Shabazz plans to reintegrate veteran trio into TT squad

Shabazz was given those mantles by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TT FA) on Tuesday, after Italian-born Carolina Morace, and her English- born Australian deputy Nicola Williams, resigned last week, for apparent lack of salaries.

Attin-Johnson, Cordner and Mollon, members of the national women’s team for over a decade, fell out of favour with Morace during her six-month-long tenure as director of the TT Women’s programme.

During a telephone interview yesterday, Shabazz, the former Guyana men’s coach, said, “I met with (the) three players who were out to see if we could have the matter resolved and have them reintegrated into the programme.

“I start with a clean slate,” added the ex-joint national coach (along with Hutson Charles from 2012-2013). What is gone is past, what is to come is near.” Asked about the feedback he has gotten from the football fraternity, Shabazz replied, “I have not met with the players (as) yet. I will meet with them (later) this week. But I know them, they know me. We have a lot of respect for each other and I’m eager to get started.

“However, I intend to utilise other coaches, locally, in women’s football and follow in (TT men’s team coach) Dennis Lawrence’s footsteps of trying to build a super staff because this is a programme that demands all hands to be on deck and people working selflessly for the country.

“These girls are no strangers to sacrificing for their country, and neither am I.” Shabazz, who has been involved with the national women’s football circuit, in various capacities, since the mid-1990s, is keen to make use of his time back at the helm of the TT squads.

“Given the circumstances, I’m happy to come in and strive to provide stability,” he said. “I (have) come in, in an unforseen circumstance, but having worked with a lot of these seniors since they were kids, I am not overawed by the situation in any way.” He continued, “I am excited where these players have reached and knowing where they’ve came from. And I’m ready to give off my best.” Shabazz returned to the coaching ranks with Morvant Caledonia United, after Rajesh Latchoo left the job to become the men’s coach of Dominica. He is also the TT FA Youth Football Coordinator and involved with the Elite Youth Development Programme, organised by the local governing body. Asked how he plans to balance those positions, Shabazz said, “those roles (with the TT FA) will be reassigned to someone else.” But he insisted that he will stick with the Morvant Caledonia United portfolio, once the national women’s teams are not in active competition.

“In the past, when we started this programme, I was with Caledonia,” stated Shabazz. “And now I don’t see what conflict exists.” However, he pointed out, “the national team always comes first.

Service to the nation is first and foremost. When time permits for something else, so be it.”