Ban on striking Soca Warriors lifted

SUSPENSIONS imposed on 19 national footballers by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation have been lifted with immediate effect.

This follows a recommendation by a three-member arbitration committee comprising chairperson Sandra Basheer, Michael “Joey” Carew and Omar Khan. Brent Sancho, Kelvin Jack, ex-national skipper Travis Mulraine and Gary Glasgow led a walkout of players on the eve of their friendly international against Finland at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, on January 29 last.

The players were clamouring for what they called “players’ rights.”
But following their walk off, the TTFF held a meeting and slapped an indefinite ban on the “striking” footballers. Joe Public players Keyeno Thomas, Hollis Brown and Jeremy Delpino were promptly fired for their involvement. The players quartet on advice received, sought a meeting with the TTFF and that’s when the three-member committee entered the fray. It was on recommendation of the Basheer committee, yesterday, the players’ suspension was rescinded. But other aspects of the recommendations made will be studied by the TTFF executive at a meeting scheduled for March 16 at their Dundonald Street, Port-of-Spain offices, starting 9.30 am, according to secretary Richard Groden.

The TTFF thanked Basheer, Carew and Khan for their services and recommendations made following their sittings. Striking players were: Travis Mulraine, Trent Noel, Gary Glasgow, Brent Sasncho, Kelvin Jack,  Nigel Daniel, Cyd Gray, Ian Gray, Josh Johnson, Cornell Glen (Jabloteh), Uz Taylor (Arima Fire), Keyeno Thomas, Jeremy Delpino, Hollis Brown (Joe Public), Sean Julien (Starworld Strikers), Brian James, Silvio Spann, Lyndon Andrews (W Connection), Colin Roberts (Superstar Rangers).