Griffith calls for Francois’ head
By Joel Bailey (Trinidad Newsday)
EX-NATIONAL men’s hockey team manager Gary Griffith has issued a strong call for the removal of David Francois as coach of the Trinidad and Tobago’s men’s indoor hockey squad.
In a strongly-worded letter, Griffith made it clear that, for any resolution to the on-going impasse between Francois and key TT players to be resolved, the coach must be removed immediately.
In February, Trinidad and Tobago will make its debut in the Samsung Indoor Hockey World Cup in Vienna, Austria.
But ace players Kwandwayne Browne, Brian Garcia, Glen Francis and Raphael Govia have either refused to join the training squad of 36 or were omitted altogether from the mix, with Browne going a step further and openly withdrawing his services due to the alleged victimisation of the major players by Francois.
“Let it be known that this is not a case of arrogance or high-handedness by Browne,” said Griffith, “because if anyone knows this great players, they will know that he is the most humble and selfless person anyone can meet.
“So it is a clear case of a captain standing up for his players who are being abused and treated unjustly by a coaching dictator,” Griffith emphasised.
Griffith, who still competes for Queen’s Park in the veteran’s category, stated, “it is a known fact that there is not a snowball chance in hell that Browne, Garcia and Govia, to name a few, will ever set foot on a hockey court to play for our country again once Francois is at the helm.
“And the simple reason is that they see him as not being good enough, not respected by the players and, more so, that he lacks man-management skills, which is the most fundamental criteria for a successful coach,” Griffith continued.
The ex-national manager wondered why Francois omitted a number of players who were key in Trinidad and Tobago’s second-place finish in the Pan American Indoor World Cup qualifiers in Canada last year, are now out of favour with the technical staff.
“The selection process alone should be an immediate need for intervention by the Minister of Sport (Roger Boynes) to have the coach and the whole (Trinidad and Tobago) Hockey Board removed with immediate effect,” Griffith said.
He also waded into the manager Jason Thomas, pointing out, “the present qualifications and experience of the present manager is just as pathetic, as he never before managed as much as an All-Fours team, and his managerial skills with the national team certainly confirms it.”
Revealing that the majority of the 36 players expressed their displeasure to Browne about Francois’ coaching style, the Board “asked the Sports Company (of Trinidad and Tobago) to act as arbitrator in the impasse.
“But, instead of asking each and every player to air their views and concerns in strictest confidence, they instead placed Francois at the head table and then asked the players if they have any problems with the coach in the presence of the same coach who they fear that will victimise them.
“How could anyone in their right mind expect the players to have aired their views on the same coach who they see as being vindictive, in the very presence of the coach, when they know fully well that, if the unanimous demand by the players fall on deaf ears and he is retained as coach by the Board, then, without a shadow of a doubt, he will retaliate upon which their national career will ultimately come to an end.”
The former TTHB vice-president and assistant secretary also chided the players who insist they want to make the trip to Austria by any means necessary.
“The few players who may be willing to retain Francois as coach are those who will never make a men’s national indoor team, and are gleefully hoping that the first and second string players do boycott this World Cup Finals so they can get an opportunity to go and shop in Austria and get the high stipend that the Sports Company in-tends to supply each player with.
“These third string players, known as scab players, are just as selfish and irresponsible as the Hockey Board and mediocre coach, and care about nothing other than themselves,” he continued.
“The first and second string players are all in agreement of having the coach removed because he lacks the subsistence and character necessary to make them successful and any kind of cosmetic reconciliation by getting these players to participate with Francois is a recipe for disaster, as the team will not in any way be able to work with him as a coach.
“So it is a straight case of either the coach is removed or the top players who will bring us the success are replaced, upon which we will then enter the World Cup destined to suffer the disgrace of absorbing over 15 goals per game and be the laughing stock of the world in sport.
“In conclusion, the success, track record and substance that Francois brings to the table of the national team is absolutely nil, in comparison to what Browne can give this country, as what Browne can do for our country in hockey is more than (TTHB boss) Maureen Craig-Rousseau, Francois and (others) can ever do for the sport in their whole lives.
“Hence I say that they all must get out with immediate effect and that Browne and the best players must represent our country and not any mediocre third string scab players and coach with selfish agendas.”