News On T&T Under 17 WC Team & Marvin Lee.

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Marvin Lee Foundation launched.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
21-Mar-2003 - An amount of $27,000 has already been put into the Marvin Lee Trust Fund which was launched at CONCACAF offices, Port of Spain on Friday morning.
As announced earlier, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation under the initiative of FIFA Vice President Jack Warner set up the fund and at the launch of the Marvin Lee foundation, double world record batting holder Brian Lara presented a cheque valued at $5,000 to chairman of FEEL, Clive Pantin, who will the board of trustees to administer the foundation.
Pantin was announced as the chairman by Warner who also revealed the other members which include Oliver Camps (deputy chairman), Dr Eastlyn McKenzie (Independent Senator), Oliver Flax (Corporate Communications Manager, Petrotrin), Ameer Edoo (former chairman of WISE), Winston Glen (Manager, First Citizen's Bank), Lincoln Phillips (FIFA instructor), Dr Peter Poon King (Specialist Medical Officer, Ministry of Health) and Dave Lamy (Media consultant). Sir Ellis Clarke kindly consented to be the patron of the foundation.
Among others contributing to the fund include former Switzerland-based striker Jerren Nixon ($2,000) and Ameer Edoo ($10,000). Warner also presented his cheque worth $10,000. Other prominent individuals including footballers have also promised to make contributions.
"The purpose of the foundation is to help any and all of future Trinidad and Tobago national football players, at any level, who may suffer serious injury in the service of their country," said Warner.
"The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation has already agreed to deduct an automatic two and one half percent from the gross gate receipts of all matches played directly under its aegis and to levy five percent from the gross gate receipts of all other matches organised in Trinidad and Tobago for which its permission has to be given," Warner explained.
Lara expressed his pleasure in being able to assist in the fund.
"Today we open a foundation for a past sportsman, someone at some point in time who had the same dreams that I had, to become an international sports personality. Someone who was blessed with a talent to do so, but unfortunately was not given the necessary time to fulfill those promises. I think it's important that as a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago see the need for us to extend a hand to the unfortunate people in Trinidad and Tobago.
"I'm really proud of Mr Warner and the people who have set up this fund to ensure that these people are looked after in the future," said Lara. "It's a privilege and I want to extend to Mr Pantin my help in this venture and I know that he can trust and come to me at any point in time," said Lara.
The West Indies batsman also wished the Trinidad and Tobago footballers well in the upcoming Gold Cup qualifying competition.
The foundation will be managed by Kenny Rampersad and Company, a firm of chartered accountants and Warner added that the Federation will explore the possibility of having the foundation registered under the appropriate legislation such that corporate sponsors wishing to donate on an annual basis under deeds of covenant will have such donations allowed for tax purposes.
The account for the foundation has been opened at the FCB branch on Park Street, Port of Spain. The account number is #1308625 and deposits can be made at any branch of the bank.

Stadium to be named after Marvin Lee.

