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Thu, Mar

Troubled Hart wants proper tools, threatens resignations.
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A troubled national football coach Stephen Hart maintains he will resign if he does not get the tools necessary to properly prepare the Soca Warriors to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The Trinidadian-born Canadian coach threatened to walk away from the team last year, sighting lack of funding which at the time had hampered his team’s preparations. 

Yesterday Hart told the Guardian his stance remains the same, explaining it’s either we are serious about providing what is necessary for qualification or we are not. “If you are going to hold the players and myself responsible for results, then everything must be in place to ensure we are provided with the tools to give us a chance at being successful,” Hart said. 

He added: “World Cup qualifiers are a marathon and in international football consistency is very difficult to achieve. Successful teams take care of all the details they are in control of to ensure proper preparation. The association has assured us they will do their best to assist in aspects where they are in control. As always we will do whatever it takes to get it right on the field.”

The T&T Soca Warriors have four points from the two matches to date, following a win over Guatemala (November 13) and a goalless draw to the United States. The qualifiers resume in March with matches at home and away against St Vincent and the Grenadines. But Hart’s men are unsure if they will be involved in a friendly encounter before the qualifiers, although it appears to be necessary. 

Hart said this arrangement was being made by the T&TFA which is being led by new president David John-Williams. Attempts to reach John-Williams proved futile and general secretary Azard Khan said the president was dealing with arranging the game on his own. But even if this match is arranged, the Soca Warriors would field an under-strength team as it would be difficult to get players outside of a FIFA break. 

Hart noted: “Understand that there are no FIFA dates that allow a team to play International football, which means that even if we have a game, clubs are not obliged to release players. 

With MLS clubs beginning their pre-season, clubs in season and the pro league in full swing, it will be difficult to get a squad to play. However, the Association is  working on a potential International game, where some of the players may be able to play.” 

Following on the heels of a disappointing performance by the T&T team which saw them succumb to a heart-wrenching 0-1 loss to Haiti in the Copa America Centenario Play-Off in January, the coach is eager to get back his full team for the coming matches. 

Having his full team will depend on which players are consistently playing well, which have clubs and which are fit and ready. The Vincentians are still to get a point in the qualifiers having lost their opening two matches of the campaign, 1-6 to the USA and 0-4 to Guatemala. 

In spite of this, Hart said he will not be taking them lightly as he described the regional team as good with proper balance and team speed. 

“They will want to get maximum points at home and put on a good performance for their supporters. In today’s International climate if you are not fully concentrated, you can easily drop points. Even if we win the next two games we will still need a result from Guatemala or USA,” Hart explained.