‘Beenhakker is the key’

LEGENDARY former Eng-land International John Barnes says newly appointed Trinidad and Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker will be a key man if the TT Soca Warriors are to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Currently, TT are struggling in the qualifying round without a win in their three matches so far. “The coach is the most important man. You have got to listen to what he says,” Barnes advised. “I know Leo Beenhakker but I didn’t know Bertille St Clair and looking back at Jamaica, unfortunately it took a Brazilian to get the players to do the right thing in terms of being disciplined and committed and playing the right football.”

“Now Leo Beenhakker is a fantastic coach and I’m not saying that the players here are not committed and not trying to work. But with the talent we have here, there is obvious need to do better for ourselves.” Barnes, speaking at the launch of a new football television programme, also said the team needed to ensure its attitude was also in order. “Greece winning the European Champ-ionship for me was the biggest plus for the smaller teams like Trinidad because it shows that you don’t need to have the best players but once you have the right attitude and commitment with good guidance then you can achieve anything,” Barnes noted.

“And I know what Caribbean football is like,” Barnes said, “where you have certain players more popular and being treated better than others and there might be gaps in the team and this is why you need the entire country, the entire football fraternity and media as well, to come together to make Trinidad and Tobago successful on the football stage.” Barnes was also high in praise of CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president Austin “Jack” Warner who he said had done wonders for football throughout the world.

“He has set the stage and I am sure there would be nothing better than seeing this country now get to the biggest stage the game has to offer.” After their run of poor performances, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation revamped the coaching staff, replacing St Clair with Beenhakker and drafting in former national player Russell Latapy as an assistant. However, the team now needs to win their upcoming games in order to remain on course for Germany, a task that Barnes said will be a challenge. “It’s a difficult goal at the moment and the most important thing is that the team and the entire country hold that belief that you can qualify for the World Cup,” Barnes said.