Rougier delayed in London

CHINA-based professional Anthony Rougier missed his connecting flight and is stuck in London. Now Rougier who was expected here last night, will have just one night’s rest before hitting the Hasely Crawford Stadium pitch against St Vincent in an all-important CONCACAF World Cup qualifier. The utility player was scheduled to connect to a BWIA flight to return home on Sunday, but the aircraft from China was delayed.

He was supposed to join up with Brent Sancho and Ian Cox for the flight home aboard a BWIA aircraft. But since missing the connection, Rougier was forced to overnight in London, and must now pay an additional ?1,200 fee for him to travel home. Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation officials contacted BWIA in London seeking to arrange payment of the additional fee by credit card, but this was refused. According to a TTFF official, BWIA officials at Heathrow Airport said they were unable to make any transactions regarding credit card payment by telephone. But later, BWIA sales manager Peter Ireland, when contacted agreed to accept the credit card payment. Although Rougier offered to fly home leaving his luggage behind, he was again denied.

But Ireland apologised and informed Rougier he would definitely be on the flight back home on Tuesday without having to pay the extra charges. TTFF special adviser Jack Austin Warner was very disappointed and said, “there seems to be a belief in some quarters that they can get to Jack Warner by starving the World Cup team of funding and other relevant services.” He said: “I have news for them. For the last three years the team reached this far without a nickel from government and businessess including BWIA and it will reach Germany even if it had to depend on my last cent.”