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Hart: I don’t work miracles
Published: Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Andrew GioannettiNewly appointed head coach of T&T’s senior football team, Stephen Hart, is fully aware of the challenge ahead at the Concacaf Gold Cup, which starts in just under two week’s time.
Speaking to the media in an open forum for the first time since his appointment yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, Hart, a former T&T midfielder and Canadian national team technical director and coach, said he is elated to return to the country of his birth, but told supporters not to expect miracles.
“Now, hopefully, that I have once again been given the opportunity, I can seize the opportunity,” said Hart, flanked by the T&T Football Association’s (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee, assistant coaches Hutson Charles and Derek King, as well as manager David Muhammed.
“I know very much what goes on. And, one of the things that I've told myself coming into the situation here is that I am not a miracle worker,” said the 53-year-old.
When the opportunity presented itself, Hart said he took it and reminded thought: “Don’t let the magnitude of the challenge take you away from the incumbent steps that will be necessary to affect change.”
“One of the lessons I have learnt in the game, and I will try to bring that to the players is, I want the players to concentrate on what will produce results rather than on the result itself, the process rather than the prize. If we can do that, then I think we will be on our way to achieve what potentially we have as players and staff.”
“If I didn’t think it was challenging and something I would like to do, I would not have come here. It’s a tight time period, but to be honest, its what international football is… It’s not a club. The time period is always tight.”
Hart said he had been in contact with new TTFA director of football, Leo Beenhakker, mostly speaking in detail of the latter’s vision for the future of football in T&T.
“He understands that, of course, I have my way as well and he has said that I can draw upon him or off of him (at) any time. But, to be honest, I’d rather sit down with Mr Beenhakker, we look eye to eye and we see about the business of developing out national team programme.”
When asked if he had an idea of who he wished to see on the squad, with less than two weeks until the start of the Gold Cup, Hart responded: “Yes and no. I say that because there are some players that I like, what they do and what they can bring to the team. But, if they physically, are not ready, then (potentially) we cannot pick them. So, to be honest, I cannot answer that question with a lot of certainty.”
Hart, during his two spell 40-month tenure as Canada’s head coach, which ended last November, saw him produce a record of 20 wins, 15 losses and ten draws. Incidentally, Hart while at Canada’s helm secured wins over Honduras, Haiti and El Salvador, the three teams which T&T is pitted against in the Gold Cup’s group B.
Hart got his first glimpse at the current available crop of players, yesterday, when he held a training session at the same venue, immediately after the media conference ended. He indicated that the earliest the final selection of players would be announced is on Thursday.
No contract has yet been drawn up for Hart or Beenhakker but according to Tim Kee, who spoke extensively at yesterday’s media conference, the unofficial term of Hart’s appointment is for two years while Beenhakker’s deal is for six months.
Door remains open to ShabazzTim Kee, at the official presentation of T&T’s new head coach, said he never disrespected any member of the coaching staff who were in charge for T&T’s runner-up finish at the CFU championship and berth into the Gold Cup.
Tim Kee, however, said he understood Shabazz’s decision to refrain from working with the current staff because he (Shabazz) felt he had reached to a point in his career, which did not call for an assistant coach’s position.
The president also suggested it was a decision he may also have made had he been in Shabazz’s position. Tim Kee also refuted any and all suggestions that he was disrespectful to the staff which qualified T&T to its first Gold Cup appearance since 2007.
Tim Kee defended the two former co-head coaches and admitted that they and the staff and players had to work with limited resources. It was something the public needed to look at and appreciate.
On issue of the non-payment of salaries to Shabazz and other current and former members of the coaching staff, Tim Kee said it was responsibility of the Ministry of Sport, as approved in a budget presented by the then TTFF (T&T Football Federation), even before he became president. Tim Kee said it was the reason why he did not seek funding from other sources, as arrangements were already in place with the Ministry of Sport.
Tim Kee said accusations that the TTFA failed to pay salaries were unwarranted. He said to his knowledge, the issue would be dealt with soon, as it was simply a matter of the funds being released by the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Sport.
