Much expected from Maturana

The former Strike Squad captain said it presented a good opportunity for fresh ideas to be injected into the sport locally.

“I hope that he brings a positive contribution to TT so that we can qualify for World Cup 2010,” he said.

The former Colombian World Cup player was presented to the media on Thursday in the Banquet Hall of the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

He was introduced by Jack Warner, Special Advisor to the TTFF in the presence pf their president Oliver Camps and Raymond Tim Kee, the organisations’s Development Officer.

However in an immediate reaction to Maturana’s appointment Morris confessed that he is concerned about the length of time the players may need to adapt to the South American’s style.

However he is optimistic that Maturana will aid in the continued development of TT football.

Anton Corneal, who was named assistant to the former defender believes that the coach and his charges will easily be in sync. He noted that it should not be difficult for the footballers to adapt to playing under Maturana because the style of football globally has become closer.

“The game has become international and we have played a number of times against South American opponents,” he said.

Corneal also noted that several of Trinidad and Tobago footballers ply their trade in Europe and being a professional player means being able to play against anyone.

The son of Alvin Corneal is quickly developing as one of the top coaches locally as he recently led TT to the Under-17 World Cup in South Korea and enjoyed a similar stint as assistant to former national coach Leo Beenhakker during the World Cup Germany 2006.

He revealed that he is contented being Maturana’s right-hand man as it will afford him another opportunity to learn as he works alongside another great coach.

The language barrier will not pose a problem between the interim head coach and his assistant as Corneal speaks Spanish.

Maturana, who spoke to media in Spanish at his unveiling to the public on Thursday is a highly respected coach worldwide having won the Copa Libertadores in 1989, South American Coach of the Year in 1993 and leading Colombia to the World Cup in 1990 and 1994.

His appointment came on the heels of the suspension for six months of regular coach Wim Rijsbergen of the Netherlands who was penalised by the TTFF for alleged indisclipine.