At a time when all over the world, leadership continues to be a major issue in every aspect of life, it is imperative that people find the correct person to lead them, whether it be in politics or in sports.
Some would say that sports and politics are interlinked, contrary to what many may like to believe.
And in a country with a small population such as ours, people in sports and persons in politics, are sometimes the same, or have close connections between one and the other.
With that in mind as we approach November 29, the date for the election of officers to the T&T Football Association (TTFA), it is both surprising and perplexing, that persons would still be interested in being involved in football administration, particularly given the history both past and present of the international body for football, FIFA.
When one says the name FIFA, there is so much doubt and caution over all that they are involved in and nearly every week over the last two years, there has been one miserable tale after another on the financial and other irregularities on this “Monster” rich organisation that controls the most popular sport in the world.
Now that we have finally read that major sponsors—including several FIFA executives—have begun to be called to account, we are beginning to notice a changing of philosophy which was long overdue and certainly a changing of the guards, which the world welcomes.
But ultimately all of this only fortifies the belief that persons in power are only swayed by money, and when their financial affairs are threatened or reduced.
With all of that in mind, the million-dollar question has to be: Who would want to be a leader of sports, much less football in little old T&T? The answer that we have so far ahead of November 29 is the following: Raymond Tim Kee (the incumbent), David John Williams (owner of W Connection), Ramesh Ramdhan (former FIFA referee—World Cup 2002), Selby Browne (vice president of the Veteran Footballers Foundation of T&T) and Clynt Taylor (vice president of the T&T Referees Association).
Five men are vying for the top spot in football in T&T, part of a CONCACAF region, that has exposed a lot of dubious transactions over the last 15 years, where persons are being questioned by the USA on their involvement in such.
And so whether the names are Jack Warner of T&T, Chuck Blazer of the US or Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands, there is a lot of unsubstantiated accusations surrounding persons in football from this region.
So again, I will ask: Who dares to want to be president of football in this country?
Let us briefly look at these men, who are willing to put their lives and also those of their family and friends at risk to become TTFA president:
CLYNT TAYLOR
He is a young man with high ambitions, but as vice-president of the TTRA, he has knowledge of football, but sadly for him, not enough people have knowledge of him and it is this lack of knowledge and insight into this man that may work against him in the eyes of many.
Added to which, most of those involved in refereeing in this country are sadly not well respected by clubs and officials. Also there is a strong school of thought that this late, rather surprising entry by Taylor could be to act as a spoiler against another contender, Ramesh Ramdhan.
SELBY BROWNE
He has had a strong history in sports but in particular football. While he has played football, it is skill as an administrator that has made him recognised. However, he has had battles with television rights issues in the past with previous administrations, so perhaps understands the politics of the sport more than most.
In his current reincarnation as president of the Veteran Footballers, he has found an avenue to address the wrongs experienced by many former T&T footballers and his association and has become a voice for the homeless, and at times the speechless.
Whether or not he is able to unite the voting groups and the clubs will be a matter of contention and given his age, there may be those who will believe that a younger man will be better equipped for the battle ahead.
However, expect Browne to be working the networks, so as not to be embarrassed on the day.
RAMESH RAMDHAN
At the moment, Ramdhan works with the current TTFA and is the man in charge of referees in this country and their training and their exposure. It has been a most difficult period for him, with the general consensus that the standard of refereeing in this country is at its lowest, reflected by the lack of international calls of duty being received by our officials. Ramdhan knows football, and is well respected in the region, and has made a lot of contacts over the years which, if he was to become president, would be invaluable.
However, he is an outspoken man, who speaks the truth no matter the colour or the objective of others, which in this hugely political environment, may not be a good thing.
His involvement in politics with Jack Warner may work against him, in a situation where people are trying their best rightfully or wrongfully to distance themselves from the former special advisor for football.
Some even may believe that there is still a connection, which is one of the important issues that Ramdhan will probably have to address sooner rather than later if he is to convince the undecided before the voting starts.
DAVID JOHN-WILLIAMS
This is a man, who wears football and the club he owns, W Connection, on his shirt sleeves. His heart is passionately behind football and he eats and sleeps this sport.
As president of W Connection, he has continued over the years to reap tremendous success in the Pro League and his teams have been consistent, and he has been consistent in his coaching appointment, not chopping and changing as is the unwanted custom of so many both locally and internationally these days.
It is perhaps this consistency, along with his passion, and the need for a decisive leader, that has propelled John Williams into this position. Williams has the temerity to deal with difficult situations and to be forceful. Whether all of those around him will like or being willing to work with that is another matter.
RAYMOND TIM KEE
Tim- Kee is the man in the job now, so he should have the advantage of knowing all of the ins and outs of the association.
He was also very instrumental in changing the constitution of the TTFA, ensuring greater transparency and accountability, which has to account for something, even if many will state that he and his executive were left with little choice given the harsh history of football in the past in this country.
Tim Kee, though, is a man with a lot on his plate and some of it would suggest he needs more than one plate to ensure he captures all in front of him, as he is also the Mayor of Port-of-Spain, and the treasurer of the ruling party in the current government. Should he should quit one or the other? There are divided opinions on both.
However, there could be a perceived advantage in terms of funding, if Tim-Kee remains at the head of football.
Similarly, like others on this list vying for the leadership role, there are serious questions which have not disappeared on Tim-Kee’s role in the previous administrations of football in this country over the last 20 years, which have not been answered to the satisfaction of many.
Tim-Kee’s recent run in with his general secretary Sheldon Phillips will not have done him any favours as well, given his lack of understanding of the constitution he was involved in establishing.
All of the above makes for a very interesting November for football again, both on (with World Cup Qualifiers for this country, away to Guatemala on November 13 and at home to USA on November 17), added to this spicy election battle on November 29.
Of course all of this depends on whether or not the election occurs or not, or if FIFA intervenes!