Phillips plans for TT football

TRINIDAD and Tobago Football Federation technical director Lincoln Phillips was formally introduced to coach Bertille St Clair and other members of his national coaching staff at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence. Phillips along with recently appointed director of youth development Anton Corneal and St Clair were chief among guests at Sunday morning’s get-together.

 Also attending were FIFA vice-president Jack Austin Warner, TTFF president Oliver Camps, secretary Richard Groden and members of the  executive, along with Stuart Charles Fevrier, Brian Williams,  Ross Russell, Ron La Forest, Michael Maurice, Dr Alvin Henderson and Muhammad Isa. Phillips told the gathering the short-term ambition is to qualify for Germany 2006, but the thinking is not only about the next World Cup but it’s about making the right moves here for the long term success of our football at all levels. He said, most important is to put a structure in place so that our journey for all world tournaments, under-17, under-20 etc, will be much easier and that we can identify and correct  mistakes along the way. “Fortunately we have Bertille in charge of the senior team and he is very strong and experienced so in a sense he doesn’t need too much supervision but rather support.”

Phillips said: “Setting up the youth programme with Anton (Corneal) involved is where you need both supervision and support because that is a very key area. My role is to direct and assist in all these various areas.” And he called for more support from all concerned. “We also have to connect with the administrators, the Government and sponsors because one of the problems on the technical side is that we don’t have the desire to deal with non-technical matters.”

Reflecting on the recent game against a Brazilian All Star team, Phillips said, “it was great to see the way things turned out and it told me that the people are thirsty for football. It is exciting to come into a situation where the public really wants to see the national team in action.” Coach St Clair welcomed Phillips and reiterated the need for a collective effort. “Work  with me and  I am confident that with your support and the man above, there is no limit to what we can achieve,” St Clair said. St Clair resumes training with the national senior team at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima, from 4.30 pm on Saturday.