The sinking ship - a call to boycott T&T football

On a serious note, I do stand by the statement made above, and believe that now would be the best time for a united Trinidad and Tobago to stand up and take action to end the dictatorial reign of the current Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF); a private organization that is destroying our beloved sport of football.  We the fans of T&T football are also pleading with the current TTFF administrators to please step down and resign your post immediately.

We cannot continue to see the state of our football deteriorate any longer. The fans must make their feelings known and here are some of the things that should be considered;

1. A public protest in front of the TTFF’s head office on Dundonald Street.
2. Boycott all T&T football games.
3. Plead for FIFA’s assistance.
4. Seek government assistance.
5. Create and sign a petition in protest of the TTFF’s incompetence.
6. Create and join anti-TTFF facebook groups.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) was formed on July 23rd, 1908. Current president Oliver Camps has served as the TTFF’s leader long before the name of the Association was officially changed on September 13, 1998 to The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF).

In a recent article, Lasana Liburd highlighted one of the many questionable activities conducted by the TTFF saying; "And, although the body began calling itself the "TTFF" nearly two decades ago, the actual TTFF was only officially registered in April 2006 as a private limited company by its sole trader and the TTFF president—I mean, TTFA president—Oliver Camps."

As president, Mr. Oliver Camps may have had some small measure of success in the past, but over the last few years it has become quite apparent that he is lacking fresh ideas and vision to take T&T football forward.

Imagine, we may never see some of our top class players suit up for Trinidad and Tobago anytime soon like; Khaleem Hyland, Kenwyne Jones, Daneil Cyrus, Hughtun Hector, Jake Thomson, Julius James, Ataullah Guerra, Robert Primus, Kevin Molino, Keon Daniel and Lester Peltier.

Even the remainder of our older experienced players’ international careers could be short-lived. These players still have so much to offer like Carlos Edwards, Christopher Birchall, Collin Samuel, Jlloyd Samuel, Marvin Phillips, Clyde Leon, Densill Theobald, Devorn Jorsling, Cornell Glen, Andre Boucaud and Darryl Roberts.

In my experience following football around the globe I have never seen such a poorly managed federation. Imagine our senior team has not even had a preparatory match in over 8 months and now T&T’s chances of advancing into the second phase of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers seem slim; as we face Caribbean minnows Bermuda, Guyana and Barbados in the first qualifying round which begins on September 2nd, 2011.

I clearly remembered the TTFF Technical Advisor Keith Look Loy mentioning in a TV-6 interview that the TTFF got German coach Otto Pfister on a bargain. He went on to say that unofficially the experienced manager would be contracted for the amount of $50,000 USD a month plus other stipends, all of which were supposedly to be paid by the T&T government.

Now I am not a brain surgeon and I have nothing against Mr. Otto Pfister, but instead of paying a coach $50,000 a month, wouldn’t it have been more logical to appointed a local coach on, say, TT$30,000 per month and allocate the additional TT$270,000 to fund our World Cup qualifier preparation?

Given the history of financial mismanagement and the lack of transparency and accountability there is no justifiable reason for the government of T&T to fund any project or endeavor the TTFF embarks on, and that includes paying Otto Pfister’s salary. It’s like taking out a loan to buy a Ferrari, but you can't afford to pay the insurance or buy gas for the car. Yes, we have a Ferrari, but it’s no use to us if it will only be parked in the garage.

Politics at its best.

According to reports, the TTFF requested that the government provides $25 million dollars for its 2014 World Cup preparation, which by the way should have started a year ago. The government replied via Sport Minister Anil Roberts who acknowledged the request but rightfully demanded that the TTFF provide further details and show evidence of how the money will be spent. In other words, the TTFF has to thoroughly account for its spending and not make up ghost figures as they have allegedly done in the past. The TTFF supposedly couldn't get its books in order and have now decided to stand on its own two fragile legs.

Bear in mind Anil Roberts is a politician and his words and promises are usually empty. Don't be surprised if the TTFF do get the money they requested in the end. I believe that Anil Roberts’ recent release in the T&T dailies were just to fool the public. After all, Jack is the reason why he is Minister of Sports today.

Imagine, millions of tax payers’ dollars will vanish without any accountability and Roberts will be the first man to jump ship and defend his spending. I can't blame him though, T&T is probably the only country in the world where the people don't seem to care how their hard earned money is being spent.

Furthermore, it is mind boggling to think that the TTFF made $150 million dollars in profits just a little over 4-years ago, during the 2006 World Cup. Subsequently, we have had sub-par preparation for all tournaments we have participated in including the failed 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, and 2 respective Digicel Cup and Gold Cup tournaments. Furthermore during this time span, the TTFF refused to pay the bonuses owed to our 2006 World Cup heroes, in addition to short paying the 2010 Digicel Cup players. So where did the money go?

