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Maturana faces Yorker
...Warner tests coach's selection philosophy
Lasana Liburd
Sunday, February 17th 2008
Experienced football observers may tell you that although goals win matches, they are rarely the turning points. Rather, the decisive strike is the inevitable outcome of a subtle or obvious catalyst that will probably go unnoticed in the following day's match report.
Similarly, off the playing field, crucial life-altering decisions are rarely made on examination day.
New Trinidad and Tobago football coach Francisco Maturana faces his own test of nerve this June. There will be no points at stake-not the kind you can tabulate. It will not be his November 19 or November 15 showdown. It is potentially even more important.
On June 1, the England FA have apparently agreed in principle to face the "Soca Warriors" in T&T's most eagerly anticipated friendly since Pele's Santos visited Port of Spain in 1972.
FIFA vice-president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) special adviser Jack Warner is the brains behind the fixture and is understandably eager to make it an unforgettable afternoon. So, as Warner told T&TFF media officer Shaun Fuentes last week, the retired pair of Warriors World Cup captain Dwight Yorke and midfield icon Russell Latapy-arguably the nation's most popular and gifted player-could could be invited to feature as "guest players".
Maturana, a Colombian who coached his native country at two World Cups, has barely been on the job for a month but he already forcibly made one point and it is about the benefit of youth.
In his first game in charge on Ash Wednesday, Maturana selected 18-year-old CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh player Khaleem Hyland from the start ahead of, among others, his 31-year-old Jabloteh captain Trent Noel and 32-year-old Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA star Marvin Oliver.
There are six teenagers and four schoolboys in the squad for his next outing, which comes on March 19 against El Salvador.
Warner, albeit inadvertently, could undermine the coach's philosophy with two celebrated invitees.
And now, it is up to Maturana to show his squad and, less importantly, the nation who is really in charge for the 2010 World Cup push. The friendly showing might have more bearing on Trinidad and Tobago's qualification chances than one might think.
In 1996, a document that supposedly disclosed tactical suggestions from Warner to then head coach Zoran Vranes-the affable Yugoslavia-born coach is back in Trinidad as national youth team director-was leaked to the media in the aftermath of a 1-0 qualifying loss to Costa Rica.
Another former coach, Vibe CT 105 W Connection boss Stuart Charles-Fevrier, was loudly interrogated about team tactics and selection in his hotel room after a 2-0 loss away to Morocco on September 10, 2003. At least one senior player overheard his boss on the defensive and word spread that the coach, rightly or not, was not his own man.
Neither Fevrier nor Vranes lasted long after their embarrassments, while tales of national coaches who were "advised" to switch mobile phones on at half time in case the special adviser had an instruction are famous in local circles.
The last two national coaches were tested, too.
Dutchman Leo Beenhakker resisted when the T&TFF suggested that former stars Russell Latapy and David Nakhid work as his assistant coaches-Nakhid eventually accepted a position as a scout.
When Latapy, at 37, did come back to the fold after discussions with Warner and was trumpeted as a returning hero, Beenhakker quickly pointed out that the "Little Magician" was not guaranteed a squad place for the upcoming qualifier against Guatemala.
Latapy did play and helped inspire Trinidad and Tobago's victory but there was no doubt as to who was calling the shots. On November 15, 2005, with World Cup history at stake, the Dutchman omitted Latapy from the starting line-up and even shunted Yorke to left wing so as to maximise the potential of an in-form Aurtis Whitley.
At Germany 2006, Beenhakker ignored armchair coaches and special advisers by leaving Latapy on the sidelines for most of the nation's World Cup appearance. It was a controversial decision, particularly as Latapy shone when he was introduced against Paraguay, but the strong team spirit Beenhakker inspired by the force of his personality is indisputable.
His compatriot and successor, Wim Rijsbergen, never recovered after having his selection policy dictated to by the T&TFF's infamous "blacklist".
Maturana's own informal test date is set, although fans might argue it is a storm in a teacup.
Yorke and Latapy have done more for Trinidad and Tobago football than most over the past two decades. Both still compete at high levels too and, important for the T&TFF, can add glamour to a high-profile occasion.
Latapy did not get the chance to face England at the 2006 World Cup.
Yorke, who spent most of his career in England, will be tempted to cross swords again with contemporaries like Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney.
But what signal would Maturana send to his own squad by using his most testing warm-up as a fete match?
How do you explain to the likes of Hyland, who came close to a Premiership move to Portsmouth last summer, and Keon Daniel that they must miss the game of their lives thus far so two retired players can have a sweat?
And, more importantly, how does Maturana convince his players that it is he and not Warner who will decide their short-term international ambitions?
Yorke is 36 and a regular player for Sunderland in the England Premier League-one of the most competitive domestic competitions in the world. At present, he is surely still worth a place in the team if he chooses.
He will be 38 by the time the 2010 tournament kicks off, though, and, almost certainly, would have retired or accepted employment in a less strenuous league.
Were Yorke to pledge his services to Maturana, it would be an interesting and welcome dilemma. But he is yet to do so.
Latapy turns 40 in August and signs suggest that the curtain is about to be lowered on a memorable career. The Falkirk player has not started a Scotland Premiership fixture since January 2 and played for the entire 90 minutes just three times since last July.
Maturana need only look to the opposite bench, this June, for the wisdom of pragmatism over sentiment.
England's new coach, Italian Fabio Capello, ignored pleas from the England Football Association's sponsors and fans to hand David Beckham his 100th cap in a friendly against Switzerland on February 6. Capello refused and explained that he picked his squad solely for football reasons.
Beenhakker would concur.
