Reggae Boyz to help Bahrain

The FIFA vice-president was referring to the decision by Jamaica football authorities to host a camp for and play warm-up matches against Bahrain for US$1 million.

Trinidad and Tobago play Bahrain on November 12 and 16 in a two-leg play-off for a spot in the World Cup Finals in Germany next year.

It was also revealed that the Jamaicans are going all out to help the Middle easterners prepare for the crucial matches going so far as to postpone their domestic football league to host their guests. Warner scolded the Jamaicans for what he described as turning their backs on regional solidarity by agreeing to host the Bahrain team at a week-long camp and a series of practice matches.

The decision by the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) came after a similar offer was turned down by Guatemala who are reported to have rejected the advances in support of Trinidad and Tobago’s campaign to qualify for Germany.

This despite the fact that the Central Americans were beaten by the Warriors in the CONCACAF qualifying competition.

Warner said yesterday he was called by a member of the Guatemalan Football Federation who told him that a hefty cash offer was made by the Bahrainis for a four-day stay and a few matches against their footballers in preparation for the play-offs next month.

He said also that the offer was dismissed by the Guatemalans in the name of regional solidarity.

The Guatemalans were nosed out of fourth place in the CONCACAF Zone in the last match of the qualifiers when the Warriors beat Mexico.

However Warner expressed the view that when he heard of the initial offer for Bahrain to play against the Guatemalans, he felt it would have been a good opportunity for the Warriors to have a look at the Bahraini team.

Warner said he welcomed the gesture by the Guatemalans but pointed out that when the Jamaicans took up the offer to host and play the Middle Eastern island nation, they had signalled a sad day for Caribbean integration.

Warner said that no attempts will be made to persuade the Jamaicans to change their minds but disclosed he will deal with the matter in his own way.

Government have pumped $13.5 million into the football campaign and have followed that up by footing a bill of US$50,000 for the match to be broadcast "live" by the National Carnival Commission (NCC) Channel Four.

Also Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes has convinced his Cabinet colleagues to have Government subsidise the additional cost of football tickets for the Bahrain match here on November 12.

All Sport Promotion managing-director Tony Harford said that there was a suggestion to increase the cost of the tickets from $100 and $200 to $150 and $300. He also announced that the NCC Channel Four will have the official Television broadcast rights for the match while TBC Radio 105 will be the official radio station.

Warner also pointed out that the players will also receive twice the amount given during the earlier qualifying matches on the representation of captain Dwight Yorke.

Warner said he received a request from Yorke for the players’ match-fees to be doubled and had agreed to give the players US$10,000 each for the two-leg play-offs.

He said while the Bahraini were giving each of their players US$1 million and a car, his federation was unable to match the gesture. Warner added however that national pride and passion were much more than money.

Preparation for the play-offs is going into top gear with Warner expected to accompany Assistant Manager George Joseph and General Secretary of the Football Federation Richard Groden on a four-day stay in Bahrain from Tuesday. During the visit the team will inspect facilities, hotel accommodation and meals for the national players on the second leg of the play-offs.

Bahrain also kicked their preparation in full gear by postponing their domestic football league to release their players for preparations.

Warner noted that the Warriors’ programme has been hampered by the FIFA guide lines which restrict the Trinidad and Tobago’s overseas players from returning earlier.

However he said that he felt that coach Leo Beenhakker is a better coach than the Bahraini coach, and will guide his team to victory.