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Offline Flex

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Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
By Inshan Mohammed.


Time to bridge the gap.

When Trinidad and Tobago came tantalizingly close to qualifying for the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals in Italy back in 1989, two things stood out to me that just couldn't be ignored.

The first thing was the fact that CONCACAF was only allotted two qualifying spots to the FIFA World Cup.  The second impressive fact was that the Trinidad and Tobago team which was made up of 100% locally based players who never played at a professional level; still managed to come within a point of qualifying for its first World Cup.

We must pay tribute to then head coach Everald Cummings for such a huge accomplishment despite the heartbreak in the end. The Striker Squad made a lasting impression on the entire country, the Caribbean and to an extent, the world. They caught the eyes of everyone who followed football and one must feel honoured to have witnessed the historic event.

The team did so well that it united the entire country and built fan support from the ground up. However, it was no easy task in building such a reputation. The Strike Squad eliminated Guyana and Honduras in 1988, and then finished the job the following year by eliminating both El Salvador and Guatemala. T&T also had impressive 1-1 draws with group leaders and World Cup bound teams Costa Rica and USA, to finish 3rd in the group from a five team home and away series.

Now, you're probably asking yourself, why bring this up now? Well, it's evident that with the current state of our football, T&T needs to go a step back in order to make two steps forward.

When you have a team that is comprised of mainly foreign-based players it's very difficult to play on a regular basis. This is due to the limited FIFA friendly match dates and the cost of flying players from across the world to exhibition matches. This is a luxury T&T simply cannot afford with its limited resources and support. Not to mention, the infrequency of games that causes the team to break any momentum it may have developed.

The last time the Soca Warriors won the Caribbean Cup was in 2001 and the team was mainly made up of locally based players. Despite one defeat to Martinique, T&T managed to beat Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica and Barbados to cop the prestigious award for the late Ian Porterfield coached-team.

To take it a bit further, the previous Copa Caribe Cup (1999) under Tobago-born coach Bertille St Clair, T&T also won the title with a squad made up of 97% locally based players finishing flawlessly with victories over Cuba, Haiti, Guadeloupe, Grenada and Jamaica. Let’s not forget that some of T&T's most successful local coaches such as Cummings and St Clair mainly had so called ‘B teams’ to draw from.

While not comparing players in anyway as circumstances were a bit different then, my main focus in this article is to highlight the importance of having a local core of players.  This local core can be supplemented with a few available foreign-based players and will no doubt do wonders for T&T by catapulting the overall squad to a much higher level.

When you look at CONCACAF teams like Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, USA and Mexico, they seem more serious about the game because they play matches outside of the FIFA window. These teams field mostly local players when their foreign-based aren’t available, and utilize their time, resources and leagues efficiently. Why can’t T&T do the same? As a T&T fan all you can do is shake your head in disappointment at this fact.

In my humble opinion I think the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) should do all in its power to provide coach Hart with a comprehensive local programme that will provide him with a foundation to build on and at the same time help him integrate and develop younger players coming up.

The current professional league is a dying one, with no money, infrastructure, gyms, crowd support and proper planning, it has been a major downfall to T&T players and though it provides employment opportunities, it can also stagnate local players’ development. Yes, we've managed to catch a few standouts who eventually go aboard and our clubs do relatively well at Caribbean level competitions, but that’s hardly a surface to gauge what our players can really do as they usually fail considerably at CONCACAF level competitions.

This is why having a local core of national players can help raise their level and make them better prepared for the rigors of domestic and international football.

After following the local league for quite some time, a few names stood out to me that can add value to a solid Soca Warriors A or B team. These players include, but are not limited to-

Darren Mitchell, Aquil Selby, Jean-Luc Rochford, Andre Ettiene, Alvin Jones, Curtis Gonzales, Kishun Seecharan, Sean De Silva, Nathaniel Garcia, Kaydion Gabriel, Leston Paul, Neveal Hackshaw, Jesus Perez, Jabari Mitchell, Jomal Williams, Aikim Andrews, Shahdon Winchester, Kevon Villaroel, Jamal Jack, Jason Marcano, Jelani Peters, Jerwyn Balthazar, Makesi Lewis, Shackiel Henry, Kareem Freitas, Kadeem Corbin, Ricardo John, Ryan Stewart, Nathan Lewis and Brent Sam.

