Korean coach thinks TT can reach W/Cup

Dutch-born South Korean head coach Jo Bonfrere is confident Trinidad and Tobago’s footballers possess the qualities to qualify for the World Cup finals. Bronfere who led Nigeria to the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics was reacting to Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Trinidad and Tobago team at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. He said the Caribbean team deserved full marks for heart and determination in their efforts on Wednesday but added that there were areas which needed work. “Your team played a good fighting game and gave us a good match before our Asian Cup campaign,” Bonfrere said after the match. “They played the ball good with good technique and you expect that sort of thing from a country where the guys play a lot on the streets. But I think they need to be a bit more attacking because then they will always have close games,” he said.

“But I understand that they will play like that against a team ranked higher than you which has hosted and reached the semi-finals of a World Cup. Overall, the team deserves credit for a good fight,” he added. The TT team was expected back home from London yesterday minus debutant Derek Phillips who returns to the United States, as well as Scottish based duo Brent Rahim and Jason Scotland. Silvio Spann heads to Croatia and Kelvin Jack and Anthony Rougier stopped off in London. FIFA Vice President Jack Warner also praised the team’s performance. “What will get this team through to Germany is heart and guts and this is what we got today. Talent is one thing by itself but I think we have risen another level after this match,” he said.