Friday, June 15 2007

FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has commended the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation for “its principled stand in resisting being blackmailed by certain players going into the CONCACAF Gold Cup.”

Warner, Special Advisor to the TTFF, said the decision to stick with a squad minus several of the World Cup players turned out to be far from disastrous for the country at the international tournament based on their courageous performance.

“As president of CONCACAF, under whom the Gold Cup, our highest competition comes, I am proud of the performance of Trinidad and Tobago in the circumstances.

“Especially in their final drawn match last night against Guatemala when they played the match with ten men for all of 58 minutes and were able to earn a draw and I will publicly say so at a function specially called for that purpose,” said Warner.

“I want to publicly commend you both, and, by extension, your entire Executive Committee and Federation, for the principled stand you guys have taken in resisting being blackmailed into doing what could never have been right for your country and/or your Federation by bending to the will of a mercenary few,” Warner said in a letter to TTFF President Oliver Camps and General Secretary Richard Groden.

“I have made the point repeatedly that the Head Coach and his Assistant have been hired to coach the National Team of Trinidad and Tobago and not the Soca Warriors of yesteryear who, if available for selection on the National Team, are also to be coached,” Warner stated.

Warner added that efforts will continue to arrange a programme of international matches for the TT team soon.