By Joel Bailey.
13-Mar-2003 - The stadium where Marvin Lee received his crippling injury, the football field at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Tunapuna, will be renamed in his honour.
FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF boss Austin Jack Warner made this disclosure during the funeral service of the 21-year-old Lee at the Centre of Excellence yesterday. The former Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 football captain passed away at the Arima Health Facility on Sunday morning following a bout of pneumonia. Warner received lusty applause from the gathering when he said, “this venue is called the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence but there is no name for the stadium that we play on. From today, this is going to change.”
The prominent administator revealed that, since there is no cemetery designated for national heroes, the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation gave the family “a plot of land where he (Lee) can be buried” at the Tunapuna Cemetery. His grave will be covered with a tombstone “that will mystify you.” Warner footed the bill for Lee’s funeral as well as his medical care at the St Clair Medical Hospital, the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and at his (Lee’s) Santa Rosa, Arima residence following his injury sustained after a collision with American striker Landon Donovan during a CONCACAF Under-20 World Cup qualifier at the Macoya venue on March 20, 2001.
A tearful Warner told Lee’s mother Dawn Warrick that she will become the newest employee at the Warner Group of Companies “working directly under me.” At Warner’s request, Warrick left her job at the Mt Hope Hospital to attend to Lee’s needs full-time. Turning his attention to the large number of current national footballers in attendance, Warner, who learnt about Lee’s death while in New York following a FIFA meeting in Tripoli, Libya, said, “There is no fear in representing our country. “There will not always be a Jack Warner to make things happen for you, but you must be respected.” Warner also revealed his major role in the inclusion of Lee on the national team for the CONCACAF qualifiers. “When the team was selected, I received a call from (manager) George Joseph saying that Lee could not represent this country since he was a recruit in the army.” “I called (recruiting officer) Colonel John Sandy and said ‘this is madness’ and I added that Lee must play on the team. Since then I’ve forged a lasting bond with Lee, a bond I didn’t expect to come to a close so soon.”
Warner blamed himself for the end result, saying “If I didn’t ask for him, this would not have happened.” “I said that I’d do anything possible to make up for it,” he continued, “and I thank his mother for that. Anything we could have done for Marvin, we did it,” adding that he thought Lee would have followed in the footsteps of paralysed Superman actor Christopher Reeve and regain partial use of his limbs.
Attending the service were Sports Minister Roger Boynes, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation Oliver Camps, national football team technical director Hannibal Najjar and assistants Anthony Barrington and Ross Russell, TTFF officials Neville Ferguson, Ed Watson, Raymond Tim Kee and Richard Groden as well as former and current national coaches Jimmy Blanc, Keith Look Loy and Jamaal Shabazz. Also among the gathering were Lee’s teammates on the 2001 Under-20 team, members of the Defence Force and Joe Public youth teams, the current national Under-17 unit and Team 2001 striker, Nkosi Blackman, fully recovered from head injuries which he suffered as a result of a fatal vehicular accident in Point Fortin a year ago.
The Federation also agreed to retire the #17 shirt from being used by any other player on any National Team in honour of Marvin Lee.
Jack Warner's request for an Annual Marvin Lee Memorial Match beginning from next year was also approved.
The Committee also accepted Mr Warner's proposal for a Marvin Lee Trust Fund to be established to aid players who have been injured in the line of National Duty.
The fund will be started with a grant of ten thousand dollars from Mr Warner and, moreso, two and one half percent from the Gross Gate Receipts of all matches played under the aegis of the TTFF will also go to the fund.

Marvin's final appearance at his Stadium.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
13-Mar-2003 - Trinidad and Tobago's Marvin made his final clearance before a packed Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya on Thursday afternoon.
Lee, the 21-year-old former T&T captain passed away last Sunday and was laid to rest at the nearby Tunapuna cemetery following a most touching and unforgettable funeral ceremony at the Centre of Excellence, the same venue where he sustained neck and spinal injuries during a CONCACAF World Under 20 qualifying encounter against the United States in March, 2001.
Since then, Lee had been restrained to a wheelchair, but on Thursday his body laid peacefully in a casket as hundreds from all walks of life paid their final respects.
Among them being CONCACAF President Jack Warner who single-handedly took care of the Lee since the injury.
Warner announced during an emotional address that a the football venue at Macoya would be renamed the Marvin Lee Stadium to loud applause from those present.
Warner brought to tears during his address, said Lee should serve as an inspiration to many, particularly sportsmen and women and should make then cease any fears of representing their country, despite the risk of injury as in Lee's case, he had touched the lives of many here and abroad.
"Marvin played for his country, his country may not have played for him. But where he has gone he will meet his biggest player who will play for him forever and ever and ever," Warner said.
Several persons spoke during the ceremony including T&T's Minister of Sport Roger Boynes and each commended Warner for his efforts in Lee's life.
"Marvin Lee qualified to go to war on behalf of all of us, to prove that our young men are capable of being the best in the world. Marvin was taken down while on duty as he sought to be an example of dedication, discipline, talent and dedication to every young man and women in Trinidad and Tobago. Even in his state of impairment, Marvin Lee displayed a sense of belief in God and in himself that must be taken as a lesson to all of us who must follow him one day," said Boynes.
Members of the T&T National Youth team, some of them, Lee's former teammates wore the T&T uniform and along with match officials, lined up on the open field before funeral audience as Lee's casket rested nearby.
Final whistles, like that which ends football matches, were blown by an outfitted referee at the end of the service and while it may have signaled the end of his reign on earth, his memory would certainly live on forever.

