TT against Iraq making waves in UK

The venues for Trinidad and Tobago’s next two friendly football internationals against Iraq and Scotland in the United Kingdom have been confirmed. They will be  be played at the home ground of English club West Bromwich Albion and at Easter Road in Scotland. The Scottish FA announced on Sunday that the match coach Berti Vogt’s team will be played in Edinburgh, home of Hibernian, former club of ex-international Russell Latapy. The match against Iraq carded for May 23 will be played in West Brom following reports carried in newspapers in the UK while the proposed Scotland encounter has been reported on BBC and Sky Sports. “The most fashionable football shirts in Baghdad are still those of Manchester United and Liverpool but expect that to change. Expect West Bromwich Albion to become the most popular club in Iraq before the year is out,” the Birmingham Mail newspaper stated recently.

“When it was announced that Albion will host Iraq’s full international match against Trinidad and  Tobago on May 23, interest in the club’s website increased dramatically in vast metropolises such as Baghdad and Basra,” the newspaper reported.. Yamam Nabeel, whose company, AKB Media, advise the Iraqi Football Association from his base in England, says that interest in Albion is growing among Iraq’s large but youthful male population. “We are absolutely delighted that West Brom are staging this match against Trinidad and Tobago,” Nabeel said. “This is a big tour for Iraq and we need all the help we can get. West Brom have been brilliant about this and now we call ourselves West Bromwich Albion supporters,” he said. Iraq’s 15-day tour of England, which they will use as preparation for the Asia Cup in China, also includes matches away to Bristol Rovers on May 18 and a Premiership XI on May 27 at Moss Rose, Macclesfield Town.

The TT squad is expected to go into a one-week live in camp in the UK leading up to both matches. “It will be interesting to see what develops in the near future from this match involving Iraq and Trinidad and Tobago,” West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace said. “Anything we can do to help we will do. If that means providing our stadium, we will do it. We have agreed to donate our fee to the ‘Footie 4 Iraq campaign’,” he said. Meanwhile, the TTFF have responded to an article regarding complaints from the Livingston FC management over Marvin Andrews’ appearance in Egypt last week.

“The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation have not received any letter of complaint from Livingston FC. The TTFF have noted the comments in the media and is puzzled by the stated rationale that one, allegedly tired player was solely responsible for the defeat of an entire team. “Moreover, the TTFF advise that the Egypt tour was undertaken on the FIFA-approved days for friendly internationals and  numerous clubs around the world also had players representing their respective countries.

“It should be noted that it is during these types of games that many clubs identify and recruit players for their own squads and many local players have been recruited overseas on the basis of their performances with our national team and under our national coach,” The TTFF stated. Andrews spoke to the TTFF on the matter and indicated that he explained to officials at the club that he had taken part in two matches in Cairo and was fit to play for the club on the weekend. Livingston went on to lose 3-1 to Hibernian.