PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Colombian Francisco Maturana resigned yesterday as Trinidad and Tobago’s national head coach on the back of poor results in their World Cup qualifying football matches. The Soca Warriors have just two points from three CONCACAF qualifiers in a dismal bid so far to qualify for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.
“The technical coaching staff led by Mr. Francisco Maturana have offered their resignations to the Executive Committee of the TTFF due to differences in opinions regarding the way forward in the FIFA 2010 World Cup Qualification Campaign for South Africa. The resignations were subsequently accepted by the Executive Committee of the TTFF,” the TTFF said. The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) also moved swiftly to appoint star player Russell Latapy as head coach with Zoran Vranes as his assistant.
The 60-year-old Maturana offered his resignation at a meeting Wednesday morning when the performance and future of the Trinidad and Tobago team were discussed.
The TTFF thanked him for his services.
“The TTFF wishes to thank Coach Francisco Maturana and his technical staff for their service to our nation’s football these past months,” the TTFF said in a release.
Trinidad and Tobago’s next 2010 World Cup qualifying match is at home to Costa Rica on June 6 followed by an away clash with Mexico on June 10.
