War keeps US teams from TT Cup

ONLY two foreign teams are likely to play in this year’s second edition of the TT Cup World Youth Club Championship football which will kick off on Saturday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

This according to organising committee chairman Alvin Corneal yesterday. “Up to hours ago, we received an e-mail from Nigeria confirming their participation,” he said. But Beachland Football Club president Unogu Uche told Corneal they were experiencing some problems getting visas to travel to Trinidad and Tobago, and sought  his assistance. The other team, from the United States Virgin Islands gave a firm commitment of their participation.

Teams from mainland United States and one from Japan opted out this year because of the conflict in Iraq.  A Brazilian team (Corinthians) also will not be coming for different reasons. Corneal said the size of the TT Cup has been doubled with 64 teams set to challenge defending champions Superstar Rangers for their title. He said the number of teams swelled with the introduction of a Boys Under-15 age group and a five-team girls group. Corneal said as an added incentive, each group winner at the preliminary round stage to be played in the five stadia - Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella; Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Tobago; Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar; Hasely Crawford, Mucurapo and Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, will receive trophies.

Final of this year’s tournament will be at the Larry Gomes Stadium on April 19, because of the overwhelming crowd response received during the inaugural series, Corneal said. The former star TT cricketer and footballer said teams in the North will play at the Hasely Crawford Stadium; those in Central at the Ato Boldon Stadium;, East teams at the Larry Gomes Stadium;, Tobago teams at Dwight Yorke Stadium and South teams at Manny Ramjohn Stadium. The girls teams which include Providence, Toco, St George’s College, Barataria Junior Secondary and Blanchisseuse, will play at the UWI ground.

Under the theme See Tomorrow’s Stars Shine Today, the TT Cup committee welcomed new major partner TIDCO and TSTT and welcomed back Squadra International and Lucozade. Apart from the preliminary round trophies and overall champions cup, the Stern John Trophy will go to the scorer of most goals, the Roger Boynes Trophy to the best defender and Raymond Tim Kee Trophy to the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Corneal said it should be noted, several players from the inaugural TT graduated to the Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 World Cup qualifying team.