The Executive Committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, in keeping with its promise to regurgitate the game of football in Trinidad and Tobago, has begun the process of development and in some aspects continuing some forms of such that were already ongoing prior to this country’s exit from the 2014 World Cup campaign.
Following the resignations of the President Mr Oliver Camps and Special Advisor Mr Jack Warner, the executive committee has embarked upon a number of strategic methods of getting this long standing Federation back on track.
With the game being the premier initiative, the committee has immediately made some essential appointments to ensure that the machinery will begin sooner rather than later.
A very vibrant number of persons have been appointed to form the Technical Committee under the chairmanship of the former national player Mr Richard Quan Chan. The other members include Mr Rodil Clarke (Deputy chairman), Mr Roland Forde, Ex-national player Mr Marlon Morris, Mr Wayne Riley, ex-national women’s player and national team administrator Ms Jinelle James and Anton Corneal. A youth development committee has also been set up and includes Mr Roland Forde (chairman), Mr Ewing Davis (deputy chairman), Mr Boris Punch, Ms Michelle Lynch, Mr Stephen Bartholomew, ex-national coach Mr Muhammad Isa and Corneal.
All these persons have been contributors to various areas of the technical aspects of the game in areas which can be useful for their function.
The Executive Committee, as already mentioned before, also addressed the key position of Technical Director which had been vacant for the previous six months.
With much dialogue from those who followed the development of the game over the past decade or more, the decision was taken to appoint the Director of Youth Development and the previous acting Technical Director Anton Corneal to the position.
Primarily his career as a former National player during the period 1979 to 1990 was commendable and his records are there to show. A review of the past seven years since the Federation brought Mr Corneal back to Trinidad from his position in the United States, the records have been able to provide information regarding his work performances leading to this day.
It should be noted that the TTFF made an investment in Mr Corneal many years ago with the sole intention of having a very qualified individual to serve in this capacity in the future. That time has come.
In 2006, three years after Corneal’s return home, the Executive Committee approached the National Olympic Committee to arrange a scholarship for him to further his studies in various aspects of football at the Leipzig University of Germany, during which time he earned a Diploma in Physical Education, Sport, with specialization in football.
That was in keeping with Mr Corneal’s already established Bachelor of Science degree in Physical and Health Education at Erskine College, South Carolina where he was awarded a scholarship to play football, an advanced FA International Football License achieved in Trinidad and conducted by English football Technical Director Les Peacock, United States "A" Coaching License and the Conmebol’s (South America) Advanced Coaching Certificate in Paraguay.
The Federation monitored carefully the competence and implementation of his work with the development of our youth programs which brought much success through our Under 17 team’s qualification for the 2007 FIFA Under 17 Men’s World Cup in South Korea during which time he was head coach during the qualifiers and the Finals.
In order to create continuity with the team, Mr Corneal was asked to be part of the Technical Team, coached by Zoran Vranes, which took players from the U-17 team towards qualification for the 2009 FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Egypt.
His workload was enhanced when Dutch National Coach Leo Beenhakker selected him to be his local assistant coach, an exercise which won him commendations for his contribution.
Two former National coaches Francisco Maturana and Otto Pfister also selected him to assist with their duties.
In the year 2012 the Dutch Football Association was invited to structure our coaching methods and formulate a module for development. After having conducted courses with a number of local coaches, Corneal was again chosen to be the country’s Coaching Instructor for the continuation of the project.
FIFA then embarked upon an expansive Grassroots Program in CONCACAF and conducted courses for possible instructors for the region.
Corneal was chosen to be a FIFA Grassroots Program Instructor for the Caribbean, a position he presently holds.
Despite the qualifications, the executive committee still took time to determine whether there was anyone more qualified and eventually endorsed the appointment of Mr Corneal for the position of Technical Director.
The Committee is confident that he will continue to dedicate his services to the overall development of the game over the next four years and pledges to give him as much support as is possible to help him to perform his duties.
