Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards has given recently appointed Head coach Dwight Yorke a mandate of qualifying the senior Soca Warriors to the Fifa Men’s World Cup or risk being replaced.

Edwards made the declaration during an interview on I95.5 FM on Saturday, as he pointed out that their World Cup qualifying ambition was the driving force behind the move to replace Angus Eve.

“It’s not just about selecting a coach. It is about the process, the journey and qualifying to the World Cup,” Edwards said.

Still, Edwards, who was elected TTFA president in April, explained that getting to the World Cup was a medium-term goal for his administration and, as such, they opted for a change in approach to accomplish that objective.

“We had to get the process right. We had to get where we wanted to go and make sure we had the mechanics within the TTFA right to make sure we get there and I think we reached the best choice for the men’s national senior team,” he shared.

“The entire team met and we laid out our short-term goals, medium-term goals and long-term goals. The medium-term goal was to qualify for the World Cup in the next two years. When we evaluated everything, we thought we needed a change...and the executive decided we wanted to go in a different direction.” Edwards added.

That said, Edwards reaffirmed his unwavering support for the current crop of Soca Warriors players to get the Twin Island Republic to another World Cup for the first time since 2006.

In fact, he revealed that Yorke’s two-year contract is with an agreement that he successfully qualifies the team to the 2026 global showpiece.

The Soca Warriors currently sit second in Group B on four points, two points behind leaders Costa Rica ahead of the resumption of qualifying action in 2025.

“With the right support and with the guys we have, I do believe we can qualify for a World Cup. We need a coach that understands the culture we have, with players coming back in two, three days before a game. Dwight was the ideal choice for us and he understands the culture of teams in Concacaf as well,” Edwards noted.

“In terms of that professional to approach the game, I think Dwight really brings that to T&T football. I think this project for our executive and for Dwight is about qualifying for the World Cup. It’s qualifying for the World Cup or nothing. I am sure I know Dwight’s pride. He will not stay on with the TTFA or with any club if he has failed to live up to his high standards,” the TTFA president opined.

Beyond the on-field obligations Edwards said it will take an estimated US$4 million to ensure Yorke and his team has the best possible chance throughout their campaign.

“The government through the Ministry of Sport has been involved in every campaign. We truly believe qualifying for the World Cup, taking it to the back end of 2025 will take about US$4 million. When we relate the proposal, we are hoping to get 30-33 per cent from the government,” Edwards said.

Former Trinidad and Tobago stalwart turned coach Dwight Yorke, and Derek King, are on a shortlist of five coaches vying for the senior Soca Warriors Head coach job.

The revelation was made by Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards, who revealed that the five-person shortlist was narrowed down from over 400 candidates ranging from the Twin Island Republic, as well as North, Central, and South America, and Europe.

King, the current interim head coach was appointed following the dismissal of Angus Eve, to whom he was an assistant. However, King’s chances of assuming the role on a permanent basis might be slim, given the team’s recent Concacaf Nations League run in which they struggled to secure League A status under his guidance.

Their lone win of the campaign was a 3-1 scoreline over Cuba in their final Group B contest at the Dwight Yorke Stadium.

While Edwards was impressed with the energy shown in that game, he quickly pointed out that a new coach, to be named by the end of this month, will be critical to meet new strategy set to be implemented by TTFA in 2025 ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers resumption.

“I want to assure you that both Dwight Yorke and Derek King are two of the five that we’re looking at. I think with the work that Derek has done for the last two FIFA windows, especially this last window. We know that the first window was tough for him to instill his idea in the guys, but we saw a glimpse of it in the Honduras game, during the first 30 minutes or even the first half,” Edwards told Guardian Media Sports.

“I think Derek has proven himself worthy for the position, and of course, Dwight is there and thereabout, and there are a few others who I would not name at this time. I think those two are names that the country is expecting to be there, so I am allowing that to happen, plus we’re working with agents and managers of other coaches right now to have some discussions, and hopefully by the end of the weekend we can conclude those discussions,” he added.

Yorke, who had a successful stint as a coach at Macarthur FC in the Australian A-League in 2022, also applied for the Jamaican senior Reggae Boyz top job, but was overlooked.

The former Manchester United striker is now being considered the overwhelming choice among the local football fraternity. 

However, Edwards explained that the affordability of a proposed salary packages would be crucial to the selection of the new coach and his staff. Additionally, that new coach will also have the option to decide on international friendly encounters during the coming FIFA window.

“We have about five people we’re looking at in terms of options who fit the bill of the campaign that we’re looking at for the style of football that we want to play. And not just the campaign, but also it would lend to the association in terms of our development,” Edwards said.

“So it’s important because we have a new strategic plan that we’re rolling out early in 2025, and the coach would have to be part of that in terms of keeping our national teams engaged and so on,” he noted. 

With the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) now back to regular proceedings, former Soca Warriors goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is optimistic that it will bring with it good fortunes that will see the twin island republic qualifying for another FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Hislop’s sentiments came during an endorsement of recently-elected TTFA president Kieron Edwards, who he believes is best suited to steer the country’s football and finances back on track, as he foresees a bright future for football.

In fact, Hislop, who was Trinidad and Tobago’s custodian at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, expressed delight that the association is no longer under the thumb of the Normalisation Committee, which was installed by FIFA in 2020.

The Normalisation Committee had a mandate to manage the daily affairs of the TTFA, establish a repayment plan for the debt-riddled organisation, review and amend its statutes –and other regulations, where necessary – and ensure compliance with the statutes and rules of the world governing football body.

“I was very critical of the Normalisation process, and I remain so. I felt our football needed to be in our hands. We needed to chart our own path and answer to our own stakeholders. And now with President Edwards in place, we have that,” Hislop said during Grenada’s 100 Years in Football Legends Match in the Spice Isle recently.

“We have that opportunity again to do that. It’s a big opportunity for us to maybe try to rediscover a lot of our game, and our football, and what it means to us. Both in terms of our performances on the park and in terms of how we provide those opportunities and platforms that I did, and I was able to enjoy when I was a kid coming through,” he added.

Having benefitted immensely from a decorated career with the Soca Warriors, Hislop is now hoping to return the favour by assisting aspiring players to chart the course towards a successful career of their own.

“T&T as a country, T&T football as a sport, has given me an awful lot, more than I could ever repay for, and more than I think many people recognize. And that will always be my focus, how can I support young men and women who are trying to find their way in the sport,” he declared.

That said, Hislop pointed out that the chances of Trinidad and Tobago making another appearance at the global showpiece remains highly possible, but it will require the right mentality and financial backing to achieve the feat.

Trinidad and Tobago enjoyed a fairly successful 2023 Concacaf Nations League campaign in which they made the quarterfinals and secured an historic win over United States.

Angus Eve’s side missed out on Copa America qualification, but they have a grand opportunity to possibly secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup, especially with the confederation’s powerhouse teams –Mexico, United States and Canada –securing automatic qualification as hosts, and as such, will be absent from the upcoming qualifiers.

“If they stick with it, if they are given the right tools, if they’re given the right coaching, provided the right mentors and the right opportunities, I’m sure the game will give back to them in an enriching way as it did to me,” said Hislop.

“My dying dream is to see T&T qualify for a World Cup so I can go there as a fan. I was to go and experience T&T playing in a World Cup, purely as a fan. I’m hopeful that I’ll see that,” he ended.