Let our best Warriors play
Express Editorial
Wednesday, May 9th 2007
IT is a great pity that with the first anniversary of the Soca Warriors' memorable debut on football's biggest stage just over a month away, the team is being torn asunder right in front of our very eyes.
Players who did us proud in Germany are being forced to the sidelines over an issue about which they feel very strongly, and showing them the way off the field is the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF).
That leaves us with much less than our best squad available for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which is looming large, and in real danger of being humbled in the region's showcase event, mere months after experiencing the heady heights of competing in the World Cup.
At odds are profits generated by the national footballers in qualifying for their sport's grandest arena in 2006, with some of the players not satisfied with their final cut put forward by the T&TFF.
Those who are responsible for providing the Federation with that cash cow are claiming that figures were proposed and agreed upon on the way to Germany, then, after the fact, additional withdrawals, which weren't discussed, came into the equation, leaving the players with a far smaller piece of the pie than they had envisaged.
Some of them have hired the services of a lawyer, who is looking into the matter on their behalf, and in light of that initiative it would appear they have been blacklisted by local football's governing body, despite being ready and willing to wear the red, white and black on the playing fields of the United States next month.
The players have put forward their case, while the Football Federation has been stonewalling, offering statements defending their action but which have been quickly refuted by those in the know both here and abroad.
And earlier this week, no less a person than Bruce Aanensen, who was the hands-on manager of the national team and also involved in the negotiations on how the World Cup kitty would be divided, has suggested that the matter should be sent to arbitration.
It appears that is the right way to proceed since the players are adamant about their grouse and if the T&TFF is equally firm and confident in its position.
But even before seeking the services of an arbitrator, the Football Federation should display patriotism by selecting the best players to represent the country.
The T&TFF must remember that the Soca Warriors belong to us all, we whose hearts were filled with pride when they performed with distinction on the international stage last June, and not just to any organisational entity, however powerful.
Let the financial issue be decided by a third party and let only our finest don national colours for the Gold Cup.
