Govt to pay for ‘Journey’

Boynes made the pledge during a news conference after he was notified that Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation advisor and financier Jack Austin Warner could no longer keep up with the huge salary payments.

Warner is the CONCACAF (hemispheric organisation) and CFU (regional body) president and vice-president of the powerful world governing body of football, FIFA.

He said the contract of Dutchman Beenhakker and his two assistants expired after Wednesday’s match against Mexico which Trinidad and Tobago won 2-1 to earn a play-off against Bahrain next month, with a chance to go to World Cup Finals in Germany next year.

Yesterday Boynes stated emphatically that his ministry will pay the national coaching staff for the remainder of the "Journey to Germany."

Minister Boynes also said yesterday, the $100,000 rental fee paid for the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Wednesday will be refunded and all fees for remaining matches will be waived.           

And a TTFF delegation headed by president Oliver Camps will visit the Ministry of Sport on Monday to present Minister Boynes with a budget for the rest of the campaign leading up to Germany and next year’s World Cup finals.

Bruce Aanansen, manager of the Trinidad and Tobago team commented yesterday: "Warner cannot do it alone."

Meanwhile, Warner from his New York office yesterday made a special plea to Government and the business sector, along with the TTFF and the people of Trinidad and Tobago to make a collective effort to ensure that the players and officials have the best environment for the forthcoming play-off with Bahrain.

Trinidad and Tobago will meet the Asians in the first leg of the home-and-away play-off here on November 12.

On learning of Minister Boynes’ announcements yesterday, Warner said: "I simply want to congratulate the minister for what he has said."

Warner is expected back early next week to begin early preparations for the Bahrain match.

And he also indicated yesterday: "I renewed Mr Beenhakker and the other two coaches’ contract for another month. We have all seen the results of their efforts."