… Colombian quits on the back of poor results in World Cup qualifiers
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Star player Russell Latapy has been appointed Trinidad and Tobago’s football head coach following the resignation of Colombian Francisco Maturana yesterday.

Maturana quit on the back of T&T’s poor results so far in World Cup qualifying.

The Soca Warriors have secured a mere two points from three CONCACAF qualifiers in a dismal bid so far to qualify for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.

“The technical coaching staff, led by Mr Francisco Maturana, have offered their resignations to the Executive Committee of the TTFF due to differences in opinions regarding the way forward in the FIFA 2010 World Cup Qualification Campaign for South Africa. The resignations were subsequently accepted by the Executive Committee of the TTFF,” the TTFF said.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) also moved swiftly to put Latapy in charge with Zoran Vranes, the current National Under-20 coach, as his assistant.

The 60-year-old Maturana, 14 months into the job, offered his resignation at a meeting yesterday morning when the performance and future of Trinidad and Tobago team were discussed.

The local governing body thanked him for his services.

“The TTFF wishes to thank coach Francisco Maturana and his technical staff for their service to our nation’s football these past months,” the TTFF said in a release.

Maturana coached Colombia in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups and also had coaching jobs with other national teams Ecuador, Peru and Costa Rica.

Latapy had been player/coach of the squad – under Maturana’s watch – as T&T drew with El Salvador (2-2) and Honduras (1-1) and lost 3-0 to the USA in World Cup qualifiers in the past two months.

The 40-year-old Latapy, who played for more than 10 years in Europe, responded enthusiastically to his appointment.

“I’m absolutely delighted with being given the opportunity to be coach of my country’s national team,” Latapy said.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and the people who’ve been involved with me in football and from a family standpoint over the years all know this.

Aside from playing the game and always trying to help my country, my main ambition was always to coach the national team, I would like to thank the Association for giving me this opportunity,” Latapy told TTFF Media.

Trinidad and Tobago’s next 2010 World Cup qualifying match is at home to Costa Rica on June 6 followed by an away clash with Mexico on June 10.

T&T’s Soca Warriors, who qualified for their first ever World Cup Finals appearance in Germany 2006, need a considerable turnaround in form to reach South Africa but Latapy remains optimistic they can make it.

“The task ahead of us is by no means an easy one but I think once we can get everything together, and with the support of the nation, we can achieve our goal which right now is qualifying for the next World Cup and continuing to take the country’s football forward,” he said.

Latapy was player-coach of Scottish Premier League side Falkirk before stepping down this year to focus on the national team.

He is considered one of the T&T’s greatest ever players and his log in European includes stints in Scotland and Portugal, where he played on title-winning teams Boavista and Porto.