More Govt $$ for Warriors

Yesterday Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Roger Boynes handed over another cheque to the football organisation, representing approximately $3 million; in the VIP Room of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

From that sum $2.4 million will be used to reimburse the TTFF for payment of salaries and stipends for the technical staff of the national football team for the period September to December last.

According to Boynes the other $600,000 will go towards the staging of the international friendly match against Peru at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Wednesday. The total sum handed over to the TTFF represents just over $17million of $45 million promised by Government to assist the Soca Warriors in the World Cup campaign.

Boynes said that once proof of payment to staff members and players is fowarded to the ministry by the Football Federation, more cash will be distributed until the total amount agreed to in a budget by both parties is paid up.

However Football Federation president Oliver Camps who collected the cheque yesterday said his association is having “some minor difficulty in sourcing the documents.” But he gave the assurance that the required “proof of purchase” documents will be submitted to the Sport and Youth Affairs Ministry before the start of the World Cup Finals on June 9.

Boynes pointed out that the Football Federation has only submitted proof of $2.46 million spent by the Federation to date, and the Ministry has given them cash for that amount.

Yesterday concern was also raised about whether assistant coach Anton Corneal has replaced Dutchman Theo Jong “officially.”

It is understood that the Dutch-man received a monthly salary of US$30,000 — the equivalent of TT$180,000 — but his replacement Corneal is reported to be collecting just TT$5,000.

It was reported the Dutchman was listed on the TTFF payroll until recently and was only taken off when the Ministry made inquiries after perusing documents submitted related to the Soca Warriors Budget.

Camps said however that his federation will submit the necessary documents in a move to collect all monies owed to them before the World Cup tournament.

Boynes said additional funds for the TTFF will take into account bonuses, payments for salaries and stipends up until April.

Meanwhile Boynes made a call for football fans to come on board and experience the excitement caused by the qualification for the World Cup by the Soca Warriors.

He urged fans to put the country’s flag on the top of buildings and sport them on vehicles to escalate the hype of this country’s historic participation in the Finals in Germany.

Boynes said that since fans will not benefit from the subsidised fees for the match against Peru, his ministry will distribute Soca Warriors Badges to the first 10,000 supporters who attend the match on Wednesday. He also advised supporters to wear red on the day of the Peru match saying to be eligible for the badges, the 10,000 fans must be clad in red.

Government also plan to set up seven big screen televisions around Trinidad and Tobago for the opening World Cup match against Sweden in Dortmund on June 10.

The screens will be put up in Port-of-Spain, Arima, Sangre Grande, Chaguanas, San Fernando, Point Fortin and in the sister isle of Tobago.

Also to be launched is a series of educard games to get students to support the Soca Warriors.

According to Boynes the educards will enable children to learn while having fun at the same time.

He added his ministry will sponsor the first prize for a massive educard tournament which is to be held soon.