BLATTER CONGRATS TT

FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter has congratulated this country on its first time appearance in the Football World Cup which began yesterday, and in which the Soca Warriors will play their first match today. That match against Sweden is scheduled to kick off at 12 noon local time.

Blatter’s comments came in a message to NALIS on its heritage exhibition on this country’s journeys to the world cup.

In a full page advertisement in today’s Newsday, Blatter said “one of the most exciting aspects of the 2006 FIFA World Cup is that this year we will now have some Caribbean spice in Germany — for the first time, Trinidad and Tobago has qualified for the final competition! Congratulations.”

He noted that the prestigious event has been the scenery for the rise of the biggest stars in the history of the game, pointing to persons like Pele and Maradona, whom Blatter said have shown children the world over, that even those with humble backgrounds can rise to triumph. “Will a player from Trinidad and Tobago be the next superstar to follow in their footsteps?,” he questioned. “Only time will tell!”

Blatter said he hoped everyone in TT “enjoys a thrilling and exciting 2006 FIFA World Cup!”