Bonus battle overshadows T&T's Gold Cup prep.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).[/size]
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team's 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup preparation begins in earnest next Monday at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, but coach Wim Rijsbergen has mixed feelings about his task.
Rijsbergen, a two-time World Cup player with Holland, told the Express yesterday that an artist needs paint to produce a masterpiece.
"The composition of the painting depends on whether I have enough paint," said Rijsbergen, who assisted Leo Beenhakker at the 2006 World Cup tournament. "Otherwise, I would have a white sheet of paper. It will be good for everybody if they solve it but I have been asking for a long time. I have no control about it."
Rijsbergen's sentiments do not alter the present stand-off between 16 World Cup players and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF), but it did lift the mood of the Soca Warriors, suffering the backlash of their bonus battle with the administration.
Jack Warner, FIFA vice-president and chairman of the financial arm of the T&TFF's 2006 Local Organising Committee, and Oliver Camps, T&TFF president, said the local governing body would not select any of the disgruntled Warriors for the June Gold Cup.
The England-based duo of Stern John and Brent Sancho are still hopeful for a resolution and were happy to hear of Rijsbergen's dissatisfaction.
"I think he has every right to say that," said Sancho, "especially as his players are all available to play. "It must be very frustrating for him."
John, T&T's record scorer with 67 goals from 100 appearances, urged the T&TFF to find a speedy solution and insisted the players were ready to meet the Federation at the negotiating table.
"We are at the table," said John. "When they want to come, we are there. But most of the guys are now making up vacation plans with their families, so hopefully it will happen soon.
"We are happy that the coach has stood up and is being his own man. We can't do anything and he can't do anything but we are definitely happy (because) it is always good to have that sort of relationship with your manager."
On Monday, Warner issued an appeal for World Cup captain Dwight Yorke, the country's most accomplished player, to end his international retirement and lead the Warriors at the Gold Cup.
It is uncertain whether Yorke, who is on vacation in Australia, could be coaxed to return to the international game and whether he too might try to pressure the T&TFF to end the impasse.
One senior player, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the bonus battle might have played a significant part in the 35-year-old midfielder's sudden retirement in March.
"Dwight always wanted to play in the Gold Cup," said the player, "but he said then that he wouldn't play unless everyone was involved."
Camps refused to say if the T&TFF were negotiating with Yorke and insisted that all was being done to provide Rijsbergen with the best possible team.
"We will try our best to do so," said Camps. "I have nothing further to say at this point in time."
In the absence of official word from the T&TFF, the players already in Trinidad and Tobago are busying themselves with union matters, charity work and family visits.
Sunderland winger Carlos Edwards, St Johnstone striker Jason Scotland, Chicago Fire defender Osei Telesford and Sparta Rotterdam attacker Darryl Roberts have accepted invitations to join the locally-based Gold Cup squad in training next week. Swansea defender Dennis Lawrence and Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince were also asked to return to international duty but are yet to confirm their attendance.
The likes of John and Sancho are focusing on the Mickey and Stefan Trotman Memorial and the Football Players Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) exhibition matches on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
"We will start next week with the players that we have," said Rijsbergen. "As a coach, you always want to play with your best team and that is always your belief. If you have your best team, it makes your job that much easier."
