Watson lauds TTFF despite limited funding.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Acting president of the T&T Football Federation (TTFF), Lennox Watson, yesterday, reflected on the achievements of the association despite a lack of funding, when he spoke at a media conference, hosted at the at the TTFF’s new headquarters, located on Anna St, Woodbrook.
Watson, who took over the temporary portfolio following the resignation of former long-standing president Oliver Camps, in October 2011, lauded what he described as the TTFF’s commitment to focus on on-field issues since a FIFA scandal broke in relation to former TTFF special advisor Jack Warner’s alleged distribution of “gifts” to members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), in May last year.
Watson will give way to former TTFF vice-president Raymond Tim Kee, who will enter Sunday’s election unopposed, following the decision by sport analyst Colin Murray to pull out of the race.
Watson said following the “CFU issue”, the senior team went into the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, “woefully short of match practice as the Federation business took a back seat when the de facto president apparently focused on the pursuit of his political career,” which he said led to the elimination of the national team at the second phase.
He said subsequent to Warner’s departure, the TTFF “cleared the air” with FIFA as to its position, in regard to the former special advisor’s relationship with the federation.
“The TTFF made it quite clear that while it was thankful to Mr Warner for the contribution he made to football, he was no longer part of the TTFF or its process of governance and administration.”
He said that the federation’s distance with Warner was evidenced by the relocation of its head office, which was property of Warner, to the new Woodbrook address.
Watson went on to defend the chairman of the TTFF marketing committee and director of All Sport Promotions Anthony Harford, who was present at the media conference, saying despite allegations made by Minister of Sport Anil Roberts, Harford never paid funds to himself.
“Mr Harford (and) All Sport Promotions had as its mandate from the federation to seek funding in addition to any funding disbursed by the Government of T&T. In his pursuit of that mandate, advertisement and sponsorship was realised together with gate receipts from matches played. The TTFF paid All Sport from those funds with the remainder included in the budget.”
He disclosed that the federation appointed the marketing company with the approval of the Ministry of Sport to manage and account for funding which was provided by the Government, which according to Watson, was always justified with the necessary bills. Watson said that Harford was also given the responsibility of acquiring sponsorship for all projects, which led to the formation of the TTFF marketing committee.
“As president acting, I indicated by way of a media release that the accounts were, in fact, correct and that the Minister should withdraw his statement.”
He continued, “His response was that I must call an election as there will be no release of funding to the TTFF until (an) election is called by me. It was clear from his statement that he believed that the funds were his personal property and not the taxpayers.”
“Had the minister checked the accounts properly, he would have noticed that there was an excess on what was disbursed by the Government. (But) my position as president was not to get into a public banter with the minister, as he seems to enjoy loud dialogue.”
