Latapy tells TT U-17s look to the future

Latapy issued a statement on Thursday thanking members of the T&T Under 17 team for their efforts during the ongoing competition which saw Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba,Curacao and fifth place finishers Suriname advancing to the CONCACAF Finals in Panama City next year.

“Firstly I’d like to congratulate the five teams that have qualified for the next round and wish them the best.

Unfortunately for us we are not among those five teams but I want to thank the players for the efforts and time they gave in the preparations and during the matches and to the staff and the fans who supported us, also to the Football Association for trying to give us the best preparation during the time in which we were able to have two training camps inside a month,” Latapy told TT FA Media.

“Sadly it was not meant to be for us but I’d like to tell the players to not drop their heads. They still have the remainder of their careers ahead of them and there’s a lot of football to be played.

“But one of the things I think we can take from this tournament is the spirit which we showed which allowed us to come back in two of the matches. Maybe with a bit more time together things may have turned out better. We also would have to take away from this tournament the fact that there is a lot of work to be done if we are to to compete strongly and give ourselves a good shot at succeeding at the international level.

“What will follow now is we’ll have a proper review of our showing in the tournament and put measures in place to ensure the team continues a programme.

Like I said before, one of the discussions I had with the president (David John Williams) and with the members of the technical committee was to have continuity and programmes in place where we do not find ourselves having serious preparations underway just two or three months before a tournament but that we have a system in place whereby our teams are together on a more regular basis,” Latapy added.

The former national team captain said a change in attitude and work ethic is needed