Romany laments lost chance

The matches were scheduled against Mexico and Colombia on September 2 and 6 and were called off, due to the unavailability of the overseas-based players.

“It is a bit unfortunate,” said Romany. “I would have loved to see the local players given a further opportunity to gain some much needed experience at the international level.”

“Following our experience in Germany at the 2006 World Cup, the use of the locally based professionals for those matches would have provided the prospect of exposing more players and assisting in the long-term development of our football, as we work our way to South Africa 2010,” Romany said.

Noting that the matches were scheduled on dates approved by FIFA, the world governing body, the Pro League chairman expressed concern that the national team’s schedule ought not to be hampered by foreign clubs who refuse to release the TT players.

“A consideration going forward is to ensure that once matches are scheduled in the FIFA window the national team is not held to ransom,” he said.

“England and the other big countries do not have that issue. The unavailability of foreign based players is a problem that must be mitigated and the best way to mitigate such an occurrence is to develop a cadre of motivated and inspired locally based footballers,” Romany said.

“I have total confidence in the commitment and dedication of the local based players. The decision to put off the match is not a reflection on their ability and talent, but is more a mirror image of shortsightedness, lack of self esteem and self-confidence on the part of those who made the decision,” he said.

“I am flabbergasted that given the way a well-coached and drilled national team performed in Germany, we still do not have confidence in that concept and paradigm shift going forward,” Romany said.

“While the decision does not appear on the surface to have been made cognisant of the medium to long-term sustainable development of the national team, in any event I do not have all the facts, so I just have to trust the judgment of the powers that be that the decisions made is in the best interest of TT football,” said Romany.