These are local players who I think can hold their own given the proper training, international experience and knowledge to know what it takes to become better athletes physically and mentally.

We've seen over the past two years that coach Stephen Hart has a knack for bringing out the best in players. He's experienced and intelligent, but is currently hanging on the edge of a cliff due to the lack of planning and support for him to provide the necessary coaching to his players, especially on the local front.

Many fans including myself have no idea what’s in-store for T&T football, as new president David John-Williams has been very silent since assuming his head position. His reluctance to speak with media outlets on main issues has been frustrating, however, I can only plead with him to do all in his power to help save our football (both men’s & women’s programmes) and get us back on track in the football world.

There are many positives to having a local core of national players in training. It is inexpensive to set up, it would give coach Hart a better indication of the capabilities of his local players and would better prepare the local Soca Warriors contingent for international duty.  This is an experiment that's worth the gamble.

« Last Edit: February 10, 2017, 04:26:36 AM by Flex »
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Offline socalion

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2016, 07:21:51 PM »
Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
By Inshan Mohammed.


Time to bridge the gap.

When Trinidad and Tobago came tantalizingly close to qualifying for the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals in Italy back in 1989, two things stood out to me that just couldn't be ignored.

The first thing was the fact that CONCACAF was only allotted two qualifying spots to the FIFA World Cup.  The second impressive fact was that the Trinidad and Tobago team which was made up of 100% locally based players who never played at a professional level; still managed to come within a point of qualifying for its first World Cup.

We must pay tribute to then head coach Everald Cummings for such a huge accomplishment despite the heartbreak in the end. The Striker Squad made a lasting impression on the entire country, the Caribbean and to an extent, the world. They caught the eyes of everyone who followed football and one must feel honoured to have witnessed the historic event.

The team did so well that it united the entire country and built fan support from the ground up. However, it was no easy task in building such a reputation. The Strike Squad eliminated Guyana and Honduras in 1988, and then finished the job the following year by eliminating both El Salvador and Guatemala. T&T also had impressive 1-1 draws with group leaders and World Cup bound teams Costa Rica and USA, to finish 3rd in the group from a five team home and away series.

Now, you're probably asking yourself, why bring this up now? Well, it's evident that with the current state of our football, T&T needs to go a step back in order to make two steps forward.

When you have a team that is comprised of mainly foreign-based players it's very difficult to play on a regular basis. This is due to the limited FIFA friendly match dates and the cost of flying players from across the world to exhibition matches. This is a luxury T&T simply cannot afford with its limited resources and support. Not to mention, the infrequency of games that causes the team to break any momentum it may have developed.

The last time the Soca Warriors won the Caribbean Cup was in 2001 and the team was mainly made up of locally based players. Despite one defeat to Martinique, T&T managed to beat Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica and Barbados to cop the prestigious award for the late Ian Porterfield coached-team.

To take it a bit further, the previous Copa Caribe Cup (1999) under Tobago-born coach Bertille St Clair, T&T also won the title with a squad made up of 97% locally based players finishing flawlessly with victories over Cuba, Haiti, Guadeloupe, Grenada and Jamaica. Let’s not forget that some of T&T's most successful local coaches such as Cummings and St Clair mainly had so called ‘B teams’ to draw from.

While not comparing players in anyway as circumstances were a bit different then, my main focus in this article is to highlight the importance of having a local core of players.  This local core can be supplemented with a few available foreign-based players and will no doubt do wonders for T&T by catapulting the overall squad to a much higher level.