Football Fraternity loses another Son.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
9-Mar-2003 - The Trinidad and Tobago Football Fraternity mourns the loss of yet one of its sons.
Marvin Lee, courageous former National Under 20 captain passed away at the Arima Hospital at around 3am Sunday morning, suffering from a cold infection. No official reports have been given by doctors.
His mother Dawn, holding strong under the circumstances explained that Marvin went into difficulty and was taken by ambulance to the hospital where doctors did their best to restore some order before he succumbed.
"The ambulance came and rushed him. The doctors did all they could but that was it. He left us. The Lord knows best," his mother said as family and friends stopped at their Santa Rosa Heights home on Sunday morning.
T&T Team manager George Joseph, who had been seeing Marvin ever so often since his fatal neck and spinal injuries on March 20, 2001, added his condolences.
"Up to a week ago, I took the barber to Marvin's home as I did so often and he was in his usual high spirits. This is just a major shock to us all," said Joseph.
T&T Football Federation President Oliver Camps expressed deepest sympathy.
"This is most sad for us at this time. We know what Marvin has passed through and now this is a major shock. I extend great condolences to his family," stated Camps.
The former Tranquility Government and Defence Force player received the FIFA President's medal from Sepp Blatter last year for his determination and courage displayed since the injury sustained when going up for a ball against Landon Donovon of the United States in a CONCACAF World Under 20 qualifying match at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya.
Marvin's death follows that of Senior team striker Mickey Trotman by way of a vehicle accident in October of 2001 and Tobago-born forward Rolston James who was shot last year.

FIFA President remembers Under-20 captain.

TnT Newsday Reports.
12-Mar-2003 - FIFA President Sepp Blatter has expressed his deep sympathy on the death of former Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 football captain Marvin Lee. The statement below was addressed to TT Football Federation President Oliver Camps on Tuesday by Blatter, who visited Lee at his Santa Rosa, Arima home in September 2001.

“Dear President, dear friend.
The news of the death of Marvin Lee came as a great shock to me. You are all very familiar with his story marked by the tragic accident he suffered when devoting himself to his greatest passion, the game of football. I had the opportunity to meet Marvin at his home, while I was in Trinidad and Tobago during the FIFA U-17 World Championship in September 2001. I discovered an extremely engaging youngster, who although lucid about his physical limitations was brimming with hopes and dreams. He was an incredibly mature young man, who was eager to fight to enjoy life despite his handicap. Meeting him was a moment of intense emotion for me and it was an attempt to retain a lasting and symbolic memory of that moment that I awarded Marvin the very first FIFA Presidential Award later that year. Both personally and on behalf of the extended international football family, I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to his family, particularly his mother Dawn, his friends and his former teammates, as well as all of those who loved and cared for him, among them the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, and FIFA Vice-President Jack A Warner. The memory of Marvin will forever remain engraved on my memory.”
Also extending condolences was former Technical Director Rene Simoes who met with Lee at different events during his tenure here. England-based goalkeeper Shaka Hislop as well as Stern John, Clayton Ince and Russell Latapy, who all visited Lee’s home in 2001, also paid their tributes. Birmingham City striker Stern John who met Lee in 2001 was also shocked. “It’s certainly came as a shock to me. “Knowing everything that he passed through to come and leave this way is very sad. It shows that the Almighty has his plan for everyone and we have to abide by this and be grateful for what we have in life,” said John.
Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper, Clayton Ince, a former member of the Defence Force where Lee had also been attached said: “This is very sad. It’s difficult for his family especially after what he went through with the injury and then to come and go so suddenly. I got the news through the internet and I was really saddened by it”.

