Soca Warriors arrive in Austria

The four-star hotel which has a training ground situated five minutes ride away will be the team’s base until June 2 during which time they play Wales in Graz on May 27 and Slovenia on Cedje on May 31.

Also joining the contingent in Bad Radkersburg were European-based manager Hans Hagelstein and assistant coach/scout Mario Been who will both be with the Warriors for the duration of the World Cup.

After an early wake up call before their departure out of Carden Park, Manchester, the TT team made their way to Frankfurt for a two-hour stop at the International Airport before a connecting flight to Graz.

It was their first landing in Germany as a team since qualifying for the World Cup Finals last November 16.

The Soca Warriors in their official red Adidas travel wear attracted some attention as it was obvious that the Germans at the airport were well aware that a visiting team was around ahead of the World Cup.

Skipper Dwight Yorke was not the only one being focused on as the majority of other members also caused a stir among the excited travellers, store clerks and restaurant attendants using the spur of the moment chances to grab autographs and pose for photos.

Then following the one-hour flight to Graz, Yorke and his teammates received a small but well appreciated welcome from some of the locals backed by two violinists at the hotel’s entrance. There was also a media contingent of about a dozen persons covering the arrival of the Caribbean footballers.

Bad Radkersburg is situated in the southeast of the Austrian state of Styria and its warm climate makes it a popular tourist attraction. The town has also been awarded the European gold medal for the preservation of historical monuments.

Looking ahead, the footballers will play a training match behind closed doors against Austrian club side Austria Vienna at the Thermen Arena Complex which is also the training site for the team.

The first friendly international of the camp will be played on May 27 against Wales at the UPC Arena in Graz and billboards promoting this match were seen positioned on the way to the hotel.

The Thermen Arena has accommodated top clubs and among them are Schalke 04, Borussia Dortmund, Panathinaikos Athen as well as Scottish clubs Glasgow Rangers and Celtic. It will also host Wigan Athletic this July.

Equipped with one section of covered seating with two well-maintained fields, the facility can easily compare with the best around and goalie Kelvin Jack said it was undoubtedly better than any he has seen back home.

“It’s a terrific playing surface and you can tell it is well taken care of. It’s not too hard unlike the Hasely Crawford Stadium and the others we have back home. It’s an exceptional surface for us to be preparing on for the games in the World Cup,” Jack said after yesterday’s session.

The Dundee custodian was also pleased with the sessions so far since the team left TT.

“Obviously there’s a lot of work to be done and we know that. I think we have been working hard as a team. The manager is trying to work everyone in the appropriate way because obviously some players are coming off harder seasons than others and he is trying to ensure everyone is on equal footing.

“At this stage things are going ahead in good stride and now that we are in Austria for the second leg of the preparations I think we are all looking forward to keeping things as it relates to us getting ready for the World Cup,” added the former CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh ‘keeper.