Choosing the right coach

The football loving public of Trinidad and Tobago, eager to see its team on the world’s biggest stage, await the name of the man to be entrusted in getting us to Russia in 2018.

We hope this time the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) will be a bit more meticulous and do its proper research before announcing its next hiring.

The sudden resignation of Belgian Tom Saintfiet after barely over a month at the helm shocked the country but really should not come as such a great surprise given Saintfiet’s coaching history.

In the last seven years, Saintfiet has incredibly coached 11 teams including this country. A journeyman throughout the African continent at places such as Namibia (2008-2010), Zimbabwe (2010), Shabab Al-Ordon (2010- 2011), Ethiopia (2011), Young Africans (2012), Yemen (2012- 2013), Malawi (2013), Free State Stars (2014) and Togo (2015- 2016), Saintfiet made quick stops in Bangladesh (2016) and Trinidad and Tobago (2016-2017).

TTFA president David-John Williams, at Saintfiet’s unveiling in December last year, stated that the coach was affordable and perusing his resume we can clearly see why.

We note with keen interest that the players have written a letter to the TTFA giving their suggestions as to who should be the next head coach. And while we do not condone employees telling their employers what to do, their action shows that the players have lost faith in the TTFA being able to make a rational and logical appointment.

The theoretical separation of powers in the local football structure seems to have already been eroded with reports of coaches not being able to select the players they wish. Saintfiet, in a parting shot at the TTFA stated, “I never got the chance to work with the players nor staff requested”. This follows another report under former coach Stephen Hart about administrators meddling during training sessions. There was also a bust-up between team doctor Terrence Babwah and Hart with the former resigning amid claims that Hart played goalie Jan-Michael Williams against Honduras in a qualifier when he was deemed unfit. Hart has categorically denied playing an injured goalkeeper while Jan-Michael has also come to the defence of the ex-coach.

The World Cup qualifiers resume in March and one month has already been lost due to the poor decision making of the TTFA in handing the reins to Saintfiet. Whoever is the new coach will have less than two months to meet his players and get them tactically ready to take on the likes of Panama (March 20) and Mexico (March 28) and jump-start the floundering 2018 campaign.

Sports Minister Darryl Smith has gone on record telling this newspaper he hopes a local coach will be given the chance to lead the team. We concur with the Sports Minister given the short space of time available before qualifiers resume.

Some of the names being bandied about include 2006 World Cup heroes Dennis Lawrence and Russell Latapy, England-born Terry Fenwick, W Connection coach Stuart Charles Fevrier and Colombian Francisco Maturana.

We hope that the next coach will be given all the tools necessary to get the job done and more importantly be given the freedom to implement his ideas and conduct his work with the players. Although win less after two games, all is not lost but the TTFA needs to select the right man this time and show faith in him for the foreseeable future.

With the news that FIFA will expand the World Cup to facilitate 48 teams from 2026, planning starts from now.