Jack's lifelong commitment to Marvin Lee.

TnT Express Reports.
5-Dec-2002 - FIFA vice president and CONCACAF president Jack Warner has made a lifelong committment to Marvin Lee, the former national Under-20 captain. Speaking to local and regional sports medicine personnel at the recent closing ceremony of the CONCACAF Sports Medicine Seminar (Part Two), Warner said: “I have made a committment to take care of Marvin Lee as long as I am alive.” In a melancholy tone Warner revealed that his committment to Lee “has been going on more than a year since the former promising defender suffered his accident in the T&T versus USA match at the Centre of Excellence.” Recounting the incident Warner, who is also the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation’s special adviser, said Lee’s paralysis has fuelled his determination to improve the standard of sports medicine in the region.
“I went to the head of the Defence Force to secure time off for Marvin Lee who was a recruit at the time and therefore not allowed to represent his country.
“The leave was eventually granted and Lee was made captain of the team. After 20 minutes in the match Lee collided with an American player and...to this day he is paralysed.
“I believe, and I say this without empircal evidence, that if Lee had been given the proper treatment... there and then, the nerves at the back of his head would not have crumpled and have the grave effect it had.”
Warner said this was told to him by the finest medical experts in Miami, USA since no stone was left unturned to give Lee the best possible treatment.
“I spent US$125,000 US in medical bills, but at the end of the day the experts said it was too late.
“So today I intend to spend what it takes to give you this knowledge in the field of sports medicine, so that football will be better equipped to deal with tragedies like these.
“May God forbid a repeat,” said Warner to thunderous and emotive applause from the audience.
The Sports Medicine Seminar was moderated by FIFA’s Trinidad-born, Canada-based Dr. Rudy Gittens and included presentations from Dr. Calvin Inalsingh, Dr. Anyl Gopeesingh, Dr. Terence Babwah and sports therapist Oba Gulston.
It was the last for the year, in a series of courses and seminars organised by CONCACAF Director of Development, Richard Bratwaithe, in the field of football coaching, refereeing and sports medicine at Centre of Excellence, Macoya.

Determined to play again Marvin Lee ... one year later.

By Lisa Allen-Agostini.
21-Mar-2002 - In the videotape of his last football game, on March 20, 2001, Marvin Lee is big and pretty. He's over six foot two, 225lb of sinew and strength. He's wearing our national colours and captaining the Under-20 team against the US in a FIFA World Youth Football Championships qualifier at the Centre of Excellence. 
It is four minutes into the game. When he goes up to ram into Landon Donovan, a US player challenging him for the ball, the impact of his head on Donovan's looks negligible. They both fall to the ground. 

Donovan gets up. Lee doesn't.

One year later, 20-year-old Marvin Lee is sitting next to you in a wheelchair, watching his videotaped self lying on the grassy field.

"It have nothing to see again," he says. "We lose 5-1."