When you look at CONCACAF teams like Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, USA and Mexico, they seem more serious about the game because they play matches outside of the FIFA window. These teams field mostly local players when their foreign-based aren’t available, and utilize their time, resources and leagues efficiently. Why can’t T&T do the same? As a T&T fan all you can do is shake your head in disappointment at this fact.

In my humble opinion I think the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) should do all in its power to provide coach Hart with a comprehensive local programme that will provide him with a foundation to build on and at the same time help him integrate and develop younger players coming up.

The current professional league is a dying one, with no money, infrastructure, gyms, crowd support and proper planning, it has been a major downfall to T&T players and though it provides employment opportunities, it can also stagnate local players’ development. Yes, we've managed to catch a few standouts who eventually go aboard and our clubs do relatively well at Caribbean level competitions, but that’s hardly a surface to gauge what our players can really do as they usually fail considerably at CONCACAF level competitions.

This is why having a local core of national players can help raise their level and make them better prepared for the rigors of domestic and international football.

After following the local league for quite some time, a few names stood out to me that can add value to a solid Soca Warriors A or B team. These players include, but are not limited to-

Ross Russell Jr, Aquil Selby, Jean-Luc Rochford, Andre Ettiene, Alvin Jones, Curtis Gonzales, Kishun Seecharan, Sean De Silva, Nathaniel Garcia, Kaydion Gabriel, Leston Paul, Neveal Hackshaw, Jesus Perez, Jabari Mitchell, Jomal Williams, Aikim Andrews, Shahdon Winchester, Kevon Villaroel, Jamal Jack, Jason Marcano, Jelani Peters, Jerwyn Balthazar, Makesi Lewis, Shackiel Henry, Kareem Freitas, Kadeem Corbin, Ricardo John, Ryan Stewart, Nathan Lewis and Brent Sam.

These are local players who I think can hold their own given the proper training, international experience and knowledge to know what it takes to become better athletes physically and mentally.

We've seen over the past two years that coach Stephen Hart has a knack for bringing out the best in players. He's experienced and intelligent, but is currently hanging on the edge of a cliff due to the lack of planning and support for him to provide the necessary coaching to his players, especially on the local front.

Many fans including myself have no idea what’s in-store for T&T football, as new president David John-Williams has been very silent since assuming his head position. His reluctance to speak with media outlets on main issues has been frustrating, however, I can only plead with him to do all in his power to help save our football (both men’s & women’s programmes) and get us back on track in the football world.

There are many positives to having a local core of national players in training. It is inexpensive to set up, it would give coach Hart a better indication of the capabilities of his local players and would better prepare the local Soca Warriors contingent for international duty.  This is an experiment that's worth the gamble.


   flex you absolutely spot on !.. I   myself have often  wondered why  that very solid and practical idea of having a core of locally based players  have not been selected   and kept in training for  the very reasons  you've  just pointed out , as a matter  fact it would  a mistake if the current administration ( TTFA ) should not consider  such a   super idea    ...   wonderful idea

Offline palos

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #2 on: March 03, 2016, 07:25:13 PM »
Our best players are snapped up by foreign clubs

That's a fact.

Our local Pro League is the highest form of football we have domestically

Our Pro League is poor compared to our CONCACAF rivals....as evidenced by our teams percormances in the CONCACAF Champions League.  Not against teams from Suriname or Guadeloupe or Antigua.  But against teams from Costa Rica, Mexico, USA, etc.

So by definition.....the local players, until they go abroad are NOT our best players.

The major difference between the 1990 Strike Squad which was ALMOST total local and a local squad today is......our best players then.....bar Dwight Yorke.....so players like Latas, Leonson, etc....weren't playing abroad.  They were playing for Trintoc etc.

That's not the case today.

Nothing wrong with having a local based team to some extent.  But when imprtant matches come up.....and the foreign based players get selected.....that might cause more harm than good.



