Jack slams TT’s lack of focus

A lack of focus translated itself into a lacklustre display by the Warriors, which saw them come back from a 1-0 deficit midway in the second half, to draw level with the visitors and to keep alive their chances of qualifying for the World Cup Finals in Germany next year.

The teams meet again tomorrow at the Riffa Stadium in Bahrain and the winner is certain to become the youngest nation to progress to the finals for the first time in its history.

In his first interview since arriving in Bahrain, however, FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, the special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, said the first leg result left him a very disappointed man.

"Trinidad and Tobago played badly. There was a lack of focus because early in the week some of the guys were more concerned with what the rewards will be when we qualify for the World Cup," Warner said.

He said he thought the standard of play on Saturday was well below the exhibition the Warriors gave last month when defeating Mexico 2-1 to earn a place in the play-offs against Asian Zone qualifiers Bahrain.

"We were nowhere near the level we played against Mexico who are ranked sixth in the world. We played badly and still managed a draw with Bahrain but imagine what would happen if we played as we can," Warner said.

He remained optimistic that Trinidad and Tobago would lift the level of its game and defeat Bahrain tomorrow by a clear margin and book its ticket to Germany.

"We will qualify, there is no doubt about that," said Warner.

Warner was among 201 persons travelling on a chartered Air Tahiti Nui flight from Port-of-Spain to Manama which arrived near midnight on Sunday.

Apart from the players and officials, also on board were President of Trinidad and Tobago George Maxwell Richards and his wife Dr Jean Ramjohn-Richards, who are guests of the ruler of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Also travelling with the team in a show of support are Trinidad and Tobago’s first and only Olympic gold medallist Hasely Crawford and Ato Boldon, the recently retired holder of four Olympic medals who is widely known in Bahrain from his years of campaigning on the international track and field circuit. Lending some unique Caribbean flavour to tomorrow’s match will be the Angostura Woodbrook Playboyz Steelband and the Laventille Rhythm Section that also travelled with the team.