June 24 – Former Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams has died.
John-Williams was in charge of the TTFA from 2015-2019, having taken over the leadership of a federation that had assets of just TT$160,000 and debt of more than TT$35 million.
When he was ousted in TTFA elections by William Wallace and his United TTFA cabal in 2019, he left the federation with the newly built Home of Football, an asset valued at more than $3 million.
It was a crowning achievement and a project that he had micro-managed to the point of even working on site during construction. John-Williams’ own business was in construction and he was determined to ensure the project came in on budget.
An often quiet but passionate football man, John-Williams was very different from many who become presidents of national federations.
He had played for Naparima College in San Fernando and in 1986 he founded W Connection in 1986 with his brother Patrick as an occasional team.
When the TT Pro League was started in 1999, W Connection FC was officially constituted and became a founding member of the league, with John Williams financing the move to professionalism with much of his own money.
W Connection has won the league six times, the last time being in 2013-14 before John-Williams became president of the TTFA. W Connection is now run by his daughter.
John-Williams became the target of a vitriolic local press who didn’t like his often abrupt style. Multiple unproven accusations were made against him that were never proven and were the subject of an unresolved defamation case in the Trinidad and Tobago courts. The accusations took an emotional toll on a man who genuinely wanted the best for his country’s football.
FIFA vice-president and Concacaf president Victor Montagliani said: “David was a champion for Trinidad and Tobago and Caribbean football. He made a real contribution to our sport and he will be sadly missed by many in the game. My thoughts and condolences are with his friends and family.”
Selby Browne, president of the Veteran Footballers Association of Trinidad and Tobago, said: “David was a proud man who had a vision for the TTFA and left them with the one asset that could save them now after years of mismanagement. That is his football legacy. He put his own time and money into football at both his club and for our country. Few can claim to have done the same.”
The Sport Company of TT in a social media post said, “The board and management of the Sports Company of TT would like to express deepest condolences to the family and close friends of the former TTFA president David John-Williams after his passing earlier this morning.
“Let us always remember his legacy in the sport of football and his contributions to the sporting industry of TT. RIP.”
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