Warner thanks TT for reaching final six

NATIONAL football livewire Jack Austin Warner bluntly told Trinidad and Tobago footballers they would not reach World Cup 2006 Germany if they continued to play badly. At a luncheon at Emerald Apartments and Plaza, St Augustine yesterday, Warner thanked the players for taking Trinidad and Tobago to the final six of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers. He said, “Thank you for what you have done so far, but the way you played last night (Wednesday), it could have been like several years ago (1989) when it turned out to be a funeral.” Warner said, “Let’s face it, we may not have the best team, but we had the best draw.” Trinidad and Tobago came from a goal down to edge St Vincent 2-1 to clinch the second spot in Group “C” to advance with Mexico. Warner warned the players: “We cannot reach Germany on our present performance. We struggled to beat St Vincent who are ranked 114th in the world.”

He pointed out to the players a budget of $3 million was made out for the World Cup campaign, but to date over $7 million have been spent.
And he told them, “We have reached where we are today without the help of none, not a cent from Government.” Warner, Senior Vice-President of FIFA, CONCACAF and CFU president said the team must now focus on their being the flag bearers of the English-speaking Caribbean, since Jamaica were ousted from World Cup contention. He said he was expecting to invite Caribbean coaches to analyse where we (Trinidad and Tobago) are, where we are going and how to get there. Warner said, “All the entire Caribbean have to come together.” He later told the players the next round begins on February 9, Ash Wednesday, and he warned them to keep fete out of their minds, “because those coming from abroad will got straight to Barbados and stay there, and those from here will go to Bridgetown and will fly back on Ash Wednesday morning for the game.

The outspoken Warner told the footballers he heard rumours they are claiming next round is big money, but he said, “Next round is big football.” He said, “Now we are in the final six, let us dream and I am confident we can achieve this dream.” He noted St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonzalves flew in for Wednesday night’s game, but not one local government official was present, and pointed out that both Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams and Sports Minister Roger Boynes “were invited to this thank-you-luncheon, but neither has attended.” Team spokesman Brent Sancho thanked Warner and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation for their support, and apologised for Wednesday night’s poor performance. He promised, “We are going to work harder to make ourselves a better team and finish in the top three to go to the World Cup finals.”