FIFA President remembers Under-20 captain

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has expressed his deep sympathy on the death of former Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 football captain Marvin Lee. The statement below was addressed to TT Football Federation President Oliver Camps on Tuesday by Blatter, who visited Lee at his Santa Rosa, Arima home in September 2001.

“Dear President, dear friend
The news of the death of Marvin Lee came as a great shock to me. You are all very familiar with his story marked by the tragic accident he suffered when devoting himself to his greatest passion, the game of football. I had the opportunity to meet Marvin at his home, while I was in Trinidad and Tobago during the FIFA U-17 World Championship in September 2001. I discovered an extremely engaging youngster, who although lucid about his physical limitations was brimming with hopes and dreams. He was an incredibly mature young man, who was eager to fight to enjoy life despite his handicap. Meeting him was a moment of intense emotion for me and it was an attempt to retain a lasting and symbolic memory of that moment that I awarded Marvin the very first FIFA Presidential Award later that year. Both personally and on behalf of the extended international football family, I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to his family, particularly his mother Dawn, his friends and his former teammates, as well as all of those who loved and cared for him, among them the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, and FIFA Vice-President Jack  A Warner. The memory of Marvin will forever remain engraved on my memory.”

Also extending condolences was former Technical Director Rene Simoes who met with Lee at different events during his tenure here. England-based goalkeeper Shaka Hislop as well as Stern John, Clayton Ince and Russell Latapy, who all visited Lee’s home in 2001, also paid their tributes. Birmingham City striker Stern John who met Lee in 2001 was also shocked. “It’s certainly came as a shock to me. “Knowing everything that he passed through to come and leave this way is very sad. It shows that the Almighty has his plan for everyone and we have to abide by this and be grateful for what we have in life,” said John.

Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper, Clayton Ince, a former member of the Defence Force where Lee had also been attached said: “This is very sad. It’s difficult for his family especially after what he went through with the injury and then to come and go so suddenly. I got the news through the internet and I was really saddened by it”.