Jorginho, Machel back Warriors

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s footballers got some words of encouragement from former Brazilian midfield standout Jorginho and soca star Machel Montano when Unicef in collaboration with Island People and Xtatik staged a sports development seminar on Thursday. Unicef, as explained by communications officer Viviana Limpias, linked up with the Caribbean Football Union at their annual Congress last month and grabbed the opportunity to stage the one-week programme here to incorporate sport, including football, recreation and other types of entertainment to promote positive lifestyles. Jorgino, who runs a sports project for communities in Brazil, delivered a lengthy presentation to an audience which included several youngsters from TT and the Caribbean who were brought to Trinidad through the efforts of Unicef.

Also sitting at the head table at the evening’s presentation at Pier 1, Chaguaramas,  were FIFA vice president Jack Warner, Julio Mariz, president of Traffic USA and TTFF technical director Lincoln Phillips. Montano recalled “trying out the game of football” at Presentation College, San Fernando and following the exploits of the 1989 Strike Squad during the Road to Italy campaign. “I think we are obviously one of the more talented islands in football since back in the days of the Strike Squad and right now we are trying to raise back that level of awareness and support again,” Montano said. “The guys need our support too in order to achieve the winning results. I remember what took place in this country back in 1989 when we were so close and this time I think we can get  even further.

The entire nation was captured by the football and I believe that we can get into that sort of momentum again for it to really have a positive effect on the country,” Montano said. “This is similar with what we are trying to create here with the Xchange to get that positive sort of energy across and show the youngsters how they can benefit from different areas whether it be sport and entertainment or any other part of the culture itself,” he said. “I think it was a blessing when I was able to visit Brazil and met up with Derrick Lewis (Island People’s creative director) and we realised just how much can be done through Carnival,” Montano said.

“Now we have a chance to try and make things better for the ones in our land and in a similar way the success of our entertainers, sportsmen and by extent the footballers can really have a major impact in this way through the communities and other groups,” added the Xtatik leader. Montano spent the latter part of the evening signing autographs and juggling a football  with Jorginho who last visited here with the Brazilian All Star team in February of last year.

“Played against the Trinidad team last year and I remember they were a skillful bunch and looked capable of playing good hard football. But it is important that they work on playing a controlled game because having to come up against teams like Costa Rica and Mexico, you must be able to not only take control of the game but you must be able to have controlled play as a team,” Jorginho said. Meanwhile, national coach Bertille St Clair conducted his final session at home prior to tomorrow’s departure for Miami where the Warriors will spend four days before departing for Guatemala for next Saturday’s World Cup qualifier at the Mateo Flores Stadium.