Latapy linked to Falkirk coaching job

Local football icon Russell Latapy has been linked with the head coach role at Scottish club Falkirk. The 44-year-old former national coach and player, who is currently taking his Uefa Pro coaching license, has expressed his desire to take over the position at the club where he spent six years as a player. His name has been mentioned following the departure of Steven Pressley. “I enjoyed six great years at Falkirk and formed a bond with them. My rapport with the fans remains as strong as ever. Falkirk are a club I hold dear to my heart and if there is the slightest chance I could possibly return then that would make me so happy,” Latapy told the Daily Record, which also mentioned that he had coaching stints with his former Portuguese clubs Porto and Boavista.

“I enjoyed a highly successful career and played for the likes of Hibernian, Rangers and Dundee United. But Falkirk are the team I stayed with longest during my stay in Scotland. I’d love the chance to be Falkirk manager. It’s a project that interests and excites me. I have extensive contacts in football, having worked in T&T, Portugal and Spain,” added the ex-Glasgow Rangers player, who opted out of a return to Port-of-Spain for the Carnival last month due to commitments with his UEFA Pro License course. “It’s something I’m really enjoying and it’s a big step in my coaching career. There’s no way I was going to miss out part of the exercise that week,” Latapy said. “Carnival is always there,” he smiled. 
“I have learned so much as both a manager and coach since hanging up my boots.”

Power makes debut in Thailand

National team defender Seon Power made his debut in the Thailand Premier League earlier this month for Chainat FC. The former Joe Public player joined T&T forward Kendall Jagdeosingh at the club last December before agreeing to a contract. Two games have been played since the season kicked off on March 2nd and Power made his debut in the opener.

Chainat is a small province and their home stadiums holds just over 5,000 seating but is filled to capacity for every match. Power and Jagdeosingh are among the Chainat players that are heavily popularized, with their images appearing on billboards throughout Chainat. “It’s amazing here how much they follow the club and we get 5,000 fans every game but when we travel there are other venues that hold 25,000 and up like in Bangkok and Buriram. And they have a special preference for the foreign players. There are also players from Brazil, Ivory Coast, France and Nigeria here,” Power said.

“It’s been a nice, settling period for me but I’m still getting accustomed to the food. I have to go into Bangkok often to get anything close to what I’m accustomed to. But the focus is football and I’m enjoying it and definitely hoping to stay fit and return home to join the national team soon,” he added.
 

Birchall eyes promotion with Port Vale

Chris Birchall is keeping his beliefs intact regarding Port Vale’s press for promotion to the English League one. The former LA Galaxy player is expecting his long time club to improve their performances and hopefully go on a winning streak that can see them seal promotion. “It doesn't matter how we perform any more. People don't care about performances at this stage. It's all about getting the result,” said Birchall.

"It will be difficult. Their manager John Ward is a good gaffer and I know him well, but we can't afford to lose. It's not all doom and gloom. Promotion is still in our own hands and, hopefully, we can go out and get a good result to put this bad run behind us.” Vale are currently third on the League table with 64 points, two more than closest rivals Northampton and six behind leaders Gillingham, former club of ex-T&T World Cup duo Kelvin Jack and Brent Sancho, who turned 35 yesterday. Birchall arrive in Port-of-Spain next week to join the national team for a friendly international against Belize at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on March 22 at 7 pm.

 
Belize appoints interim head coach

The Belize Football Federation last week appointed Charlie Slusher as interim head coach of its national team ahead of next Friday’s friendly international against T&T at the Ato Boldon Stadium from 7 pm. Belize is also preparing for the Concacaf Gold Cup in July. Now former head coach Leroy Sherrier failed to sign a new contract after citing issues with some members of the country’s national team technical committee. Belize FF president Ruperto Vicente stated: “The members of the national team committee have opinions even on the job that the coach is doing, and the coach has his own opinion on how the national team committee members go about doing their job. But that is given; that is understood, and we will all have opinions on each other's role.

The issue with the members with the national team committee, I do not see it as being the key factor for his exit. We must move on. The coach has left, and we must accept his exit at this point. And for continuity’s sake, we’re going to get Mr Charlie Slusher as our coach assisted by Mr Julio Santos and Mr Kent Gabriel.” The standout player in the Belize team is 25-year-old striker Deon Maccauley who signed with MLS club Portland Timbers last month after also having stints in Mexico and Honduras.

Shaun Fuentes is the media officer for the Soca Warriors/TTFF. Follow him on Twitter @ Pro Look2006