When an overseas player arrives to represent Trinidad and Tobago, we tend to ask the same questions. Is he here yet? Will he train today? Is he available for the match? Those are fair questions, especially when Nations League points or a World Cup qualifying result are at stake. But there is another question that deserves attention. What information has arrived with him?
The player boarding a flight to join the national team brings more than his boots and passport. He brings the effects of his recent matches, training sessions, travel, and any treatment he has been receiving. Understanding all of that is part of preparing him to represent his country.
UEFA has introduced a medical handover pilot for the 2026/27 season to help clubs and national teams exchange relevant medical information through a structured process. Developed with European football clubs, it includes provisions for player consent and data protection. The initial program centers on European senior national teams and their players’ clubs, with wider access and an ambition for future seasons.
It is a useful development. But the importance of those communication lines is something we have understood in Trinidad and Tobago for a long time, but of course different circumstances sometimes cause new challenges.
Our recent Nations League campaign provided several examples. When Tyrese Spicer was injured against Haiti at Sabina Park in Kingston, the concern immediately extended beyond the national camp. Orlando City had a player injured while representing his country and naturally wanted to know his condition and what would happen next.
Our medical team, led by Dr. Akash Dhanai, and the FA had to be in communication with the club right away. There could be no waiting until the next day. The immediate care of the player and the information reaching his club were both important.
For supporters, the first thought was understandably about losing Spicer for the remaining matches. For the people managing the situation, there were other responsibilities running alongside that disappointment. The club needed timely information. The player needed support, and the coaching staff needed to understand his availability and adjust their plans.
Then there was Rio Cardines. Bristol City did not want him playing all four Nations League matches. Levi Garcia’s club in Greece had similar concerns about his involvement across the full program.
Those situations require discussion and careful management. A national coach wants his strongest team available. A club wants its player returning in a condition that allows him to continue his season. And the player wants to contribute to both. Clear communication gives everyone a better chance of understanding the situation and reaching sensible decisions.
Dante Sealy was already back on a plane, leaving Kingston before the Haiti game. Supporters see a name missing from a team sheet, but there is often a considerable amount of work behind the scenes around availability, departures, and communication with clubs. Getting that information to the right people at the right time matters.
This is particularly relevant when our squad comes together from so many different environments. Daniel Phillips, Dantaye Gilbert, Molik Khan, and Cardines are arriving from Europe; Levi comes from Greece. Wayne Frederick II, Spicer, Kaihim Thomas, Kobi Henry, and Noah Powder are among those based in the United States. They do not arrive with identical workloads simply because they have been called up for the same fixtures.
One player may have completed several demanding club matches. Another may be short of competitive minutes. Someone else may have been following a modified training program. The first national team session should take those differences into account.
Today, clubs share player metrics and performance analytics alongside medical updates with FAs. Match minutes, training loads, running data, and recovery information can help staff build a clearer picture of the player they are receiving. Those figures still need professional interpretation and an honest conversation with the footballer himself.
Looking back, I remember how much this mattered during our journey to the 2006 World Cup in Germany and during the actual group stage matches versus Sweden, England, and Paraguay.
Then team doctor Terence Babwah and Zeph Nicholas maintained communication lines that were especially important with so many of our players, particularly the ones attached to clubs in the United Kingdom.
The methods may not have been as advanced as those available today, but the responsibility existed. Twenty years ago, there was already a need to know what a player had been doing, what concerns existed, and what information his club required.
Leo Beenhakker understood the wider importance of communication as well. He always made sure that team manager Bruce Aanensen and I were clear about the need for timely, honest information and how it was put out in the public domain.
That helped with relationships between the clubs, players, the FA, and, crucially, the head coach. Everyone had a responsibility, and communication helped those responsibilities fit together.
The media, especially the English Press, never missed an opportunity to ask about an injury, a late arrival, or whether a player would be available. With a World Cup approaching, every development attracted attention. A small uncertainty could quickly become a major talking point.
Working in communications, I understood that what we said publicly needed to reflect what had been properly established within the camp. There was little value in rushing out an answer that would have to be corrected later. Equally, leaving an information gap could invite unnecessary speculation.
The technology has changed considerably since then, and information can now move faster and in greater detail. But a platform cannot replace the willingness to pick up the phone, explain a concern, and keep someone informed.
Nations League fixtures and World Cup qualifiers make that especially important. Players arrive within a limited window, sometimes travel again for an away match, then prepare for another game within days. Coaches need to work on tactics and combinations while medical and performance staff assess what each player can manage.
The responsibility continues when the international assignment ends. Clubs expect to receive relevant updates on match involvement, treatment, and anything requiring further attention. The handover is required to be deliberate on departure as it was on arrival.
Players also need to feel comfortable speaking honestly. Wanting to represent your country is something we value deeply. It should go alongside confidence that reporting discomfort will be taken seriously.
Supporters do not need access to private medical records. They do deserve clear, accurate information about availability whenever it can appropriately be shared.
From the 2006 World Cup campaign to the demands facing our team today, the principle remains familiar. Good relationships depend on trust, and trust needs honest communication.
We ask our overseas players to bring their ability, experience, and commitment whenever they wear our colors. The information needed to care for them properly must travel with them too.
Editor’s note
Shaun Fuentes is the head of TTFA Communications. He was a FIFA Media Officer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey. He has traveled to over 90 countries during his journey in sport. “Pro Look” is his weekly column on football, sport, culture and the human side of the game. The views expressed are solely his and not a representation of any organisation. [email protected]