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Offline Flex

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2016, 05:38:51 AM »
Our best players are snapped up by foreign clubs

That's a fact.

Our local Pro League is the highest form of football we have domestically

Our Pro League is poor compared to our CONCACAF rivals....as evidenced by our teams percormances in the CONCACAF Champions League.  Not against teams from Suriname or Guadeloupe or Antigua.  But against teams from Costa Rica, Mexico, USA, etc.

So by definition.....the local players, until they go abroad are NOT our best players.

The major difference between the 1990 Strike Squad which was ALMOST total local and a local squad today is......our best players then.....bar Dwight Yorke.....so players like Latas, Leonson, etc....weren't playing abroad.  They were playing for Trintoc etc.

That's not the case today.

Nothing wrong with having a local based team to some extent.  But when imprtant matches come up.....and the foreign based players get selected.....that might cause more harm than good.

Palos, socalion, good talk, but consider, players will rise their game if they get picked for many reasons.

Lets also consider, maybe a local core that are probably Under 23 players, that could also be an option.

Having a team where 80% of them is based in foreign and playing one game every 3 months is not good either.

We need a foundation, even if we get 2 players out of it, that would be a success than just doing nothing at all.

Look at Cummings for example, IMO, he was one of our best attacking players last year after K.Jones.

The last game against Haiti, Shahdon Winchester was a major standout and looked really good, if he can keep that sort of momentum he will be a regular on the team.

I am not saying or trying to play a Local v Foreign card, but we need some sort of consistent training for local players to raise their game and feed our national team.

Yes, the good ones will eventually leave, at least it could also benefit the local clubs.

It's a win, win situation.

« Last Edit: March 04, 2016, 05:41:28 AM by Flex »
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Offline Deeks

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2016, 05:52:43 AM »
It is all well and good to have a local squad. In the past many forumites have suggested that idea. But comes down to one thing. Who are the going to play. Over the past decades, the TTFA has been inept when coming to schedule friendlies for any of our national teams. We doh have money ... or some other rangahtang. Venezuela right friggin dey and them kiss-meh-arse can't or would not schedule a game with them. I agree totally with the idea, but I don't have faith in TTFa
« Last Edit: March 04, 2016, 08:58:32 AM by Deeks »

Offline Sam

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2016, 06:30:52 AM »
This article makes to much sense Flex.

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Offline Rastaman

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2016, 10:13:49 AM »
Thanks Flex for writing this article. Hopefully someone in authority will read this.

I keep saying that players will improve if they are exposed to a higher level of training. Not knocking the Local Teams and Coaches but when you take the best and put them together they will improve.

There is a similar discussion across here in Tobago. We have players here that are good enough but unless they are training at a higher level how on earth can they compete with players training with the National Teams.

Example :National U17 Team training months now and as yet no body ent look at a Tobago player. Then the usual excuse. It is too late for them to join the team....Team already gel.


It boils down to this
At what point do you give lesser player a chance

Offline Controversial

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2016, 10:56:50 AM »
Thanks Flex for writing this article. Hopefully someone in authority will read this.

I keep saying that players will improve if they are exposed to a higher level of training. Not knocking the Local Teams and Coaches but when you take the best and put them together they will improve.

There is a similar discussion across here in Tobago. We have players here that are good enough but unless they are training at a higher level how on earth can they compete with players training with the National Teams.

Example :National U17 Team training months now and as yet no body ent look at a Tobago player. Then the usual excuse. It is too late for them to join the team....Team already gel.


It boils down to this
At what point do you give lesser player a chance

Why were no Tobago players looked at?

Offline Controversial

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #8 on: March 04, 2016, 10:58:54 AM »
Good post flex but we've been saying this for donkey years now since the old board. Build a local based team to compliment the foreign base, this is still an issue

Offline palos

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #9 on: March 04, 2016, 11:23:10 AM »
I'll play devil's advocate

With some Pro League teams openly refusing to let their players practice with the National team unless it's a FIFA sanctioned window , how often will this local based National team train together?

