Gold Cup qualifiers costing $1M says Jack

TRINIDAD and Tobago is well prepared for this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers which begin on Wednesday.

But technical director Hannibal Najjar called on his 18-man Soca Warriors squad which comprise 10 overseas-based players, to be “more warrior and less soca.” At the launch of the TT qualifying leg of the series at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain yesterday, Najjar said he was happy with his team and expressed the hope they will top their group. This will avoid having to enter a play-off for a spot in the finals to be contested in Foxboro and Miami in the United States and at the world famous 120,000-capacity Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, for the first time.

Already, Avery John, Brent Rahim and Dwayne Demmin have arrived from abroad for the series, while five others including Evans Wise and Craig Demmin are expected today and the others including Stern John, are due on Sunday. Najjar said his team will be doing their best to once again prove they are the top team in the Caribbean. At the news conference, Jack Warner whose assistance made it possible for the TT Football Federation to stage the group series here, made it clear it was the last time he would be doing so. He said the project was costing the TTFF over $1 million, which is almost exhausted since airfare for overseas-based players cost $208,000 and the ticket for Wise alone $30,000, while another $400,000 is earmarked for accommodation of the four teams. “I will not single-handedly bear the burden again,” Warner stated. And taking a dig at government said the financial burden must be a collective responsibility, “Even if they have to join CEPEP.”

Warner said in May, FIFA, of which he is vice-president, will decide whether to have 36 countries in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, which would give CONCACAF an automatic four places. But if it remains 32, then CONCACAF will have three and a half places. But he pointed out, Trinidad and Tobago is way behind in preparation. Warner told the media that despite financial problems, Najjar has asked for 10 players from abroad and got them all. None declined. He said somebody asked him whether Dwight Yorke was asked to return and play but he said: “If Yorke wants to play for his country, so be it, but I am not asking anybody to play,” and cited Alvin Corneal who played 125 times for Trinidad and Tobago. “I will not ask anybody to play for their country. They must want to play,” Warner repeated.

Included in the national squad is Tobago skipper Hayden Fitzwilliam. The 18-man TT squad announced yesterday: Selwyn George, Craig Demmin, Dennis Lawrence, Marvin Andrews, Anton Pierre, Avery John, Carlos Edwards, Andre Toussaint, Evans Wise, Jason Scotland, Brent Rahim, Devon Mitchell, Stern John, Kurt Williams, Dwayne Demmin, Hayden Fitzwilliams, Collin Samuels, Marlon Sylvester.  Coach is Hannibal Najjar, assistants Ross Russell and Anthony Barrington, trainer Wayne Lawson, manager George Joseph.