Jack makes ‘final’ football plea

JACK WARNER, a vice-president of world football body FIFA and special advisor to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF), has made, in his own words, a final plea for Government and corporate bodies to lend a helping hand towards the national team’s Journey to Germany 2006 World Cup drive. Warner, who also holds the portfolio as president of CONCACAF, made his clarion call during the TTFF Corporate Dinner at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence in Tunapuna on Monday night. According to Warner, the function was initiated between himself and President George Maxwell Richards as a means of attracting sponsorship for the team’s World Cup quest. Warner commended Indian steel company ISPAT for their recent sponsorship deal with the West Indies cricket team and recalled a discussion he had with interim chairman of selectors Joey Carew last weekend, during TT’s 2-1 win over St Kitts.

He said he told the former national captain: “I want to take over West Indies cricket. Even though I don’t like the sport, the sport could like me,” referring to his administrative acumen and experience. Warner also revealed that funding of the TT squad has cost, to date, $4.6 million. He said the funds “have come from the pockets of one man (himself) and his dog.” But he was quick to point out that local water bottlers Blue Waters and fast food chain KFC have  recently promised to join the list of sponsors. “It (the team’s programme) can go on based on the collective efforts of Government, business and football,” Warner stressed. The football livewire drew comparisons with Jamaica, and outlined the various sponsors of the Reggae Boyz from 1998 to the present —  with the exchange rate of US $1 to Jam $60, the cost of Jamaica’s 2006 campaign is US $9.3 million. “In Jamaica, every national footballer must travel free of charge on public transport while the Government pays the salary of the president of the Jamaican Federation, making him the only executive president in CONCACAF,” said Warner.

“When BWIA goes to Cuba three times a week with an empty flight and twice to Costa Rica empty, I’ve asked them to grant us half-price, but even that is denied.” Highlighting the value of sport on the nation’s youth, he said: “If you want to have a crime-free country, put your money in sport. Give the young people a sense of hope.” With regards to the salaries of head coach Bertille St Clair and technical director Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips, Warner stated that a promise was made by Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes to fit their bills, once approval is granted by the Sports and Culture Fund. The CONCACAF head also acknowledged the stance taken by Olympic 200m Individual Medley bronze medallist George Bovell III and the law firm Al Roberts and Company to allow sponsors to make an input in a sports fund instead of market his (Bovell’s) image without his permission.
“They have shown that help is needed when one is preparing for success,” Warner noted. Warner thanked the members of the steelpan group Angostura Woodbrook Playboyz for “playing at every single footballing event in the last nine months,” and also described the current members of the TT senior team as “the most disciplined I’ve ever seen.”

A multitude of companies and business firms were represented at the function, including Valdez and Torry, Scotiabank, RBTT, Republic Bank, Guardian Life, CLICO, Neal and Massy, CCN Group of Companies, HCL Group, Petrotrin, NLCB, Unit Trust, TIDCO, Angostura, Carib and National Petroleum. During the night’s programme, former national football team captain Sedley Joseph was presented with the FIFA Centennial Order of Merit. Joseph, who was an influential midfielder during the 1960s, was high in praise of his family and former Maple teammates for their role in his development as one of the country’s greatest ever players. It was also announced that another former Trinidad and Tobago player Geoffrey Wharton-Lake would chair the new-look TTFF marketing team while companies will each have the opportunity to seek a number of benefits, depending on the packages on offer. Members of the audience were also presented with an address by Danny Jordaan, head of the South Africa 2010 World Cup Bid Committee.

Jordaan expressed his gratitude to Trinidad and Tobago for “helping us to pursue a dream and making it a reality” and revealed that the 2010 football event will add US $3 billion to the coffers of FIFA. He also stressed the intangible benefits of World Cup qualification —  at least success in the CONCACAF campaigns —  to Trinidad and Tobago, pointing out that the United States, Jamaica and various countries will have the opportunity to play here and, henceforth, bring foreign exchange to the local market. The players will also benefit individually from participation in a World Cup, said Jordaan, with the prospects of signing for a number of top global clubs while the local leagues can also gain revenue from television rights “if the product is good enough.” Also speaking at the function was President Richards, who repeatedly lauded Warner’s effort in assisting the cause of local football and urged the corporate bodies to invest wisely in the various national teams.