Carib sending 150 to W/Cup

This was revealed exclusively to Newsday by Andrew Sabga, Chief Executive Officer of the Champs Fleurs based brewery last weekend when he hosted an All Inclusive Party at the Misty Ridge Farm in rustic Santa Cruz.

Sabga said the internationally acclaimed brand would would soon launch a competition which would give Carib Beer drinkers the opportunity to travel to Germany to see the Soca Warriors in action.

Competing in the World Cup for the first time, Trinidad and Tobago have been drawn in Group "B" with top seeds England, Sweden and Paraguay.

The Soca Warriors will play Sweden in their opening group match on June 10 in Dortmund; then come up against England on June 15 in Nuremburg; and then clash with South American qualifiers Paraguay on June 20 in Kaiserslautern.

Sabga said the Carib Beer competition offering the biggest incentive yet for local sports fans is another demonstration of his company’s commitment to sports.

He pointed to the recent contribution of $10 million to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation going towards the World Cup preparations but said that other sports over the years have also benefitted from valuable sponsorship.

Among those who have drawn heavily on the Carib Beer largesse are the West Indies Cricket Board, Trinidad and Tobago’s National Cricket League, powerboat racing, weightlifting, bodybuilding, game fishing, surfing, adventure racing and rugby.

He said that plans are already underway to ship adequate amounts of Carib Beer to Germany so that Trinidad and Tobago supporters would have a taste of home when they follow the fortunes of their team.

"We have contracted an agent in Germany and everything is being put in place to have Carib Beer at the World Cup Finals," Sabga said.

He revealed that the giant American beer company Budweiser has been given exclusive rights by FIFA, the world governing body for football, to sell their beer in all the stadiums where World Cup matches are being held.

However, Sabga says he is not worried about Bud’s preferential treatment by FIFA since he said they have paid tens of millions of dollars to secure that right and that Carib Beer is not going to compete with the Americans in Germany.

Instead, he said, Carib Beer will focus on the series of fetes and cultural shows that Trinidad and Tobago will promote in the cities the Soca Warriors would be playing at during their stay in Germany.

"I understand that the Trini Posse is organising a charter and they will have several fetes in Germany where we will promote Carib Beer," said Sabga. "Soca music is infectious and we hope that through culture and music Germans and all visitors to Germany for the World Cup will be won over to Carib Beer," said Sabga.

Among the top local artistes expected to be involved in the cultural programme in Germany and to fly the Carib Beer flag are Bunji Garlin, Machel Montano and Maximus Dan.

"Carib Beer has been committed to music, culture and sport. We believe that they are intertwined and will work in this area to promote Trinidad and Tobago and the Soca Warriors," said Sabga, younger son of business tycoon Anthony N Sabga who founded the ANSA-McAl empire.

Sabga said that he would love to go to Germany for the Soca Warriors campaign but it is just not possible.

"Someone has to remain in Trinidad and Tobago to ensure that we have Carib Beer to drink all the time," he said.