DWIGHT YORKE TO THE RESCUE

--- DWIGHT YORKE TO THE RESCUE ---

 

 

Perhaps we need to start at the beginning.

How did we end up in this situation in the first place?

Why is it, that every four years we have the same problems, with no obvious solution?

What is there about football that makes us fall in and out of love with players and officials so easy?

Where is the next Russell Latapy coming from?

Many of us will be ashamed to say, what is the solution, and it is in fact to be more passionate and determined about sport.

So it is clear, that the majority of this twin Republic Trinidad and Tobago want Francisco Maturana to be fired, and expect this change (no matter who it is) to have a positive effect on the team.

While all of this continues, and our Federation appears indecisive and bewilderingly polite.

Our strongest sporting Neighbours, Jamaica took less than a few hours after their second defeat to terminate the services of Rene Simoes (the man who had singlehandly led Jamaica to their first and only World Cup appearance (France 1998) to date.

Leading regional sports Journalist, Jamaican Simon Crosskill told me on I-Sports (on I95.5FM) that, one of the reasons was that after the success of Jamaican’s Athletes at the Beijing Olympics, the people of Jamaica could not accept failure in football, and those in authority were aware of the feeling of the populace.

It is perhaps this reason that shows why Jamaicans are more patriotic than Trinidad and Tobago Citizens, because they care so much, that they wear their heart on their sleeves, many of us prefer to use our heart to bring pair rather than love in Sport.

So the truth is Francisco Maturana has utilized over 30 players since his arrival in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year. And by a stroke of poor advice, his lack of appreciation to the media, by learning our language has hampered his chances of ever being understood.

We can’t understand Maturana’s style?

We can’t understand Maturana’s daily changing tactics?

We can’t comprehend Maturana’s team selection?

We simply cannot understand Maturana?

And he seems not to be perturbed or disturbed by that.

With less than a month left to our crucial 4^th match on October 11^th in Guatemala, what can Maturana do differently?

First, he can expose more of the former Soca Warriors to his camp; names such as Chris Birchall, Brent Sancho and Silvio Spann come to mind.

But there are other questions to be asked, because at least one player Stern John has been removed from the team because of his reported attitude and behaviour. Some have said openly that a disruptive nature is the worst thing in any sports and they would rather lose than have that in their team.

For me, that is poor management skills and suggests a lack of objectivity and a proper awareness that talented players sometimes (not always) can be eccentric. In this world of sports, being able to adapt and improvise is critical to success.

Unfortunately in Trinidad and Tobago’s current situation in football, it is not so, as it seems there are a lot of personality problems.

For the best interest of Trinidad and Tobago football to be achieved, we all need to agree on several matters, among which are:

1)      Can the Current Coach command the respect of the senior players on the team?

2)      Is the team unified?

3)      There are reports that the locally based players are not happy with the influx of overseas based players, is that true?

4)      And why is it that certain locally based experts such as Lincoln Tiger Phillips, Everald Gally Cummings, Edgar Vidale and Ken Butcher are not being utilized more.

There is no doubt in my mind that Francisco Maturana is the wrong man for the job, I have said it and written about before and since the Bermuda fiasco, but like a Bermuda Triangle (Maturana, Alvin Corneal and Anton Corneal) with a very deep hole, it seems all the questions have been buried because we progressed to the next round.

Birchall’s fitness has been called into question, even as we use some midfielders for only 45 minutes in some matches, and we are all certain of one thing, Chris can give us at least 45 minutes.

Actually on Thursday one caller told me, he believed that 30 minutes from Russell Latapy would be better than 70 or 80 minutes from many of the current midfielders on the team, and honestly given the recent performances, it is hard to argue with that analysis.

One other point , has to be the influence of Dwight Yorke on the team, his departure because of Roy Keane’s clear insulting disregard for Trinidad and Tobago was probably too big a blow for this team to accept.

This shows me that, our current Trinidad and Tobago team is crying out for a leader with substance both on and off field and Yorke’s inspirational style is now critical to the team’s future.

We should not worry with Roy Keane; he may be history as Sunderland manager before the end of the season, as what goes around comes around.

To the future, even though it looks bleak, we can beat Guatemala (Which we must) with or hopefully without Maturana.

 

:: AB