‘Kaiser’ comes visiting next month

SOCA WARRIORS football team coach Leo Beenhakker will be back in Trinidad and Tobago on January 15. And also expected here together with the Dutch-born coach is ex-German midfield supremo and coach Franz Beckenbauer, fondly referred to as “The Kaiser.” Beenhakker is coming to have a further look at home-based players before finalising selection of his Soca Warriors squad for next year’s World Cup Finals in Germany. He will also team with Beckenbauer, head of the German World Cup Organising Committee, who will further promote the World Cup and will display the actual World Cup Trophy. But one week before Beenhakker’s visit, assistant coach Wim Rijsbergen also from Holland, will arrive here  to begin preparing a selected group of home-based players along with Anton Corneal, the new Trinidadian assistant coach.

At Beenhakker’s request, another Dutchman Mario Been has been appointed chief scout. Been an ex- coach of Feyeenord will have the job of scouting Trinidad and Tobago’s World Cup opponents England, Sweden and Paraguay. Also joining the Soca Warriors’ ranks will be Walsall team physician Dr Ralph Rogers who will team with current TT team physician Dr Terence Babwah. Meanwhile, Dwight Yorke’s Australian club Sydney FC denied any official approach from Scottish team Falkirk, to secure his services on a three-month loan deal from January.

But Sydney FC promises to have Dwight Yorke in good shape for the World Cup. Sydney FC chairman Walter Bugno said on Wednesday his club received no request from Falkirk. “Any loan deal must be concluded before January’s transfer window closes but we want to make sure Dwight goes to Germany in the best possible condition.” Yorke also received an offer from Australian team assistant coach Graham Arnold to train with the country’s home-based squad.