Warriors collect US$1.6m bonus

Bonus payout which was discussed and agreed upon one week ago in London, England was approved by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation at their weekend meeting.

A total of 55 players dating back to the Soca Warriors first qualifying match against Dominican Republic, will benefit from US$1,636,357, although TTFF have not yet received qualification earnings from FIFA. At their London meeting, it was agreed players would share half of the six million Swiss francs due to the team.

TTFF Special Advisor Jack Warner had agreed with a representative group of players that all players who were part of the team in the second round after the Soca Warriors had a first round bye, and the semi-final round would be given a bonus.

Payment will be based on players international appearances, mutually agreed between both parties.

The Soca Warriors also agreed to disburse US$36,822, of their bonuses to local charitable organisations, which they will meet to decide on.

Players expressed gratitude to the Warner Group of Companies for payment of match fees and bonuses throughout World Cup qualifying matches up to the two-match playoff series against Bahrain.

Team sponsors TSTT paid the match fees and bonuses to the Soca Warriors for that series including their 1-0 victory over Bahrain in Manama on November 16 last, which catapulted them into the World Cup Finals for the first time in their 100-year-old history.

Warner approved the payments and made out cheques and deposits yesterday before leaving for Egypt to attend the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Congress.

"We (TTFF) are extremely pleased with the way this process was carried out. The players were true professionals and this was most pleasing. I think at the end of the day both parties, the Federation and team management and the players were happy," Warner said.

A five-man committee comprising Dwight Yorke, Stern John, Dennis Lawrence, Brent Sancho, Shaka Hislop and Kelvin Jack, represented the Soca Warriors.