John Williams remembered for his passion for football

almost 2 years in TT News day

FORMER TT Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams was remembered for his contribution and passion for local football.
John-Williams, who was a contractor by profession, died on Friday morning after ailing for some time.
He led the TTFA from 2015-2019, before being replaced by William Wallace in the TTFA election. Before getting into TTFA administration, John-Williams was heavily involved in local football as the founder of W Connection FC – one of the most successful clubs in TT.
W Connection, founded in 1999, have won several titles, including five TT Pro League titles, four FA Cup trophies and six First Citizens Cup trophies. Many national players represented W Connection, including brothers Joevin and Alvin Jones, Jan-Michael Williams and the deceased pair of Shahdon Winchester and Clyde Leon.
The Ministry of Sport and Community Development Facebook page said, “Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Sport and Community Development, extends her deepest condolences to the family, relatives, friends and the sports fraternity on the passing of David John-Williams, former TTFA president.”
The TTFA also reflected on John-Williams' contribution to local football, to conveying its "deepest and heartfelt sympathy" to his family and friends.
The TTFA said John-Williams had a “genuine passion and dedication to the growth of the game” and his contributions and commitment over the last decades wouldbe remembered.
TTFA normalisation committee chairman Robert Hadad said, “David’s passion for and knowledge of the game will be well remembered. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.”
The Sport Company of TT, in a social media post, said its board and management expressed its deepest condolences to his family and close friends, adding, "Let us always remember his legacy in the sport of football and his contributions to the sporting industry of TT. RIP."
The TT Women’s League Football (TT WoLF) also remembered his life.
On Facebook, TT Wolf said, “It is with great sadness TT Wolf have learnt of the death of former TTFA president David John-Williams...TT Wolf would like to send out condolences to his family, loved ones and friends.”
One of John-Williams’s major accomplishments was the opening of the Home of Football in Couva in November 2019. It was a lavish opening, as FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the Prime Minister, Concacaf president Victor Montagliani and Cudjoe all attended.
The facility was the first of its kind in TT. The Home of Football, funded through FIFA’s Forward Programme, includes a 72-room hotel aimed to allow the TTFA to become self-sustainable. It is also intended to develop the next generation of TT’s footballers, as it is equipped with multiple training fields.
Days after the opening, John-Williams was dethroned as president in the TTFA elections.
Since it opened, the Home of Football has been under-utilised, for a number of reasons. A week after the opening, new TTFA president William Wallace shut it down because approvals were still pending and the property had no insurance. For example, at the time the building had no fire approval.
The building is now fit to use.
During the covid19 pandemic the Home of Football was used as a step-down facility for recovering patients. During this time no sport was being played in TT.
The post John-Williams remembered for his passion for football appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.

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