Overseas pros like TT chances

Several of Trinidad and Tobago’s overseas-based footballers believe that their country has a better than expected chance of being one of the region’s representatives at the 2006 World Cup  in Germany.

Their reaction was based on last Friday’s World Cup draw in Frankfurt. TT’s journey to Germany has been among the topics of conversation by football enthusiasts and the situation has been no different. Birmingham City striker Stern John strongly believes TT can reach the finals this time around. Like John, many also believe that once the right preparations are made, then TT can at least finish as the fourth- placed team in CONCACAF. This will qualify them for a play-off with the fifth place team from Asia for a World Cup spot. “I think everything has just been put in place as far as the draw is concerned for us to make it to the World Cup this time,” an excited John said yesterday. “If you were to tell me before Friday that we would have such an easy passage at least until the final round then I would certainly put my money against it. We have not settled into winning ways since the last qualifiers and we have not enjoyed a winning spell close to what we had during the semi finals. “But I think now, with six months to go before our first match, once we can get our act together by getting a team as well as the other necessary ingredients together, then we stand a great chance,” he added.

John said Jack Warner, a Trinidadian FIFA vice-president deserves full credit for trying to ensure that we can have a good shot at qualifying. “He has funded the preparations and he continues to be our biggest supporter,” said John. Wrexham defender Dennis Lawrence said TT still cannot afford to be complacent. “In football today there are no easy teams to play against. But I think once we can put things in place then we stand a chance just as any of the top guns in CONCACAF,” Lawrence said yesterday. Crewe Alexandra goalkeeper Clayton Ince was just as optimistic. “The way the draw looks, I think we can feel assured and fortunate to not have to play one of the stronger teams in the early rounds. “In saying that, we just need to make sure that we are properly prepared and we are playing as a team rather than just hoping things will fall into place just before the qualifiers,” said the former Defence Force custodian. Livingston defender Marvin Andrews also was hopeful. “I am always confident of our chances and I am excited for the campaign to start,” he said. TT’s quota of overseas pros has grown since the last qualifying campaign with Brent Sancho, Jason Scotland and Colin Samuel now campaigning in Scotland among others. They are fully aware that their places in the TT team is not guaranteed and that they will need to all be worthy of selection.

 John and company are also thankful for the various dates on the international calendar that FIFA have allotted for international friendlies and they are also hoping that there will be no club versus country conflict when the qualifiers come around. TT, having reached the semi-final round last time around received a first round bye where they will now await either Anguilla or Dominican Republic in what would be a two-leg home and away series scheduled for June 12 and 13; and June 19 and 20, 2004. The footballers  could then end up in the semi-finals alongside Mexico, Barbados, who face either St Kitts/Nevis or US Virgin Islands; and St Vincent and the Grenadines who play Nicaragua. The semi-final stage will comprise three groups of four teams with the top two teams from each group advancing to the final group stage of six. The TT Football Federation, through initiatives by Warner, are in the process of arranging training camps and matches and so far a friendly against Zambia has been arranged to be played early next year in Northampton, England.