Given these obvious circumstances it seems strange that our honourable Prime Minister Ms. Kamla Persad-Bissessar who preached against corruption is not even asking questions about the TTFF. The TTFF in the meantime, claim to be so broke that it had to cancel T&T’s scheduled friendly match against Haiti this month. Mind you, Haiti, a country with a very poor economy was however up for the task. Now T&T is forced to go into its first round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers having no preparation whatsoever. We must also keep in mind that our first opponent in this round is Bermuda, a team that has beaten us at this level before.

One last push for $upport

There is however a game carded for the 21st of August against India, where it is rumoured that new team captain Kenwyne Jones and LA Galaxy’s Christopher Birchall will make an appearance. If anything this seems like a plot to sell tickets because the Galaxy are pushing to seal a play-off spot in the middle of the season and Kenwyne Jones is preparing to the start of the EPL which kicks off this Saturday. One would be surprised if both players play any part in the upcoming friendly.

Yes, I know we may not qualify for the 2014 WC with a local coach, but everyone, from the supporters, the TTFF and the government, must accept that we need to rebuild and focus on 2018 and beyond. We simply cannot compete with the likes of USA, Mexico, Costa Rica at this present time with a fete match mentality.

Now, my question to the TTFF is very simple, if you claim to be broke and cannot fulfill your obligation as career takers of our football, why not step down and give other willing and capable people a chance to carry the torch?

If I know them well they'll say, "well nobody wants to step up and challenge them for the position" or some other silly excuses that they already know the outcome off.

If the entire TTFF board members as well as the voting zonal members are disbanded, I can guarantee that someone will step up and accept the challenge. At least four eligible candidates come to mind who are more than willing to step in to help make a positive change.

Other than that, it would be a waste if one or two of the TTFF’s figure heads were replaced by capable individuals while the rest of the federation is still under the influence of former Special Advisor and financier Mr. Jack Warner.

Although the former FIFA vice-president is banned from football as a result of the recent bribery scandal that tarnished the reputation of Caribbean football, it is believed that he still pulls the strings in the TTFF behind the scenes.

Though, everyone around Jack seems to be falling as of lately and yet no one in the TTFF is even budging or stepping aside. Only recently, TTFF General Secretary Richard Groden were one of 16 officials from Caribbean associations who have been charged with breaching rules on ethics in the wake of the bribery scandal that saw Mohamed Bin Hammam banned for life.

Now, we as fans would like to know what the TTFF’s ultimate aim is as far as T&T football is concerned. One is left to assume that the TTFF is intent on;

1. Bleeding T&T football dry and showing the world without Jack Warner T&T football cannot progress.
2. Proving to the general public and the T&T courts that they are broke so the players who are currently pursuing their promised bonuses will not be given their share.
3. Staying in power with the hope that another big pay check will come by soon so its board members can solidify their job security.

Our football has reached such a decrepit state that no one in cooperate T&T seems to care about sponsoring any of our national football teams or TTFF ventures. To add insult to injury and laughter to pain, it seems many organizations in the sporting industry are crying broke, including the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League and the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago, which recently pulled the plug on subsidizing all sports in T&T.

So it seems, one financially strapped organization has to suffer while another less deserving of funding prospers. The Pro League is not only important for the progression of football in T&T, but it also employs many citizens, who may soon be forced to seek other means of employment while the TTFF officials and the Sport Minister sip their scotch and coconut water in Moka.

But that's another story, in the meantime the 2014 World Cup qualifers are around the corner. Let me repeat, World Cup qualifers start in September and we are grasping at straws for yet another World Cup campaign and, we go through this every single World Cup. It's like planting an apple seed hoping it bears sapodilla. I have not given up on T&T's chances to Brazil as half chance is better than none at all, however, all we are pleading for is a change for the better.

If I had to play a song in reference to the current state of T&T football management it would be none other than Gypsy's “Sinking Ship”.

This is an S.O.S. from the Trinidad.
Location, seven miles off the coast of Venezuela.
S.O.S. S.O.S. Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Help! Help!
"Captain, this ship is sinking
Captain, these seas are rough [oh yes]
We gas tank almost empty
No electricity, we oil pressure reading low
Shall we abandon ship?
Or shall we stay on it, and perish slow?
We don't know, we don't know
Captain you tell we what to do." [Woh woh]

Up-next: Who really owns the Center of Excellence?

The Officials:

President: Oliver Camps
Vice Presidents: Rudolph Thomas, Lennox Watson and Krishna Kuarsingh
General Secretary: Richard Groden
Technical Advisor: Keith Look Loy
Treasurer: Rudolph Thomas
Assistant Technical Director: Jamal Shaabaz
Men's Coach: Otto Pfister
Men's Assitant Coaches: Anton Corneal, Hutson Charles, Jefferson George
U-20 Team Manager: Cheryl Abrams
Women's Technical Director: Even Pellerud