As someone asked earlier, what matches will the local based team play and against whom?
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Offline weary1969

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #10 on: March 04, 2016, 11:28:04 AM »
I'll play devil's advocate

With some Pro League teams openly refusing to let their players practice with the National team unless it's a FIFA sanctioned window , how often will this local based National team train together?

As someone asked earlier, what matches will the local based team play and against whom?

Stop asking pertinent questions.
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Offline Controversial

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #11 on: March 04, 2016, 12:44:12 PM »
I'll play devil's advocate

With some Pro League teams openly refusing to let their players practice with the National team unless it's a FIFA sanctioned window , how often will this local based National team train together?

As someone asked earlier, what matches will the local based team play and against whom?

Stop asking pertinent questions.

Here's a better question, will the government fund this and help pay for insurance and other fees to take care of these players and to bring teams to lay is local based team..

It's a matter of money, the real question is, will the government and private sector fund this to help our national program..

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #12 on: March 04, 2016, 12:48:36 PM »
I'll play devil's advocate

With some Pro League teams openly refusing to let their players practice with the National team unless it's a FIFA sanctioned window , how often will this local based National team train together?

As someone asked earlier, what matches will the local based team play and against whom?

Well, Dexter Skeene (CEO), Wood (Police), Shabazz (AIA), Stuart (W), Muhammad Isa (Sando) are part and or good friends of the TTFA's new network, I am sure there will be some compromise.

But, I catch your drift.

I still stand by what I say.

 ;D

« Last Edit: March 04, 2016, 12:53:53 PM by Flex »
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Offline Flex

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #13 on: March 04, 2016, 12:52:18 PM »
Thanks Flex for writing this article. Hopefully someone in authority will read this.

I keep saying that players will improve if they are exposed to a higher level of training. Not knocking the Local Teams and Coaches but when you take the best and put them together they will improve.

There is a similar discussion across here in Tobago. We have players here that are good enough but unless they are training at a higher level how on earth can they compete with players training with the National Teams.

Example :National U17 Team training months now and as yet no body ent look at a Tobago player. Then the usual excuse. It is too late for them to join the team....Team already gel.


It boils down to this
At what point do you give lesser player a chance

The problem is not reading it, the problem is actually listening..

 ;)

We have a lot of know-it-all in T&T.

Why is Tobago being ignored? Wasn't Bertille hired to fix this or was it just for reading purposes?

 ;)

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Offline Errol

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #14 on: March 04, 2016, 01:37:46 PM »
Hart have to put his feet down and not sit and wait on certain players or for the TTFA to pull through because they wouldn't.

Foreign players are essential, but a local camp will do no harm and could only improve players and team.

Good going Flex.


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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #15 on: March 04, 2016, 04:17:14 PM »
It will appear that most , if not all  here on the forum  do agree that  the idea of having  a core  locally based   players  training can only in the long run benefit all involved ,!!    There 's no ifs  nor buts about  it .!  Many on this very forum are  providing ample ideas and suggestions  progressivly so , it is hoped the current TTFA  officials   drop by here ever so often   in order to read   and take note of some  super suggestions  from fellow forumites !!  leh meh just compliment  allyuh for keeping this board interesting ....

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #16 on: March 04, 2016, 06:07:06 PM »
Yea its a good idea to have a local based team...maybe play a few matches against Guyana, St Kitts etc.

Fact is crunch time we call for foreigners. Cummings was a real find, as he showed he absolutely had what it took to be  at that level. If  it weren't for his unfortunate situation he probably would not be local based anymore though.

S. Winchester was not originally in the squad. Hackshaw, Plaza moved overseas. My point being once you are good enough for the national team, you probably will not be locally based for long.



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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #17 on: March 04, 2016, 07:08:19 PM »
Very good idea but requires too many parts moving in the same direction for it to become a reality in sweet T&T. The Pro League would actually have to have a strict schedule. Any chopping and changing, especially at the last minute would directly affect the designated day for NT training. The TTFA would also need to have medical and insurance coverage in place for players.

