Latapy is assistant coach; Babwah back as doctor

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TT FA), in a media release stated that following the advice of Saintfiet, Latapy and Jamaal Shabazz (temporary) were named as assistant coaches while German Jo Stock is the goalkeeping coach.

The rest of the technical team include Physical Trainer – Riedoh Bierdien (South African), Equipment Manager – Michael Williams, Doctor – Terence Babwah, Physiotherapist – Dave Isaac, Manager – Azaad Mohammed-Khan (interim until end of Gold Cup playoffs in January) Latapy is currently in Portugal and will join the squad at the end of the month but Sainfiet will have the rest of the staff on site from the first training session tonight at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 7pm. Saintfiet commented on the staff selection.

“In the last days I spoke to a lot of local coaches where I tried to get a lot of information about their history, their background and their philosophy. I wanted to make a decision based on the facts I know.

“I wanted local assistant coaches who can help me with their knowledge not only of the football in Trinidad and Tobago but also CONCACAF region. I chose two assistant coaches, one of them is Jamaal Shabazz. He was in the beginning not really eager to return in the coaching role but I think that with his experience as ex-national team coach of Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana and with his philosophy he can help me a lot in this beginning period, to introduce me to local football and to the mentality of the players.

“The other assistant coach is Russell Latapy, who is a former national coach just like Jamaal, top player in the history of local football, played at top level in Europe, played at the World Cup and I think both add something. Both have a different mentality, different personalities, both are experienced coaches within Trinidad and Tobago and I think I can use that experience very much as national team head coach.” Dr Babwah’s return to the national setup follows a bust-up that resulted in the doctor resigning from the national team under Stephen Hart. It was reported that Dr Babwah felt Hart did not follow his advice on a possible injury suffered by goalie Jan-Michael Williams prior to a World Cup qualifier. Since then, Williams declared that he was fit to face Honduras while Hart said he was flabbergasted to read a report that he disobeyed advice from the team doctor and possibly put his player at risk of further injury.

“For the medical team, I had also some discussions in that department and I decided to keep the persons who have been in that role in the last year, Dr Babwah and Physio Isaac. I think both have huge experience with the team and in this region and I will like to work in the coming months with them,” Saintfiet stated.