Jack says he’s in for the long haul

TRINIDAD and Tobago Football Federa-tion Special Adviser Jack Austin Warner estimates it will cost another TT$5 million inclusive of salaries, players’ match fees, training camps and other relevant expenses for the final round of six CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers. He pointed out that the preliminary round  campaign has cost close to TT$7 million. Trinidad and Tobago have made it into the “Big Six” and will vie for one of three CONCACAF places in World Cup 2006 Germany with United States, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico.

Warner who is a senior FIFA vice-president and president of both CONCACAF and the CFU said: “I have averaged the final round at another TT$5 million and that is in keeping with the TT$13 million that I had as the overall budget. “I am prepared to go that distance even if I have to do it alone and I have told the players that they can sleep sound because I am aiming for the long haul.” He said: “I don’t think that the Government understands really what this sport means to the country and the people. “In some ways I am sorry for the Government because they do not understand. Nowhere in the world this happens. Things would definitely be different if this were in Jamaica, Honduras or even Guatemala. “I would understand too that Jack Warner himself would be a pariah in the Govern-ment’s eyes because for a small country we are short-sighted and we have people in particular corners who can’t see the big picture.”

The local football livewire said: “I am sorry that it has come to this but I am not asking anybody for any help. If they decide to come on board, then we shall hold discussions on the matter.” Warner said talks will also be held with coaches from the region as well as other government leaders in the Caribbean to see where they could join in TT’s effort to get to Germany. The national squad continues training at the Hasely Crawford Stadium ahead of  tomorrow’s opening Digicel Cup preliminary round match against Puerto Rico at the Marvin Lee Stadium and the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence. Coach Bertille St Clair has a squad of 27 players in training, comprising mainly of local players with US-based defender Derek Phillips being the latest addition, while talented midfielder Kerwyn Jemmot also made a return and looked quite lively in training on Saturday.