PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Russell Latapy is expected to accept a new coaching role in the development of the sport in Trinidad & Tobago.
Official sources have indicated that Latapy is likely to either understudy the new T&T men’s national team coach, expected to be former Portugal and Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz, or take control of one of the national development sides.
This decision follows a meeting last Friday between Latapy and senior officials of the T&T Football Federation, including Special Advisor Jack Warner and T&TFF President Oliver Camps. Latapy’s position of national coach came under review, following T&T’s exit from the Digicel Caribbean Cup at the group stage of the Finals in Martinique late last year.
As a result, T&T have failed to qualify for the prestigious CONCACAF Gold Cup to be staged in the United States later this year. Officials of the T&TFF have indicated that they would like the national team to start preparing as soon as possible for qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which begins next year. Latapy served as national coach from January to December 2010, after he took over two years ago from Colombian Francisco Maturana midway through the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup. As national coach, he had nine wins from 23 matches, with 11 defeats and three draws.