Yorke:

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S Soca Warriors are due to meet today, revealed team captain Dwight Yorke, at a news conference yesterday.

“I’m sure everyone is thrilled and excited to be together, and we will take up from where we left off against Iceland.”

He was speaking to reporters at Whitehall moments after meeting Prime Minister Patrick Manning to discuss the gifts that the Government will give to the footballers as a reward for qualifying for next month’s World Cup 2006. Yorke said he was confident in the assurances of “something rewarding” given to him by Manning, but said he was not free to disclose their discussions. Manning opted not to join Yorke for the media conference.

Yorke said he was very happy with the public support being given to the team both in Trinidad and his home of Tobago where he had been spending the past few days. “The country is really excited. Everyone is upbeat about the Soca Warriors going to the World Cup.”

He said that the visit to the World Cup is a historic ocassion.

“This is something new to us, and the organisation is doing everything it can to ensure the country stays upbeat.” Yorke said that now is a fantastic time for the players but they were taking things one step at a time and not getting ahead of themselves.

“We will be underdogs — and that’s no disrespect — but football is 11 versus 11, and we have six weeks to prepare.”

He was confident the team management would do all in its power to enable the players to give a good account of themselves. The Prime Minister, said Yorke, has also said he will make sure the team is taken care of, and gets its reward after the World Cup.

At 34 years old, Yorke said he was in the twilight of his playing career, and that the World Cup is one of his proudest achievements. “I’m in good nick. Life has been great for me.”

He paid tribute to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Fergu-son for recently letting him train with his former club, including players like Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand. “Having the banter and chit-chat with the guys has been great,” he related.

He said he expects the public to support the Soca Warriors at Wednesday’s friendly international against Peru.

“I expect us to give a good account of ourselves and to entertain as well.” He added that although it is a ‘friendly’ game, the team would be taking it “extremely seriously.”

Yorke arrived at Whitehall in a car borrowed from West Indies Cricket Team captain Brian Lara.