St Clair named national coach

BERTILLE ST CLAIR has been entrusted with the role to chart a course of success for the national senior football team as they seek to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

St Clair’s appointment as head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago squad took effect yesterday, with a “Project Team” comprising of Ron La Forest as his assistant coach, Michael “Brow” Maurice as the goalkeeping coach, Ikin Williams as the equipment manager, Zephyrinus Nicholas as the physiotherapist and Sandra Basheer as team administator. Under the mandate “Journey to Germany 2006”, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) president Oliver Camps launched the new drive for the local game. According to a press release issued yesterday, Camps said: “This task is not an easy one, but we look at it with confidence, knowing that all involved are qualified and capable of representing our country at this high level.”

In his second spell as national senior team coach (after he was sacked in February 2000), St Clair is optimistic of achieving the set goal. “The journey ahead is no walk in the park. There are no short cuts to success. As head coach, I am committed to building this success brick by brick, and as part of this team, I am confident that we will be successful in creating that path to victory,” he said. As the T&T Pro League winds down to a close, the selection of a World Cup squad will be conducted as soon as possible, with the team featuring in three friendly matches — versus Bermuda on February 10 and 12 (in Bermuda) and against a Brazilian All-Star team on February 18 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

The release continued: “this is all part of a new strategy devised to bring toegether all of the nation’s top resources to form a truly united national football team, and bring a new perspective to the way we represent ourselves in the international football arena.” Also lending his support to the new venture is Minister of Sports Roger Boynes, who noted: “it showcases a new philosophy, which treats international sporting events of this calibre with the seriousness and professionalism they deserve. This makes for a campaign we can be proud as a people, and an excellent example from which all sport can learn,” he ended.