…TTFF anoounce Latapy and Jamaal Shbazz appointments

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Assistant coach Russell Latapy said newly-appointed Trinidad & Tobago Soca Warriors Tom Saintfiet will have his full support as the team continues to battle for qualification to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.The T&T Football Federation announced yesterday that Latapy, a former Soca Warriors captain and star midfielder, and Jamaal Shabazz, a former Soca Warriors and Guyana head coach, would form part of Saintfiet’s technical staff.
“I would like to make it clear that I am going in to lend a helping hand to the head coach and the team,” he told TTFF Media from Portugal, where he is currently. “(Saintfiet) has his ideas and philosophies, and I will assist wherever possible,” said Latapy.
Saintfiet was appointed head coach of the Soca Warriors after Stephen Hart left the position on November 24. He indicated Latapy and Shabazz were preferred to other candidates, due to their knowledge of the sport in T&T and the wider region.
“I was not expecting to be in this situation,” said Latapy. “The focus has to be on the new coach and his ideas and his philosophies, and we need the players to pull together just like the nation.
“We need to come together to do the best that we can to move forward and give the team the best possible chance.”
Latapy added: “I have been asked to assist and I will never turn my back on T&T. The new coach and the president of the TTFF asked me to come in and I will go in and put my best foot forward as it is and from where it is at this time and see how far he can take it forward.
“He will have my fullest support. I also want to also keep focusing on the youth teams, which is one of my main focal points right now having gotten back involved in T&T football.”
The Soca Warriors are currently fifth in the final hexagonal of CONCACAF qualification for the 2018 World Cup – and preparing for two international friendly matches against Nicaragua on December 27 and 30 in Managua.