PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC-Trinidad and Tobago sports Minister Brent Sancho has lashed out at the country’s football chief, Raymond Tim Kee, accusing him of playing politics with the national football team.
Sancho was responding to statements from Tim Kee in which the Port-of –Spain mayor accused the sports minister of showing “a lack of respect” in dealing with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).
The recriminations are the latest in an ongoing war of words between Sancho and Tim Kee over government funding for local football and the relationship between the TTFA and the Ministry of Sports. “I have absolutely no interest in Mr Tim Kee’s political utterances. I want to make it very clear he (Tim Kee) has a political agenda and he can try to pretend otherwise,” said Sancho in an interview with the Express.
“My main focus is with or without his inclusion, to chart a course to the national men’s senior football team reaching the World Cup and putting things in place necessary for them to attain this goal”.
In a four-page letter to the media on the weekend, TTFA president Tim Kee blasted Sancho while also disputing his public statement about the TTFA on matters of transparency and accountability as well as government funding.
But the sports minister said that he would continue to help the national men’s senior football team to qualify for the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia, with or without the TTFA president.
The former Soca Warrior said his Ministry is contributing 95 percent of TTFA’s source of funds and continues to pay the coaching staff and players.
“While Tim Kee continues or tries to continue to use the players and football as a political pawn, we at the Ministry and this Government has continued to work extremely hard to ensure that football continues to strive, continues to reach all of the goals set,” Sancho said.
“I will do whatever in my power to make sure. It is my clear goal and focus — the players and coaching staff and football team — as it has always been my focus since my inception (as Minister of Sport)”.
