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Sancho makes his point
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UNHAPPY: Sancho
Trini star hits out at game’s rulers “The footballers are aspiring to be professional but those that run the game are not”
TWO years ago Brent Sancho was on cloud nine. Trinidad and Tobago had made it to the World Cup for the first time in their history and a host of top clubs were showing an interest in him.
He now finds himself blacklisted from the team and at the centre of a court case against the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF).
On the eve of the Soca Warriors’ game against England next month, Sancho told the Voice of Sport how football on the islands is in deep trouble.
“Things need to be sorted now”, the former Gillingham man says unequivocally. “I really feel that the talent in Trinidad is phenomenal – just the administration let things down. The footballers are aspiring to be professional but the administrators are not.”
Sancho has good reason for such strong words, as he reveals that the World Cup squad are yet to receive their full bonus payments from the TTFF, having only been offered a feeble £500 tournament bonus for their heroics in Germany.
“I remember when we got the spreadsheet. The boys were just gutted. When you look at some of the sponsors - 10 million US dollars from Adidas, another 5 million US from a local company in Trinidad and many others, all giving money - and to think we just got £500 each.
“We’ve calculated the boys are owed around £80,000-£90,000 each – and if not where is that money?”
Sixteen of the 23 players in the squad, including Shaka Hislop, Stern John, Kelvin Jack and Chris Birchill, decided to approach the TTFF about the situation, but were met with hostility from the governing body.
Left with no option they began legal proceedings and set up a players’ union with the help of Kevin Harrison from the Professional Footballers Association financial management team here in the UK.
Sadly, the response of the TTFF was to blacklist the players involved. Sancho will play no part in the prestige game in Port of Spain on the June 1, and has not made an appearance for the Soca Warriors in almost two years.
“It would have been one of the crowning achievements of my career to have played in front of my own fans and had a chance to get a result against England.
“Although I’m disappointed not to be playing I’m still pleased to be part of this process as I have stood up for what I feel is right. If that means not playing in a game that I would have loved to, then so be it. No regrets.”
Sancho feels the game against England would have been an opportunity for him and the rest of those involved in the 2-0 defeat at the World Cup to settle some scores. He says he felt “violated” when England striker Peter Crouch infamously pulled his dreadlocks to score in the game.
Another disappointment he remembers vividly were the comments black football icon, Ian Wright, made when assessing the game. Wright felt Crouch was entitled to pull Sancho’s dreadlocks as he said, “it serves him right for having long hair”.
“I heard his comments the day after the game and I was raging,” said Sancho. “I think it’s an absolutely ludicrous statement – especially when you look how many people in the world have dreadlocks.
“I thought would know better than that. If I see him I will tell him I was extremely upset that he said that.”
“It is really heartening to see the fans supporting the blacklisted players. I spoke to Chris Birchill the other day - he’s 23 and his international career is almost effectively over because he stood up against the TTFF with us – he was practically in tears.
“I’d love to meet the fans wearing the black t-shirts to say thanks. In fact - I’ll be wearing a black t-shirt alongside them.”
Published: 28 May 2008
Issue: 1322