Would be extremely surprised to see any sort of the practice games identified anytime soon. Even if the invited team's FA covers airfare, leaving the broke TTFA to pay for accommodation and meals for a few days is conservatively upwards of $25k. And that's without providing any sort of accommodation to Hart and his team in a semi camp. 

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #18 on: March 05, 2016, 01:43:59 AM »
The past is in the past.  Building a team from any ideology that doesn't include your best players in the world is rank foolishness. 
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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #19 on: March 05, 2016, 06:26:55 AM »
I don't think he meant building a local team that will replace your first team, go easy preacher.

Building a local team that will feed your first team is more like it.

Good idea if you asked me.

Once local players get call up by T&T and under Hart they will improve overall.

Lets not forgot that we do have a lot (11) of local players who are already regular players on Hart's team, Jan, Marvin, Cummings, Cyrus, Guerra and if you want, Winchester, Marcus, Jomal, DeSilva, Hector and Hackshaw.


Offline Preacher

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #20 on: March 05, 2016, 07:39:33 PM »
I don't think he meant building a local team that will replace your first team, go easy preacher.

Building a local team that will feed your first team is more like it.

Good idea if you asked me.

Once local players get call up by T&T and under Hart they will improve overall.

Lets not forgot that we do have a lot (11) of local players who are already regular players on Hart's team, Jan, Marvin, Cummings, Cyrus, Guerra and if you want, Winchester, Marcus, Jomal, DeSilva, Hector and Hackshaw.



I understand very well what Flex is saying.  But it will never pan out. The issue with local football vs National team has always been ideological.  It's not the role of the national team to improve players.  The National team is not an extension of Pro League development.  That's why we've lost very good foreign coaches.  And even though Sir Hart is doing well, the same falsely placed entitlement is there and more so now with this new TTFA Director.  Let the league do their thing let the National coach do his thing.  I don't trust how we do business.  Look, we have a winning team for the first time in how long.  So what to do we do?  We vote out the Director and right away we start loosing. 
In Everything give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you.

Offline Sando

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #21 on: March 06, 2016, 10:46:28 AM »
I don't think he meant building a local team that will replace your first team, go easy preacher.

Building a local team that will feed your first team is more like it.

Good idea if you asked me.

Once local players get call up by T&T and under Hart they will improve overall.

Lets not forgot that we do have a lot (11) of local players who are already regular players on Hart's team, Jan, Marvin, Cummings, Cyrus, Guerra and if you want, Winchester, Marcus, Jomal, DeSilva, Hector and Hackshaw.

I understand very well what Flex is saying.  But it will never pan out. The issue with local football vs National team has always been ideological.  It's not the role of the national team to improve players.  The National team is not an extension of Pro League development.  That's why we've lost very good foreign coaches.  And even though Sir Hart is doing well, the same falsely placed entitlement is there and more so now with this new TTFA Director.  Let the league do their thing let the National coach do his thing.  I don't trust how we do business.  Look, we have a winning team for the first time in how long.  So what to do we do?  We vote out the Director and right away we start loosing

For real, about we start loosing.

About the role of the TTFA to develop players, maybe, especially since the president's club could benefit from it.

« Last Edit: March 06, 2016, 10:48:28 AM by Sando »

Offline FireBrand

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #22 on: March 07, 2016, 08:17:59 PM »
Well Flex, he might be silent, but its obvious he is looking on. Yuh asked for a local team in training and a few days later...voila! Yuh get it and a game against Grenada. Lol.

Well done DJW. I hope more positive moves (for T&T) are on the horizon.

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Offline Rastaman

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #23 on: March 08, 2016, 07:42:14 AM »
 :applause: :applause: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :cheers: :notworthy: :notworthy:
They have listened 😀 To at least they are thinking with some sense. Thank you coach Hart for your insite.

