PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidadian football czar Jack Warner has defended the appointment of new national head coach Russell Latapy and has backed the former midfield star to resuscitate the country’s quickly fading FIFA World Cup hopes.
Latapy last week replaced Francisco Maturana after the Colombian quit the post following Trinidad and Tobago’s poor run of form in the CONCACAF final round qualifying tournament.
Warner, a special advisor to the local federation and the driving force behind the country’s qualifying campaign, said he believed Latapy would succeed in the position and needed the country’s support.
“This country has 1.3 million people and unfortunately we also have 1.3 million coaches and everybody knows what is best for the team. But what we have to make decisions in the team’s best interest and at this time we are totally committed to supporting Russell Latapy as head coach …,” said Warner.
“We have to give him our support and we believe he can do it. Those people who believe … even those who played with him and who are critical now of his appointment and think he doesn’t have enough experience… I want to say to them that you have to begin somewhere and where else can we begin than at home.”
Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) are at bottom of the final round standings on two points and without a win in their three outings to date.
Warner, however, said he believed T&T would beat Costa Rica in their next game on June 6 and this would serve as a catalyst to go on and qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
“Therefore everything we can do to give Russell a chance to succeed we shall do. I want to say … that the game against Costa Rica on June 6 we shall win and that will turn our chances around,” Warner contended.
“We shall take that success and turn it around as far as our qualification for South Africa is concerned. It will not be easy I know this but we have to take match by match and use each one as if it is our last match.
“I feel very optimistic that we shall qualify. Times are tough especially financially but we will be putting our best foot forward. We are readily behind coach Latapy to ensure he has everything he needs to be successful in that game,” the FIFA vice-president added.
Latapy, widely considered the finest player T&T has ever produced, served as assistant coach at Scottish Premiership club Falkirk for two years before leaving in January.
In his new post, he will have as his assistant, former St Vincent and the Grenadines head coach, Serbian Zoran Vranes.
