Former Trinidad & Tobago 2006 World Cup goalkeeper Kelvin Jack joined Andre Sooklal on Extra Time TV for a powerful and brutally honest discussion on the current state of Trinidad & Tobago football following Dwight Yorke’s departure from the national team setup.
Jack, who represented T&T during the country’s historic 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign and played professionally with clubs including Reading, did not hold back as he addressed the national team’s struggles, the TTFA, player standards, investment, and the wider football culture in Trinidad and Tobago.
Kelvin Jack Backs Dwight Yorke’s Concerns
The discussion centered heavily around Dwight Yorke’s recent comments about his time as Trinidad & Tobago head coach, including concerns over professionalism, player payments, dressing-room standards, squad mentality, and the handling of his staff.
Jack said he agreed with many of Yorke’s points and felt the former Manchester United striker was operating in difficult circumstances.
“I felt sorry for Dwight and his staff because I felt we are lacking in quality. We don’t have the talent that we had from years gone by.”
According to Jack, the issue is not simply about one coach, one tactical decision, or one qualifying campaign. Instead, he believes Trinidad & Tobago football is facing a much deeper structural problem.
“We Are Deluded” — Jack’s Reality Check For T&T Football
One of the strongest moments from the interview came when Jack challenged the expectations of fans, pundits, and football stakeholders.
“We are deluded in Trinidad. We think we are better than we are.”
Jack argued that Trinidad and Tobago cannot realistically expect to consistently compete with countries such as the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada, Jamaica, and Curaçao without the proper football infrastructure, professional league standards, youth development, and investment.
He added that narrow scorelines can sometimes fool fans into believing the gap is smaller than it really is.
“The scoreline looks close, but when you analyze the game, you could see the gap in quality, tactical setup, tactical knowledge, and technical ability.”
Player Fitness And Professional Standards Under The Microscope
Jack also raised concerns about the physical condition of some national team players, saying that international football requires a much higher level of fitness, discipline, and professionalism.
He said some players appeared to be carrying too much weight and were not physically prepared for the demands of the international game.
Andre also noted that under Yorke, Trinidad & Tobago appeared more proactive and physically improved, especially compared to previous periods where the team often struggled to maintain intensity deep into matches.
TTFA, Payments, And Professionalism
The conversation also touched on claims surrounding unpaid match fees, salary issues, communication breakdowns, and the reported dismissal of staff without proper consultation.
Jack described unpaid player fees as “highly unprofessional” and said these issues have existed for too long in Trinidad and Tobago football.
“These boys are out playing and a lot of these players absolutely need that match fee. They have to be paid.”
He also questioned how a national football program can expect success when the basic professional environment around the team remains unstable.
Jack Calls For Major Investment In Trinidad & Tobago Football
Kelvin Jack believes Trinidad and Tobago football needs a serious financial injection to properly rebuild.
He suggested that approximately TT$150 million could help restructure the game, improve coaching, support academies, build a stronger professional league, and create a real development pathway.
“We need a huge amount of money into our football. We could restructure Trinidad football.”
However, Jack questioned whether stakeholders are truly prepared to make that level of investment.
“We Do Things By Guess, Not By Design”
One of the biggest themes of the interview was planning.
Jack said Trinidad and Tobago does not operate like a serious football nation because too many decisions are reactive instead of strategic.
“We have no plan. We don’t do things by design. We do things by guess.”
For Jack, this is why T&T keeps returning to the same conversations every World Cup cycle: blame the coach, change the coach, reset expectations, and repeat the same mistakes.
Is There A Way Forward?
Despite the frustration, Jack said Trinidad and Tobago still has a path forward if the country commits to real reform.
He believes T&T must improve its local structure while also identifying eligible overseas-based players with Trinidad and Tobago heritage.
But he made it clear that without a serious plan, better administration, proper investment, and football people in key decision-making roles, the national team will continue to struggle.
“The only chance we have is there must be a comprehensive review and a comprehensive change of the structure of Trinidad and Tobago football.”
Final Thoughts
This EXTV interview with Kelvin Jack was more than a reaction to Dwight Yorke’s exit. It was a hard conversation about the reality of Trinidad and Tobago football.
The message was clear: the problem is bigger than one coach, one president, one player, or one campaign.
If Trinidad and Tobago football wants to move forward, it must stop guessing and start building.
Watch the full EXTV interview and join the discussion. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment your thoughts on the future of Trinidad & Tobago football.