Offline Flex

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #24 on: March 08, 2016, 09:30:20 AM »
:applause: :applause: :wavetowel: :wavetowel: :cheers: :notworthy: :notworthy:
They have listened 😀 To at least they are thinking with some sense. Thank you coach Hart for your insite.

No, guys, I am sure DJW/Hart (whom ever) was planning this a while now, this having nothing to do with listening or the article.

« Last Edit: March 08, 2016, 10:48:38 AM by Flex »
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Offline spideybuff

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #25 on: March 09, 2016, 09:38:42 AM »
I think DJW had this in his campaign manifesto. Along with plans to have year round youth age teams as well. Maybe he looking for money to start the ideas, or maybe he was just talking to get votes
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Offline Star Child

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #26 on: March 09, 2016, 10:11:05 AM »
spideybuff, I'll go with option 2.   ;D

This article should be printed and stick in the TTFA's office walls.

It's a good article that covers the ground work.

We all know the good players will eventually go aboard and yes, this and that, like some of you pointed out here.

But give credit, a solid local team is a good start even if its a U-23 team.

Our coach will always want his top players even if its a friendly game because he doesn't want to get embarrass again, but I see nothing wrong in getting a bad result in a friendly game if we learn from it.

What if Hyland, Kenwyne, Boucaud, Joevin and Abu Bakr can't make it, then what?

Then we are left to throw in rookies and it could be worst.

On the other side, credit to Hart, he does have good pedigree as a coach and the players like him, this is why a local thing can be a good step for him to develop players to another level.

« Last Edit: March 09, 2016, 10:18:29 AM by Star Child »

Offline Star Child

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #27 on: March 09, 2016, 11:01:00 AM »
One of T&T's unsung heroes recognized today.
By: Inshan Mohammed.


That B-team was comprised of players who were some of the best the country had to offer, with the likes of Elliot Allen, Clint Marcelle, Garfield DeSilva, Timothy Haynes, Kelvin Jones, Dexter Lee, Ivan Sampson, Richard Chinapoo, Nevick DeNoon and Anthony Sherwood.

Both Cooper and his assistant in former St Benedicts College coach Jan Steadman took that T&T B-team to the 1989 Shell Cup final group stage before being dropped by Jack Warner. Coops and his entire team were disbanded by Warner because the players wanted the same treatment that Gally's Strike Squad (A-Team) were getting.

Despite some impressive results in the group stage (Zone A) here in Trinidad and Tobago, Coops disclosed that the TTFF blamed the 1-0 lost to Grenada as the excuse to dismantling the team. T&T were 11-0 winners over Aruba which was probably one of the biggest wins in the history of the tournament, a 3-1 win over French Guyana and Coops’ “Army” was also victorious over St Kitts (2-0). The already qualified T&T then finished the semi-final group with a 1-0 lost to none other than Grenada.

http://www.socawarriors.net/forum/index.php?topic=52152.msg714038#msg714038


Offline Flex

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #28 on: March 10, 2016, 04:47:17 PM »
Hart to announce W/Cup qualifier squad later this month.
By Shaun Fuentes (TTFA).


Trinidad and Tobago head coach Stephen Hart will announce his final squad for the two World Cup qualifiers against St Vincent and the Grenadines later this month.

Hart has indicated that he will have a final look at some of the home-based players at the upcoming international friendly against Grenada in St George’s on March 19th.

While there have been reports emanating out of Europe on T&T players who have been called up to the squad, Hart stated today that their selections are not final as he is yet to announce the final squad. But the TTFA has a stipulated time during which to make the official requests for the release of players to join the national team for international matches.

“This is customary where we have to make the official request of the players who are in contention for selection in advance during the stipulated time. There are a number of players who we ensure are on the list or the general pool and contact is made with the clubs before our final squad is announced. This is merely to ensure we have access to these players once they are required to join the team,” Hart told TTFA Media.

