Japan President congratulates Warner, TT

This assumption came from Japan President Junichiro Koizumi who made his sentiments known to FIFA vice-president Jack Austin Warner when he hosted the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation advisor, FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter and Issa Hayatou, FIFA vice president and president of the African Confederation of Football (CAF) yesterday as they arrived in Japan for the FIFA World Club Championship.

Warner made the 30-hour flight to Japan from Piarco to join the other FIFA top brass in Tokyo, and was invited to meet the Japanese President who extended heartiest congratulations.

President Koizumi insisted on meeting special advisor to the TTFF, who against all the odds, was a key player off the pitch, in getting his country into to the World Cup, and achieving a milestone of becoming the smallest country ever to qualify.

He told Warner TT and the 31 other countries were all winners having reached the World Cup Final which begins on June 9 next year, but according the President by the end, 31 countries will all be losers and there will only be one winner, the World Cup 2006 champions and that’s what is really important. The President said, however, now that the 32 finalists have learnt how to win, 31 must learn how to lose.

President Koizumi admitted he had never visited Trinidad and Tobago but now that the country is so famous he can be encouraged to do so.

He also spoke at length at what hosting the 2002 World Cup did for his country and for Asia and commended FIFA on what it is doing through football, to make the world a better place.

Football is universal and we can see the difference that it is making which is evident in all corners of the globe," the President said.