DUTCHMAN Leo Beenhakker does not officially begin his contract as Trinidad and Tobago national football coach until May 1 but he has already began to make a significant impact. First, Beenhakker has offered former national captain David Nakhid a role as a player rather that as an assistant-coach and is also due to begin his programme without the services of Scotland-based Russell Latapy, his other assistant. He says that the seriousness of T&T's situation means they cannot wait until the middle of June when Latapy is due to finish his seasoning Scotland as player/coach with First Division Falkirk.
Beenhakker has insisted that he will be the sole selector of the national team and also hinted that he may bring in some of his own people to work with him on the national team. Beenhakker has met with coaches of local clubs and hinted that he will be watching a lot of local clubs game and using as many locally-based players as he could in his team.
The Dutchman has also been looking at tapes of T&T's World Cup qualifiers, especially the 5-1 loss to Guatemala which he has reviewed. In his analysis of that game, Beenhakker said he especially surprised at one aspect of that match and frankly admitted that a lot of work had to be done with the 'Warriors'.
The Dutchman returns to Holland for the next two weeks, during which time he will organise his personal affairs before heading to England and Scotland to have a look at some of Trinidad and Tobago Footballers playing professionally there. He then returns on April 27 for an intense one month preparation programme aimed at getting the team ready for a home match against Panama on June 4 and Mexico on June 8. During that time they will have a weekly camp for two or three days during which they will undergo intense specialised training.
Beenhakker is adamant that there are no miracles in football. He was realistic enough to realise that T&T's present position in the World Cup qualifying six-team competition is precarious, but based on what he had seen, Beenhakker felt that Trinidad and Tobago's level of football is not inferior to that of Guatemala and Costa Rica.
The former Holland and Saudi Arabia coach said that he will do his best to realise Trinidad and Tobago's dream of reaching the World Cup for the first time. He said he brings 39 years of experience to the job, his professionalism, ambition and a passion for football which Beenhakker says is still one hundred per cent.
"The problem with football, is that there are no guarantees. That's a pity, but that's a reality," Beenhakker said.
Nakhid spoke about the shift in his role and hinted that he was undecided about his new status with the national team.
"Well he approached me about it when he saw the games and he felt that he could use me more on the pitch seeing that we were pressed for time. It's an approach he made. It's very difficult tell Leo Beenhakker, no. I've spoken with him, and we'll have to see because I have a lot of things to arrange then with my club in Lebanon. So hopefully, hopefully if I do decide to do it, more as a player that an assistant coach/player kind of thing like under Bertille (St Clair). Then, I'll have to decide quickly, and I guess Russell will have to decide too. But as he said, he needs players on the pitch who can implement what he wants. We'll have to see what happens in the coming weeks." Nakhid said.
New manager Bruce Aanensen bring with him a management background having spent 39 years in the financial sector with RBTT Bank Limited.