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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 07 2002 : 10:38:14 AM
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is addressed to... 'Those with little faith'.
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Taken from the "reggaeboyz forum", posted by Exile.
Exile
Simoes: I will take T&T to the World Cup
Mon Jan 7 07:04:46 2002
RENE SIMOES...My salary is higher than what was published. You may diagnose me as a lunatic for saying this.
TRINIDAD and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) technical director, Brazilian Rene Simoes, whose contract has come under fire recently, has responded to criticism that he is overpaid and insists that his plan to take T&T to the 2006 World Cup in Germany will work.
Simoes, who coached Jamaica to the 1998 World Cup in France, laid his case in a letter forwarded yesterday by T&TFF communications officer Shaun Fuentes.
It reads:
“In 2002, may you always extend your hand in kindness, rather than need.”
As you may know, I was in Brazil spending the Christmas holiday with my family. Although far away, I make sure to keep up with the events in Trinidad and Tobago.
Unfortunately, the year has barely started and I already had the displeasure of reading an article questioning the expenses of our national football programme.
The article was in desperate need of corrections, as so much of the information was inaccurate.
Firstly, my salary is higher than what was published. You may diagnose me as a lunatic for saying this; after all, the aim of the article was to point out that too much money is being spent in football.
However, my salary is the fruit of very hard and honest work, and those who are aware of world football will testify that my salary is much smaller than those of other less experienced coaches around the world.
Secondly, the total amount spent with the technical staff is less than what was reported. I find it unbelievable how some people take it upon themselves to go to the public without at least a minimal knowledge of the topic they so loudly discuss.
I am no stranger to articles such as that one.
A similar concern with investments in football is constantly raised in countries where football has not yet reached a world professional level. Some examples are Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jamaica, and now Trinidad and Tobago.
All comments, however, disappeared into thin air when some of these countries qualified for the World Cup. This happened mainly because the once loud opponents realised the benefits and profits brought by the qualification to such an event are far greater than the costs.
We are talking about profits to the country as a whole, not to some institutions alone. A qualification will generate approximately US$1 billion in free publicity. Not to mention the profits created by the increased commercial relationships, tourism, and investments brought by such publicity.
In fact, if the article had been an intelligent one, it would have reported that the main expenses the football programme incurs are not related to staff salaries, but rather with trips, camps, player bonuses, and other necessary preparations. It will require much more than the figures presented in the article to take Trinidad and Tobago to a World Cup. Some may consider it a waste of money, but my experience showed me this money is an investment in the future of the country.
However, if anyone still feels too much money is going towards football, I have a simple experiment this person can do.
Take the amount of money spent in football and divide it by the number of football fans, athletes and amateur participants. Then apply the same formula to any other sport in the country. I am certain the final numbers will show the money invested per person in football is less than what is invested in other sports.
Project Germany 2006, which I have mentioned before, is a bold plan. If followed accurately, this plan is sure to take Trinidad and Tobago to the World Cup.
However, the work of players, staff and administration alone is not enough. We are willing to give our all, but we cannot go far without the moral support of every Trinidadian and Tobagonian who is strong enough to believe in something that is not yet bearing fruit, and without the financial support of the private sector and government. The recent governmental changes have left uncertainty surrounding the future of football in the country and the continuation of Project Germany 2006. I pray the leaders of this country will see that football at its core is greater than any political party, and give their unconditional support to the development of football.
If they are in doubt, perhaps they should talk to Jamaica’s Prime Minister, PJ Patterson, as well as every Jamaican, and ask if they regret the money spent on The Road to France '98 programme.
I returned to Trinidad last Saturday. My focus now will be to prepare the national team for the upcoming Gold Cup. Unfortunately, preparations suffered because of the past elections, but I am confident that the national team will make the country proud with its performance.
I will also turn my attention to negotiations currently in place concerning the continuation of the programme. I hope that an intelligent decision, made by those who believe in the potential of Trinidad and Tobago, can be reached.
May you be abundantly blessed with happiness and peace in 2002.
With faith,
Rene Simoes.
Karl |
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