Warriors staff get $$ rewards

The presentations were made during a function staged at the CLICO Hospitality Suite, Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain yesterday.

Outgoing coach Leo Beenhakker was the recipient of a $1 million sum ($750,000 worth of units from Unit Trust and $250,000 cash), which was promised by Prime Minister Patrick Manning on June 24, upon the team’s return from competing at the FIFA World Cup in Germany. Beenhakker’s replacement Wim Rijsbergen, assistant coach Anton Corneal and goalkeeping coach Michael “Brow” Maurice were the three deputy coaches who collected sums of $250,000 each ($200,000 worth of units and $50,000 cash).

The same monetary value was given to managers Bruce Aanensen and George Joseph, team doctor Terrence Babwah, trainer Zeph Nicholas, physiotherapists Wayne Lawson and Oba Gulston, equipment managers Ikin Williams and Esmond O’Brien, media officer Shaun Fuentes and chef Cecil Wint.

Of the 14 players who received their $250,000 bounties at the ceremony, only the San Juan Jabloteh pair of Daurance Williams (goalkeeper) and Glenton Wolfe (defender) did not play a World Cup qualifying match, but they were part of the training squads during the CONCACAF Final Round Qualification. The other 12 were involved, at one time or another, during the Final Round stage— defenders Anton Pierre, Marlon Rojas, Nigel Henry and Derek King, midfielders Anthony Rougier, Brent Rahim, Angus Eve and Leslie “Tiger” Fitzpatrick, and strikers Scott Sealy, Nigel Pierre, Hector Sam and Gary Glasgow.

In a brief address, Rijsbergen stated that the scheduled encounter against Japan on August 9 will not be played on a date allocated by FIFA for friendly internationals. “It will give a lot of new players an opportunity to play,” said the Dutch-born coach.

“It’s not a FIFA date so we’ll have to look for new players for the future. It will give a lot of new players an opportunity to prove it (was) not the last time we qualify (for a World Cup),” he said.

Rijsbergen also showed his appreciation for the confidence shown in him by Beenhakker, since they were appointed to replace Bertille St Clair in April 2005.

“We worked very hard and we got the result,” said Rijsbergen. “You’re never too old to learn and I have to thank Leo.”