PORT OF SPAIN – Cardiff City striker Kenwyne Jones wants to see an overhaul of the Trinidad and Tobago’s football federation, and says this is necessary if the sport in the country is to go to the next level.
Jones led T&T to a second place finish at the recent CFU Caribbean Cup, which concluded Tuesday in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The Soca Warriors were beaten in the final on penalties by Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz.
“I think it is a period when we are going into the 21st century where the way that football is being administered in Trinidad and Tobago, I think we need some fresh minds in the Federation (TTFA) and I make no apologies for that,” the Trinidad Express quoted Jones as saying.
“I think we have some recently retired people over the last five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten years that know how football is run today, and I think it would be good for them to come in and have a go at taking football to the next step.”
Jones and the national team took a tough stand against the national federation one day ahead of the Caribbean Cup final, demanding outstanding salaries or threatening not to take the field.
The players and officials were owed US$10 million by the federation, which admitted it was unable to settle the amount and had asked government to intervene.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar disbursed the outstanding salaries to players on Thursday in a ceremony at her office.
Jones, who acted as spokesman for the players during the brief stand-off, said it was important that football authorities honoured their commitment to players. (CMC)
