KFC $M for Soca Warriors

The Trinidad and Tobago senior football team yesterday received a “finger licking” financial boost towards their “Journey to Germany” 2006 World Cup campaign when KFC agreed to a $1  million 18-month sponsorship deal. This was revealed at a media briefing at the Prestige Holdings corporate box at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday as KFC, who had also thrown their support in during the 2002 World Cup campaign, presented the cheque to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. The deal is among the first to be realised since the start of the current effort and TTFF Special Adviser Jack Warner yesterday applauded the chain of fast food restaurants for their gesture. KFC brand manager Wendy Alleyne also took the opportunity yesterday to extend congratulations to swimmer George Bovell III on his bronze medal performance at the Athens Olympics on Thursday. “hard work is going to be the key if the Trinidad and Tobago football team is also to achieve their dream of playing in the World Cup Finals in 2006,” Alleyne said.

Alleyne also appealed for other corporate entities to come on board as Prestige Holdings Chief Executive Officer Dane Darbasie, TT Football Federation Technical Director Lincoln Phillips, coach Bertille St Clair and Warner listened in the audience. “The effort cannot be left solely to the Local Organising Committee and to persons like Mr Warner and those responsible for the administration of football in Trinidad and Tobago,” Alleyne said. “Whether we like it or not, we must realise that without that requisite funding, our efforts will fall flat, regardless of how talented our players might be. And that is one of the reasons we are here today because we, at KFC, realise that we have a role to play and we do not intend to fall short in this regard,” she said. Alleyne also revealed that the million-dollar football donation will be disbursed as part cash and part advertising as directed by the LOC. Warner expressed delight at the development, and so too did St Clair.

“It’s also a relief to have KFC coming and giving their support because it shows that it’s not all doom and gloom for us with regard to corporate Trinidad and Tobago supporting sport and more so football in this country,” Warner said. He also called on Bovell to use his influence now to get the government and corporate TT to do more for the development of swimming and other local sports. “A crime free country is a country that pays attention to the sportsmen and women, one that pays attention to sports,” said Warner. He related how Jamaica experienced its lowest crime period in the past four years last Wednesday because everyone was paying attention to the World Cup qualifier between the United States and the Reggae Boyz.