Joey Richardson, better known as the Flagman who flew this country’s national flag at various sports events, is calling for the start of the Ascension Football League as soon as possible. “I hear they gave the terminix man (Ferguson) permission to run the league, but the politics jump in the thing and they cancel the permission to run the Ascension league. The players not playing anything now. We have to start back playing the football in Trinidad if we are to get anywhere at all”.
KEEP ANGUS EVE
The Flagman also commented on the tenure of Angus Eve, saying he is happy that the former midfielder got a full-time contract to coach the Soca Warriors. Comparing Eve to the predecessor, Englishman Terry Fenwick, who he referred to as ‘Failwick’, Eve performed much better as coach as the players were going all out for him and getting the results. He said former coach Fenwick “is like a politician who has all the answers before they get in power. Remember he was a commentator finding fault with all the coaches. ‘Nuff Respect’ to Angus Eve”. Under the former England international, the Soca Warriors failed to advance out of a group containing St Kitts/ Nevis, Puerto Rico, Guyana and Bahamas to continue in the World Cup Qualifying campaign. As a result, the 2006 FIFA World Cup finalists will have to watch as USA, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Jamaica, Panama, Canada and Costa Rica contest for places to play at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The performances under Angus Eve improved with a 6-1 win over Montserrat, before a penalty shootout win over French Guiana to qualify for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Then in the Gold Cup proper, a goalless draw with Mexico, before a 2-0 loss to El Salvador and a draw against Guatemala to close off the campaign, and possibly the schedule for 2021.
The Flagman says we need to move away from quick fixes and not wait. This country is not taking further part in the World Cup qualifiers and will have to wait on the CONCACAF Nation’s League to resume next year. There are no friendly internationals scheduled for the foreseeable future, but the Flagman does not like that scenario. “We should not wait. We should organize matches with Venezuela, they are right there. They play in the high quality South America zone, and they can play us for food (in reference to the social and political issues in the South American Nation).”
