President backs Warriors to the max

Richards and his wife Dr Jean Ramjohn-Richards, along with Sports Minister Roger Boynes, House Speaker Barry Sinanan and a host of TTFF officials were at Piarco Inter-national Airport to catch BWIA flight 900, which left for London. From there, they were scheduled to get a connecting flight to Germany for the World Cup Finals.

The President who has been as far afield as Costa Rica, Panama and Bahrain to support the Soca Warriors, said, “I think it is true to say that we’ve been good mascots to the team and like all our supporters our very good wishes go with them.”

Richards then predicted a couple of surprises in Germany. When asked about the result of the England/TT match, he said, “Well the worst possible scenario is a draw. But that does not of course apply to Sweden or Paraguay.”

The President also said he and his wife plan to attend some of the performances by the national cultural contingent.

Richards is also ex-pected to pay courtesy calls on the Czech Republic’s president and the German Chan-cellor. He said he and his wife “will be true true warriors since they are laden with flags and red T-shirts.”

Boynes, who had only been given the okay by Prime Minister Patrick Manning to attend two days ago, was also eager to get to Germany for Soca Warriors games. he said he would give them his full support and use the opportunity to market TT.

He is expected to meet with the mayors of the three cities where TT will play, as well as the German sports minister.

When asked why arrangements had not been made for family members of the War-riors to be taken to Germany, Boynes blamed the TTFF for not bringing a proposal to them for perusal or approval.

Keith Sancho, father of Warrior Brent Sancho, expressed his disappointment with the fact that no plans were put in place for relatives of National footballers. Sancho, Ken Butcher and TTFF officials left on the BWIA flight, and earlier a chartered Lufthansa flight direct to Frankfurt, Germany, left with entertainers Machel Montano, Rupee, Allison Hinds, national footballers of the 1974 and 1990 teams, Police Commissioner Trevor Paul, and PSA president, Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, and a number of other fans all dressed in red T-shirts.