Former Argentina international player Pablo Aimar had a message for all footballers in T&T before he departed our shores following a short visit as a FIFA legend alongside President Gianni Infantino on Monday.
“Make full use of the opportunities that will come your way,’ Aimar said in an interview on Tuesday morning before he departed Piarco Airport.
Aimar and former Colombian international Juan Pablo Angel visited the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva for TTFA Press Conference and Goodwill football match. Both played for the FIFA/TTFA team which ran out 6-0 winners over a Government/Sportt outfit. He was there to witness the announcement by Minister of Sport Darryl Smith and TTFA President David John-Williams of the sport new home of football with the establishment of a national football centre. This was also endorsed by Infantino with the creation to be part of the FIFA Goal Project.
“Having the National Development Centre will be brilliant for football in Trinidad y Tobago. You can see in other countries how important it is and now for your association and with he help of FIFA, you can turn it into something great for the game here. This will be beautiful for the players and the national teams to have now in your country,” the 37-year-old Aimar added.
“It is everyone’s dream to become great or to have a good life and football can do this for you. Now there is a chance for that dream to become closer for many of the people,” said the former River Plate player.
Latapy, ‘ Gally’ to coach Franchise teams in Islands Cup Open
Former national team coaches and players Russell Latapy and Everald “Gally” Cummings are set to coach two of the teams in the 2017 Islands Cup Open which will feature five franchise teams from five different Caribbean nations.
Latapy is set to lead the FC Barbados Challengers while Cummings is expected to head the Trinbago Oilers FC with FC Combine Islands, Suriname Gladiators FC and Jamaica Ruffnecks FC all competing for the title.
Among the marquee former players who are likely to serve as head coaches include John Barnes Falcao, Robert Warzycha, Ricky Hill, Sebastian Lazaroni and Clarence Seedorf.
And the marquee players negotiations are currently taking place with include Rivaldo, Florent Malouda. Mohamed Sissoko, Ronaldinho and Djibril Cisse. The Islands Cup shall play three (3) different rounds and a play offs for the Championship in the three (3) month period, in a Winner-take-all concept in keeping with an action-packed championship format.
An annual Islands Cup Open cash prize totalling Three Million dollars ($3,000,000) USD for the first four (4) seasons, according to the organisers Caribbean Football Thrust Limited of which Trinidadian Chris Anderson is the chairman.
Latapy commented, saying, “I am delighted to be part of an extraordinary initiative such as this. I have played professional football for over 20 years and have worked, and played alongside and against some especially talented players such as Dwight Yorke, Sir Bobby Robson, Jose Mourinho and many other successful International players.
“Football is a sport that brings people together, and especially in the Caribbean more now than ever there is a dire need for more role models and support for young people,” Latapy said.
The Islands Open Cup is a charitable event to launch our Caribbean “KICK POVERTY OUT” campaign and introduce the region to an exciting sports entertainment concept developed by Caribbean Football Trust Ltd (CFTL). The first year of the Islands Open Cup will kick off as a promotional season to be played between July 6th through 16th.
Kenwyne Jones has been hailed as a key contributor to Atlanta United in its recent MLS outings with Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC with his ability to come off the bench and be a target for the midfielders and defenders to hit with direct balls. Jones, at 32, told reporters he is in fact comfortable to playing his part, even if it means coming on with the final ten to play.
“It’s something that you need to do if the game requires it. Sometimes the way the game is set up you might need to start getting in behind teams or probably holding the ball up so you can keep possession more and at least give your team a little bit of a hold on the game,” Jones said.
“You just have to prepare to do the job required. Whether you play 90 minutes or play five minutes you have to just focus and carry out your functions. I’ve been with quite a few different football coaches. I don’t think I have any adjusting to do.
“At the end of the day, I’m 32, I’ve had a long career so far. I’ve already motivated myself as a player. I’m not a player that’s fresh and trying to learn the game so I think it’s pretty easy for me to carry out the instructions that are necessary,”added Jones who also put in two solid shifts for T&T in recent World Cup qualifiers with Panama and Mexico and is again expected to be in the squad for the August qualifiers against the US and Costa Rica.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Shaun Fuentes is the Communications manager for the TTFA - shaunfuentes@yahoo.com
Jones says sub role suiting him at Atlanta