Sancho, Saintfiet in club vs country row

This after the club-versus-country row sparked up again; however, it has to do with the availability of three Central FC players for the 28-man national training squad.

Goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, midfielders Sean De Silva and Nathaniel Garcia were called up for training on Tuesday by Saintfiet, ahead of the December 27 and 30 international matches away to Nicaragua.

But Sancho, the ex-national defender, alleged that Saintfiet, during a telephone conversation on Wednesday, stressed that the trio could be dropped from the squad if they declined the offer to train with the TT team.

Sancho, in a telephone interview yesterday, admitted that the club received a letter from the national team’s technical staff on Tuesday requesting the trio for training on Thursday evening, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.

“Immediately after that letter was received, we sent a letter stating that ‘please understand that, of course, we have three games coming up in the TT Pro League (yesterday, December 20 and December 23) and we just wanted to be clear that it would be a challenge for us to send the players now but we can send them on the 24th’,” said Sancho.

A meeting of the 10 Pro League coaches and/or administrators was called on Wednesday at the TTFA office, located at the Hasely Crawford Stadium but, according to Sancho, “we already had our training planned so we, and one other club, didn’t partake in the meeting.

We had made our position clear in the letter we had sent out.” However, around midday on Wednesday, Sancho got a phone call from Saintfiet, via team manager Azaad Khan (while the meeting was in session).

“I let (Saintfiet) know that we’re very short-handed because of injuries (but) we can both work amicably towards our various goals,” said Sancho. “Before I could finish what I was saying, his tone was on a high-octave one and (he stated) that he was not interested in that.

He (said he) called his players and he’s not going to sit back here and allow this Third World mentality to permeate throughout.” Sancho continued, “I was taken aback by the tone and the manner in which he spoke. I had to again assure him that I was here to work with him, not to work against him.

He (continued) yelling some more and he hung up the phone after all.”Khan, when contacted yesterday, denied that Saintfiet used the exact term “Third World” during his telephone conversation with Sancho.

Assistant coach Jamaal Shabazz, in a post on local sports website Wired 868, clarified that Saintfiet - the former coach of Bangladesh - said “even in a developing country like Bangladesh they will be more serious about their national team” The games against Nicaragua would not be played on FIFA match dates.

TTFA president David John-Williams yesterday insisted that the Pro League clubs previously all agreed that their players will be released to train with national teams, even during the tenure of ex-coach Stephen Hart.

Sancho is adamant that no such agreement exists - official or otherwise.

The Central FC owner argued that what the clubs came to a consensus on was that there would be no breaks during the Pro League.

“We wanted the League not to lose interest by playing games straight through the window. The relationship we had with Stephen Hart is that he may meet with the coaches first to find out when is good, not select a team and throw dates down your throat.” Concerning the heated conversation with the TT coach, Sancho continued, “I am a club owner. I’m extremely sure he would not speak in that tone to Khaleem Hyland’s Westerlo, to Sheldon Bateau’s club (Krylia Sovetov Samara of Russia) or (Kevin) Molino’s club (Orlando City FC).” Sancho later said that his players would be allowed to train with the national team this weekend but will be back in club colours on Tuesday.

Efforts to contact Saintfiet and Pro League Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dexter Skeene proved futile yesterday.