STAR TURN: Trinidad and Tobago and Falkirk FC midfielder Russell "The Little Magician" Latapy, right, at a training session during the Soca Warriors' 2006 World Cup campaign in Germany. Latapy has been appointed player-coach of the senior national team. In the background is striker Stern John. -Photo: Robert Taylor
Latapy back in T&T squad as player-coach
Ian Prescott
Monday, September 22nd 2008Surprising? Yes! But certainly predictable.
Yesterday, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) issued a release announcing the appointment of former captain Russell Latapy, fondly known as "The Little Magician", as both a player and assistant coach to Colombian Francisco Maturana on the Trinidad and Tobago senior national team.
Latapy's return comes with the Soca Warriors having to travel to Guatemala and get a positive result from their CONCACAF World Cup qualifier on October 11, following a humbling 3-0 defeat against the United States earlier this month.
With the US almost certain to top the group with a maximum nine points from their three matches, Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala are level with four points and battling to secure the final spot in the Final Round of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region.
T&T have three semi-final qualifying matches left, against Guatemala (October 11), the United States (October 15) and Cuba (November 19).
Latapy, 40, has been appointed in the first instance for the next two qualifying matches, the crucial away game to Guatemala and when the Soca Warriors host the United States.
TTFF special adviser Jack Warner yesterday confirmed Latapy's appointment.
"We are pleased to have Mr Latapy on board with us for the next two qualifying matches in the first instance," Warner told TTFF media officer Shaun Fuentes. "The two matches against Guatemala and USA are of utmost importance at this stage and we believe that Latapy's role is an asset to the team and the Federation. We wish to welcome him and look forward to his involvement in our efforts to achieve the desired progress in our football."
This is Warner's second attempt to install Latapy as an assistant coach of the national team. Three years ago, both Latapy and former captain David Nakhid were announced as assistants when Leo Beenhakker, the former Holland and Real Madrid coach, took over on May 1, 2005.
But, Beenhakker would have none of that, stating that he was coming in at the 11th hour and was bringing his own assistants, Theo De Jonk and Wim Rijsbergen, to Trinidad and Tobago.
Former FC Porto midfielder Latapy, currently on staff at Falkirk FC in Scotland, accepted the offer to return to the T&T team following initial talks with the TTFF earlier this month.
The Federation also announced the national team will play a friendly international in early October. And midfielder Chris Birchall and defender Dennis Lawrence have been confirmed as members of the T&T squad for the upcoming matches, along with Sunderland midfielder Dwight Yorke.
"We can also at this stage confirm the likes of Chris Birchall, Dennis Lawrence and Dwight Yorke in the team for the upcoming matches. The full squad, as selected and confirmed by the coaching staff, will be revealed this coming week, but I can assure you that we will give all attempts to ensure we have the best possible chance of achieving the results to continue our progress in the qualification for South Africa," Warner added.
Since retiring from international football following the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Latapy has been working with Scottish Premier League club Falkirk FC, where he is one of the assistant coaches. He also plays about 20-30 minutes with the senior squad.
"I was delighted to get the call to come back and serve Trinidad and Tobago," Latapy told Fuentes yesterday. "I've always said that I would do whatever might be necessary to help our football and being given the opportunity to come back and give the support is one I would not turn down.
"I will continue to give my support in the new role that has been offered to me. I am looking forward to working with everybody involved in the team and the football on a whole and hopefully we can achieve our desired goal."
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=161378614