our World Cup appearance and we will put the necessary structures in place to move forward. These are the things I spoke to Mr Warner about and when I get back with Leo next week, we will of course sit down as a group with everyone who played a role in the last World Cup and we will sit with the Minister of Sport to review all these things. I am pleased now to hear that the Government is also willing to assist in the development of football and we must make this work," added the former 1974 and 1978 Dutch World Cup player. He is also a former player with Feyenoord during 1971-78 as well as New York Cosmos and FC Utrecht.
The 54-year-old Rijsbergen has been a former assistant coach at Dutch teams Ajax Amsterdam, FC Volendam, FC Groningen, NAC, Roodenburg, Al-Ittifaq of Qatar and Mexican club America.
He added that having been to the big stage now, it was crucial that the national team players look carefully at themselves if they want to compete with the best.
"One of the things we will work on is also developing players and getting them to the right level. We have been there now and they all know what it takes. One of the good things is I know the players and I know they are very keen to do well and to get improvement," he said.
"I can tell you now that we have been to the World Cup, things are different. We went back to Berlin afterward the team went home and the response showed this…. the way the people spoke to us and the way the press reacted to us… it all showed that they know now that Trinidad and Tobago is a country to take serious and that's something to make me and the rest of us want to work together for more success." Rijsbergen will return along with Beenhakker to Trinidad on July 22 before taking up duties later that week.
News from the 12th of July 2006.Wim Rijsbergen to take over as head coach.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
The following is to confirm that Wim Rijsbergen has accepted the post of head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Senior Team following meetings with now former head coach Leo Beenhakker, TTFF Special Advisor Jack Warner and General Secretary Richard Groden.
Rijsbergen, who served as assistant to Beenhakker during his tenure here, will take up the position as head coach of the team for the next four years with immediate effect and will have Anton Corneal and Dutchman Jan Van Deinsen as his assistants based on his request to which they have already agreed.
It is worthy to note that Beenhakker has accepted the position as head coach of the Poland National Team but has also agreed to be available as a technical advisor to the "Soca Warriors" during this period and will attend its matches and tournament on a "need to do basis".
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation remains highly appreciative towards Mr Beenhakker for his services towards the uplifting of the country's football and for his guiding of the team to the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany. We also wish him the very best in his new role with the Polish FA.
Report of meetings held with coaches Leo Beenhakker and Wim Rijsbergen RE: The coaching of team Trinidad and Tobago from 2006 to 2010. Two meetings were held with Coach Leo Beenhakker - one in Rotenburg on June 19, 2006 and the other in Munich on July 4, 2006. Two meetings were also held with Coach Wim Rijsbergen, both in Berlin, on July 7, 2006. Present at all of the meetings mentioned above was Richard Groden, General Secretary of the T&TFF.
There were extensive discussions and by the end, the following decisions were arrived at:1. Leo Beenhakkera. Leo Beenhakker will accept the position of Head Coach of the Polish National Team for a period of two years in the first instance, effective from Tuesday July 11, 2006.
b. During this period he will be available to work with Team Trinidad and Tobago as Technical Advisor and attend its matches and tournaments on a "need to do so basis."
c. Following 2008, Leo and the T&TFF will review his position relative to;
(i) a continuation of the present arrangement; or
(ii) a new contract relative to his full time and/or other services
It is informative to note that Leo did not accept several top offers which were made to him including the offer of Head Coach of the Australia Soccer Federation.
2. Wim Rijsbergena. Wim Rijsbergen, the former Assistant to Leo Beenhakker in Trinidad and Tobago has agreed to accept the offer of Head Coach of Team Trinidad and Tobago for a period of four years, with immediate effect.
b. He has asked to be assisted by Anton Corneal and Dutchman Jan Van Deinsen, both of whom he has already held discussions and obtained their acceptance.
c. He is to evaluate the work of the staff which worked with the Soca Warriors to determine whose services he shall need. Notwithstanding this, he did inform that he needs Joseph Sam Phillip to play an effective role in the management of the National Senior Team.
d. Relative to Trinidad and Tobago's technical development, Wim made several proposals which were accepted by Richard Groden and me on behalf of the TTFF.
The proposals are as follows:(i) Anton Corneal to be the Head Coach of Youth Development as well as to assist him in the coaching of the First Team.
(ii) Dutch Coach, Jan Deinsen to work with all the National Youth Teams as well as to assist in the coaching of the First Team.
(iii) After evaluation and by mutual agreement to use the majority of the members of the present technical staff of the Soca Warriors.
(iv) The role of the Technical Director, Lincoln Phillips, to be confined to the development of coaches and goal keepers using his knowledge in these areas. In this regard, the entire Technical Department of the T&TFF is to be reviewed as a matter of urgency.
(v) The Head Coach will be involved specifically in coaching a team for the Olympics as well as for World Cup 2010. He will also supervise the coaching of all National Teams.
(vi) After holding discussions with Russell Latapy and Dwight Yorke, the Head Coach will find the best way to use their knowledge as role models for the youth and for the future of Trinidad and Tobago football in the following areas:
- Training camps
- Training sessions
- Any other
(vii) Immediately, the Head Coach will be developing a programme, in conjunction with others, for every Youth Team, as it relates to:
- Training
- Matches
- Tournaments
- Other
3. Tentative Plan 2006 - 2010July 22 - 25, 2006
1. Meetings of Leo and Wim with.
(i) T&TFF, Jack Warner and T&TFF Technical and Managerial Staff
(ii) The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs
2. Evaluation of the World Cup effort with players and officials who are present in T&T.
3. Creating a new staff for 2006 - 2010
4. Putting a team together for this country's first international match in August.
September 2, 2006 - Friendly match
September 6, 2006 - FIFA Date: 2nd International Match / Start preparation for the CONCACAF Gold Cup Tournament
October 7 - 11: Official matches
November 15, 2006 - Friendly match
2007 - Games Qualification- Planning camps
- Training / games
- Players' availability
- Other
Matches requested on the under-mentioned FIFA dates:7 February - Friendly match
24-28 March - Official matches
2-6 June - Official matches
July - Gold Cup Tournament
22 August - Friendly match
8-12 September - Official matches
13-17 October - Official matches
17-21 November - Official matches
For the above-mentioned dates, teams must be sourced by mutual agreement. Dates must also be found for organizing camps both home and abroad.
December 2007 - Draw for World Cup 2010
Schedule of matches required for 2008 6 February - Friendly match
26 March - Friendly match
20 August - Friendly match
6-10 September - Official matches
11-15 October - Official matches
19 November - Friendly match
2009 to 2010Details to be determined.
The remuneration for Leo and the staff as well as a budget for the period under review shall form the basis of a separate document.
Respectfully submitted
Jack Warner.Schedule of Arrival and Departure
July 22 - 26, 2006 22 July Arrival of Leo and Wim
23 July From 11:00 am
Meetings with the T&TFF; Jack Warner; GORTT/Min. of Sport
24 July Evaluation of WC 2006
Evaluation of Staff
Press Conference
25 July 9:00 am
Attendance of Book Launch - "From Zero to Hero" Departure of Leo Beenhakker
26 July Assumption of duty by Wim Rijsbergen and others.
