Braithwaite, Look Loy not running for top football job.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Newsday).
Richard Braithwaite, a frontrunner to replace Oliver Camps as president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) at the upcoming Annual General Elections (AGM) later this year, has said he is not interested in the job.
And Keith Look Loy who has also been mentioned as a candidatehas echoed similar sentiments.
Braithwaite stated in a media release that he prefers to focus on the development of the sport at the grass-roots community level, particularly in south Trinidad.
“I am not interested in being president of the football federation or holding any other executive positions at this time,” Braithwaite stated.
And Look Loy, also in an e-mail made it clear that he currently holds two positions in the TTFF — technical adviser and chairman of the technical committee.
“Technical development is where my interest lies. As TTFF president I would not be able to work in this area as directly as I have been over the past years,” Look Loy said.
“I have to concentrate on the development of my club FC Santa Rosa, which requires a tremendous investment of time and energy. This is one of my priorities. I am very much dedicated to the development of the local game and the governing body — the TTFF — but, I repeat, I am not interested in doing so as president of the organisation,” Look Loy stated.
Braithwaite, a former Trintoc, United Petrotrin and national football teams manager had his name thrown into the ring after word circulated that Camps was expected to be challenged for the top job.
Also mentioned as possible challengers were current TTFF vice presidents Rudolph Thomas and Raymond Tim Kee.
Attempts to reach Look Loy and Thomas proved futile but Tim Kee revealed he has never been asked to contest the presidency. “That is news to me. I have not been approached by anyone and I do not know anything about that,” he said.
Camps on the other hand told Newsday that he will not go up for elections if anyone else decides to contest the post of presidency. The successful candidate will have to win the support of the TTFF affiliates.
Among Braithwaite’s accomplishments is his effort to have Dwight Yorke return to the national team for the 2006 World Cup in Germany for which Trinidad and Tobago qualified under Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker. He also guided Trintoc to the national championship.
Braithwaite told Newsday he has been very concerned about the decline in sport in south Trinidad and that he is willing to help deal with the problems.
Braithwaite has also served on the FIFA Technical Committee. “One of the important things I learnt during my time of the FIFA technical committee, was the positive impact that football and sport in general can have on the youth.”
As such he is advising that there is need to establish a systematic youth development programme in south Trinidad, using sport as the main vehicle.
He described South as having a strong sporting tradition with a lot of talent in the various communities. “I intend to spend my time helping to develop this talent,” Braithwaite said.
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