Latapy wants to coach Warriors

RUSSELL LATAPY, dubbed the “Little Magician” for his football prowess has not given up his desire to coach Trinidad and Tobago team in the near future.

Latapy reiterated his willingness to tackle the top job at a press conference yesterday morning in the Ajax Room of the Crowne Plaza in Port-of-Spain.

After extending his gratitude to the TT public for the support, love and cherished memories that he received from representing the national team, the 37-year-old midfielder said: “I don’t think it is the end but the beginning of something else.

“I know the coach (Leo Beenhakker) is not ready to leave yet but hopefully I can work in another capacity and continue to represent Trinidad and bring back the experience I’ve gained.

“Hopefully, if that happens, when the coach leaves, I’ll have to speak to (Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation Special Adviser Jack) Warner about that,” Latapy declared.

Latapy, who is a player/coach at Scottish Premier League team Falkirk, stressed that he’s in no way pushing the Dutchman out of the door.

“But I’ll love to have the opportunity to come back and give something to Trinidad for all the things that Trinidad has given to me,” he said.

Beenhakker was gracious in his praise of Latapy, who will be retiring from international football after next month’s FIFA World Cup in Germany.

“I am very happy that, at least, a great player like Latapy has the possibility to say a final farewell of his international career in Germany,” Beenhakker said. “I think that’s really a dream for every player, to be there once in his career. I am looking forward to going there with the team and also go there with him,”Beenhakker said yesterday.

Latapy was originally called by the coach, along with a former national captain David Nakhid, to serve as his assistants in April 2005. While Nakhid worked as a scout, Latapy declined the offer. “At that moment he was in a situation in that he still had to think about the actual state of the TT team, his future and so on and he preferred to concentrate a little bit more on the coaching part,” Beenhakker explained. “In other words, he only was interested in taking over my chair I believe. I was very happy that after a few matches and before the Guatemala game we played here in September that he was available for us,” Beenhakker said.

He described Latapy as “one of those few players every coach is dreaming of, players who are not only able to play good football based on their skills, on their talents, but they also understand the game.

“He understands the game and he can help to make the team better,” Beenhakker said. “As a coach, you can bring a message and he is able to translate the message on the field. He will be a great support for the technical staff and he will be a great support for the team also in Germany,” he said.

Beenhakker also commented on Wednesday’s friendly international against Peru at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

“We have a very busy and exciting week in front of us. The main part for us, for the team, would be, first of all to try to focus on the Peru match, since we were not together since February in England, for the friendly against Iceland,” he said.

But Beenhakker noted that the hamstring injury sustained last week by Los Angeles Galaxy striker Cornell Glen is more serious than initially thought, and the 24-year-old will be in a race against time to regain his fitness before the coach finalises his 23-man roster before the May 15 deadline.

At yesterday’s function, the TTFF also launched a set of commemorative stamps, issued by TT Post, and two sets of coins minted by the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.

The stamps, which feature photos of the FIFA World Cup home-and-away play-off matches against Bahrain, on November 12 and 16, are worth $1 (Stern John, Avery John and Chris Birchall), $2.50 (Carlos Edwards), $3.75 (captain Dwight Yorke) and $4.50 (Stern John).

About the Peru contest, Warner said that over 55 percent of the tickets have been sold, with the remainding share on sale at selected KFC outlets until Tuesday night.

The Peru squad is expected to arrive tomorrow for the fixture.