Coach dispels media reports

Coach of this country’s Under-20 male Football team, Kendale Mercury, has vehemently denied having used some harsh language to one of his charges, Shemmol Trimmingham, last week Tuesday night, after the distraught player was seen weeping openly.{{more}}

Mercury was reported by this media house as having told Trimmingham to “shut up”, among other remarks, as he was being consoled by another member of the coaching staff, Earl Paynter.

In clearing the air and dispelling the report, Mercury, speaking at a press briefing and a meeting with the players, called by Minister of Sports, Mike Browne, last Saturday morning at the Victoria Park, insisted that he never said those words.

“I don’t even have those words in my vocabulary,” Mercury said.

He, however, accepted that he was merely telling the player that he had to be part of the team’s warm down.

But author of the article that appeared in the SEARCHLIGHT, dated January 16, Kirby Jackson, is holding firmly to the accuracy of his reporting.

Trimmingham became a villain when he missed a penalty in the Jamaica encounter, which if he had scored, would have levelled the score at 1-1, and enhanced his team’s chance of a straight qualification. Jamaica went on to win the match, 2-0, and automatically advanced to the CONCACAF Finals in Trinidad and Tobago in March.

Minister Browne also used the occasion to give Trimmingham some words of comfort, and asked his teammates to continue to support him.

Mercury also cleared the air on a rumour that one of his forward players, Myron Samuel, had been hopitalised, but was forced to play the Jamaica match.

Mercury admitted that Samuel was seen by a doctor, but was given the all clear to play.

The Under-20 Coach stated that players’ health is given top priority on his agenda.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines will engage Central American power house Honduras in a one off match, believed to be at the back end of February or early March, just ahead of the CONCACAF Finals.

The winner of that match will join the USA, Jamaica and El Salvador in the group to be played in Tobago. The other group hosted in Trinidad, features Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada and hosts Trinidad and Tobago. (RT)