What say you, Maturana?
...Warner tests coach's selection philosophy
Lasana Liburd
Sunday, February 17th 2008
Experienced football observers may tell you that although goals win matches, they are rarely the turning points. Rather, the decisive strike is the inevitable outcome of a subtle or obvious catalyst that will probably go unnoticed in the following day's match report.
Similarly, off the playing field, crucial life-altering decisions are rarely made on examination day.
New Trinidad and Tobago football coach Francisco Maturana faces his own test of nerve this June. There will be no points at stake-not the kind you can tabulate. It will not be his November 19 or November 15 showdown. It is potentially even more important.
On June 1, the England FA have apparently agreed in principle to face the "Soca Warriors" in T&T's most eagerly anticipated friendly since Pele's Santos visited Port of Spain in 1972.
FIFA vice-president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) special adviser Jack Warner is the brains behind the fixture and is understandably eager to make it an unforgettable afternoon. So, as Warner told T&TFF media officer Shaun Fuentes last week, the retired pair of Warriors World Cup captain Dwight Yorke and midfield icon Russell Latapy-arguably the nation's most popular and gifted player-could could be invited to feature as "guest players".
Maturana, a Colombian who coached his native country at two World Cups, has barely been on the job for a month but he already forcibly made one point and it is about the benefit of youth.
In his first game in charge on Ash Wednesday, Maturana selected 18-year-old CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh player Khaleem Hyland from the start ahead of, among others, his 31-year-old Jabloteh captain Trent Noel and 32-year-old Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA star Marvin Oliver.
There are six teenagers and four schoolboys in the squad for his next outing, which comes on March 19 against El Salvador.
Warner, albeit inadvertently, could undermine the coach's philosophy with two celebrated invitees.
And now, it is up to Maturana to show his squad and, less importantly, the nation who is really in charge for the 2010 World Cup push. The friendly showing might have more bearing on Trinidad and Tobago's qualification chances than one might think.
In 1996, a document that supposedly disclosed tactical suggestions from Warner to then head coach Zoran Vranes-the affable Yugoslavia-born coach is back in Trinidad as national youth team director-was leaked to the media in the aftermath of a 1-0 qualifying loss to Costa Rica.
Another former coach, Vibe CT 105 W Connection boss Stuart Charles-Fevrier, was loudly interrogated about team tactics and selection in his hotel room after a 2-0 loss away to Morocco on September 10, 2003. At least one senior player overheard his boss on the defensive and word spread that the coach, rightly or not, was not his own man.
Neither Fevrier nor Vranes lasted long after their embarrassments, while tales of national coaches who were "advised" to switch mobile phones on at half time in case the special adviser had an instruction are famous in local circles.
The last two national coaches were tested, too.
Dutchman Leo Beenhakker resisted when the T&TFF suggested that former stars Russell Latapy and David Nakhid work as his assistant coaches-Nakhid eventually accepted a position as a scout.
When Latapy, at 37, did come back to the fold after discussions with Warner and was trumpeted as a returning hero, Beenhakker quickly pointed out that the "Little Magician" was not guaranteed a squad place for the upcoming qualifier against Guatemala.
Latapy did play and helped inspire Trinidad and Tobago's victory but there was no doubt as to who was calling the shots. On November 15, 2005, with World Cup history at stake, the Dutchman omitted Latapy from the starting line-up and even shunted Yorke to left wing so as to maximise the potential of an in-form Aurtis Whitley.
At Germany 2006, Beenhakker ignored armchair coaches and special advisers by leaving Latapy on the sidelines for most of the nation's World Cup appearance. It was a controversial decision, particularly as Latapy shone when he was introduced against Paraguay, but the strong team spirit Beenhakker inspired by the force of his personality is indisputable.
His compatriot and successor, Wim Rijsbergen, never recovered after having his selection policy dictated to by the T&TFF's infamous "blacklist".
Maturana's own informal test date is set, although fans might argue it is a storm in a teacup.
Yorke and Latapy have done more for Trinidad and Tobago football than most over the past two decades. Both still compete at high levels too and, important for the T&TFF, can add glamour to a high-profile occasion.
Latapy did not get the chance to face England at the 2006 World Cup.
Yorke, who spent most of his career in England, will be tempted to cross swords again with contemporaries like Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney.
But what signal would Maturana send to his own squad by using his most testing warm-up as a fete match?
How do you explain to the likes of Hyland, who came close to a Premiership move to Portsmouth last summer, and Keon Daniel that they must miss the game of their lives thus far so two retired players can have a sweat?
And, more importantly, how does Maturana convince his players that it is he and not Warner who will decide their short-term international ambitions?
Yorke is 36 and a regular player for Sunderland in the England Premier League-one of the most competitive domestic competitions in the world. At present, he is surely still worth a place in the team if he chooses.
He will be 38 by the time the 2010 tournament kicks off, though, and, almost certainly, would have retired or accepted employment in a less strenuous league.
Were Yorke to pledge his services to Maturana, it would be an interesting and welcome dilemma. But he is yet to do so.
Latapy turns 40 in August and signs suggest that the curtain is about to be lowered on a memorable career. The Falkirk player has not started a Scotland Premiership fixture since January 2 and played for the entire 90 minutes just three times since last July.
Maturana need only look to the opposite bench, this June, for the wisdom of pragmatism over sentiment.
England's new coach, Italian Fabio Capello, ignored pleas from the England Football Association's sponsors and fans to hand David Beckham his 100th cap in a friendly against Switzerland on February 6. Capello refused and explained that he picked his squad solely for football reasons.
Beenhakker would concur.
What say you, Maturana?
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