Shopping for players unpatriotic

THE EDITOR: The National Transformation Party (NTP) says that the “Soca Warriors” belongs to TT and that must be reflected in the behaviour of the TTFF. The NTP says that it is nothing short of a national disgrace, the words emanating from key players in the TTFF. To be speaking about going shopping for players who are prepared to accept a TT passport and play for TT at the World Cup is very unpatriotic on the one hand whilst on the other hand it amounts to crushing the aspirations of the many locally based players with a sledge hammer. Apart from Clayton Ince, it is difficult to see any player that plays outside of TT that deserves to wear national colours at the World Cup, and we are speaking here about players that failed to make themselves available before TT qualified.

The NTP says that those who are talking road and shop for players are unpatriotic, opportunistic and are bent on casting inferiority aspersions on Trinidad and Tobago. Let us not forget that the Strike Squad, which was made up of all locally based players had a full strength Paraguay team coming from behind twice to salvage draws with TT. So much concern was caused after the first game that the president of Paraguay’s FA flew in to witness the second game, that again saw Paraguay coming from behind to draw. And Leo Beenhakker is a more highly rated coach than Gally Cummings so that performance could improve. The NTP says that TT’s football belongs to TT and the attitude of those in authority must reflect that. Qualifying for the World Cup has given TT the opportunity to showcase TT’s talent, and the real benefit to TT’s football will be to hear the World Cup commentators speaking about players from W Connection or United Petrotrin or some other team from TT’s Pro League, so that scouts from around the world may pay closer attention to TT’s football and by extension, open the doors for more of our local talent to make names for themselves on the bigger stages of world football.

What will it benefit TT’s football for the commentators to be talking about players who have received last minute passports to enable them to play for TT, players who have already made a name for themselves in the Premiership or elsewhere. The benefit will be going to the already established players and their already established clubs and very little to TT’s football. And that is tantamount to side lining national pride and patriotism in exchange for a “one night stand.” Therefore the NTP is calling for patriotism and good sense to prevail over TT looking good for three matches. No passports should be issued for anyone that failed to make themselves available before TT qualified. The NTP says that consistent with its motto “equity brings stability” the TTFF is being called upon to reward the efforts of t he local PFL and ensure that locally based players are well represented when TT takes to the field in Germany.

URSUS DANIEL
National Transformation Party
Port-of-Spain