If watching the tape of that fateful game is upsetting to him, he hides it well. 
This afternoon, a week before the first anniversary of the game and the nearly complete paralysis that followed it, Lee is reclining in his new motorised wheelchair, joking around with his little brother, Miguel, and sister, Mesa. Their mother, Dawn Warrick, is sitting in Lee's old wheelchair, pushing herself around Lee's custom-built annex at the back of their Santa Rosa Heights home.
Lee describes the tragic injury like this: "I fell down and incidentally didn't get back up." That's it. 
He stops talking, caught up in looking at David Lawrence of Consolidated Medical Management trying to figure out how to control the new chair. 
The wheelchair, like the annex, was sponsored by the T&T Football Federation, which has picked up the bill for all Lee's expenses since the accident.
"Being the person that I am, I never really think the injury is as bad as people see it," says Lee. "For me, it's just like an off season. Football done and you doing other things now."
In the living room, Lee's medals and trophies tell the story of his life. Two shelves of trophies, for football, cricket, basketball; more than a handful of still-shiny gold medals. Among the awards are trophies for being the Tranquillity 1999 Sport Personality of the Year; and Defence Force Youth Team Most Valuable Player 2000. Lee had four caps before he was made under-20 captain in January 2001, and an Italian pro league scout was rumoured to be interested in the young defender.

Then, snap.

On the wall over the hospital bed in his annex, four international football team jerseys hang. Among them is one from Donovan, his sister says with no trace of animosity. On another wall, there's a printed sign: "It's a battle between the invisible truth and the visible shadow," it reads.
After the injury, he had surgery to fix his fractured neck and bruised spine. A five-hour operation didn't improve his position much. He couldn't feel his feet or his left hand, and his right hand was as weak as a kitten's. 
In May, with his mother at his side, he underwent the operation again at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
When other people go to Miami, they remember going shopping or to the seaside, or maybe spending a night watching the beautiful people under the neon at Miami Beach. 
Lee and Warrick came home with memories of the Trinidadian expat nurses, who kept them supplied with chicken-foot soup, macaroni pie and good cheer, as Lee recovered from having a piece of his hip bone and a supporting plate put into his neck.

The operation worked no miracles.

"The doctors could only do as much as medical-wise. The doctors say they cannot do it, but Jesus is the only one who can do it," Lee says. "They can't say anything. Most they can say is I'm weak and as time goes by I'll start to improve. For me, I know, for the most, two months' time I'll be back on my feet."
Today Lee has partial mobility in his right hand, and very little in his left. He has feeling in his legs and feet- "All over," he says, smiling. He guides the new wheelchair by manipulating a joystick under his atrophied right hand. Lee now weighs about 165lb and, like every part of him, his hand is thin and frail-looking, but Lee considers its very movement a triumph.
He is in physiotherapy three times a week, working with weights at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, and swimming three days a week at the Santa Rosa pool. 

"And Sunday is church," Lee says.

His faith in Jesus Christ grew stronger after the collision.
"For you to achieve something in life, it have to be meant for you. And only one person, God, could achieve it for you," he says. 
His little brother wants to talk to a reporter too, boasting about his own football prowess. Miguel wants to play professionally, as his brother aspired to, but with one reservation: "You think I'll run up and get myself injure? You must be mad." 
He's seven years old and scoffs at the idea that he too could break his neck on a football field. 
Mesa, 14, used to be a goalkeeper for the national under-19 team but dropped off the team last year, she says, because it was too much work. Miguel has words for her, too.
"Mesa have no trophies. All she have is medals. She only have two medals."
Dawn Warrick looks at her children squabbling and tries to rein them in, but her heart isn't in it this afternoon. The ceremony at which the TTFF presented her eldest son with his new electronic wheelchair has tired them both. 
She remembers the accident and all that passed since then, the long nights at his hospital bedside, the tears, the prayers.
"I felt there was a space inside me. At first I used to be crying. I remember every day I used to be crying," Warrick says. 
Mesa chimes in then, with a sing-song chant: "But we survived!"
Warrick quit her job, at the urging of the TTFF, to stay with her son full-time. The TTFF has paid her salary since July.
However frail he looks, neither Lee nor his mother seems to have given in to despair.
"I'm not going to let this keep me back," Lee says. "It's nothing. I still alive, I still going out, staying out late." Asked if he thinks he'll really play again, he's frankly confident.
"By December I playing football. If I don't play, Trinidad can't win World Cup."