The squad to face Grenada will be announced tomorrow (Friday).

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Offline Sam

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Re: Building a local team could be a step in the right direction.
« Reply #29 on: March 12, 2016, 06:22:05 AM »
Hector, Hyland in squad to face Grenada
TTFA Media


Trinidad and Tobago Senior Men’s Head Coach Stephen Hart has today announced a 22-man squad for the upcoming international friendly against Grenada in St George’s on March 19th.

The game comes as part of preparation for the 2018 CONCACAF Semi-Final Round World Cup qualifiers against St Vincent/Grenadines on March 25th in Kingstown and March 29th at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

As hinted earlier by Hart, the squad comprises mainly home-based players and sees the return of DirecTV W Connection midfielder Hughtun Hector who was sidelined from action for close to year with injury before making his return a few weeks ago.

Belgium-based midfielder Khaleem Hyland is available for selection and has been included in the squad which includes four players from Hart’s team that have been involved in the qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup so far. Those other players include goalkeeping duo Jan Michael Williams and Marvin Phillip and defender Daneil Cyrus. Some other names that have been in the national squad previous, who have been selected for this friendly include W Connection’s Shahdon Winchester, Alvin Jones and Jomal Williams, Central FC midfielder Sean De Silva, Marcus Joseph and Leston Paul.

There are also selections for Defence Force duo Jerwyn Balthazar, a member of the T&T Futsal team, and Curtis Gonzales, as well as newcomers Club Sando’s Akeem Humphrey, Jamali Garcia of Defence Force, defender Andre Ettienne, Kevon Villoreal, Nathaniel Garcia of Central FC and Police duo Elijah Belgrave and Makesi Lewis.

In a brief statement, Hart said: “I am looking for players who adapt quickly and can bring something different to the present squad. I am also looking to create a deeper playing pool, with an aim of establishing competition for places.

“This game will serve its purpose in that way and it provides that opportunity for players who have been knocking on the door. And of course we have a few of the regular squad players who will add that stability and experience to the team that will play in Grenada. This is also a good opportunity for us to get these players, several of them new to the stage of international football, in a training camp environment which allows us to see how the react to such conditions,” Hart added on Friday.

The team will enter a training camp on Sunday and will hold its first training session on Monday morning at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium. Sessions will take place both at the Manny Ramjohn and Ato Boldon Stadium prior to the team’s departure on March 18th.   The game on March 19th is scheduled for 7pm a the Grenada National Athletic Stadium in St George’s.

Meantime, tickets for the T&T versus St Vincent World Cup qualifier on March 29th are presently available for purchase. Tickets are priced at $300 for the covered section and $150 for the uncovered section of the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

These tickets can now be purchased at Sports and Games outlets nationwide, Kenny’s Sports (nationwide), Sportway at Ellerslie Plaza and Gulf City, Ramsingh’s Sportworld in Couva and Heritage Sports, Scarborough Tobago from this Friday. Tickets can also be purchased online via the TTFA’s official website - TTFootball.Org.

T&T Squad for Grenada

Goalkeepers

Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC), Marvin Phillip (Morvant Caledonia United).

Defenders

Alvin Jones (W Connection), Andre Ettienne (Central FC), Tristan Hodge (W Connection), Jamali Garcia (Defence Force), Kevon Villaroeal (Central FC), Daneil Cyrus (W Connection), Elijah Belgrave (Police FC), Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force).

Midfielders

Sean De Silva (Central FC), Jomal Williams (W Connection), Nathaniel Garcia (Central FC), Hughtun Hector (W Connection), Akeem Humphrey (Club Sando), Jason Marcano (Central FC), Leston Paul (Central FC), Khaleem Hyland (KVC Westerlo/BEL).

Forwards

Shahdon Winchester (W Connection), Jerwyn Balthazar (Defence Force), Makesi Lewis (Police FC), Marcus Joseph (Central FC).

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