T&T Football Association (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee has suggested that Soca Warriors fans can look forward to two big years of international football.
T&T’s senior men’s team will meet Argentina in an international friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, tomorrow from 6.30 pm (TT time). This, T&T’s most high profile friendly fixture in recent years, is a continuation of an action-packed two-year schedule, according to Tim Kee.
“If you recall when I started my tenure last year, I did indicate that Trinidad was too small a world (challenger) in terms of football for us to make sense in the global environment. And, therefore, we had to look at going outside, which we did. And, you would also recall, we had quite a few international games,” said Tim Kee.
“That was the focus. That was the plan, and we are working towards that plan and sustaining (it). Really, what we experience outside is far different from what we do at home. If we want to be relevant in Concacaf and the world of football, we have to play games of this nature so that we build our game. So, I am quite happy with what is happening. In fact, this year and next year promise to be quite active for us in terms of getting international games, all things being equal.”
Tim Kee is among a large traveling contingent in Argentina, which also includes President Anthony Carmona, former West Indies captain Brian Lara, members from several government ministries and supporters.
He said he was ”extremely happy and excited (and) in great anticipation”. “The trip yesterday was quite comfortable and quite good, although it took us just over seven hours to be here.”
“It (Buenos Aires) is a beautiful city. I’m really looking forward to this game tomorrow. I’ve been told the facility has been sold out. (We’re) talking about over 62,000 people,” he said.
“Of course, for some of our players (based in) Europe and other places in the eastern part of the world, they would be used to this kind of patronage or crowd at the stadiums. Some of our younger players home, they are just (exposed to) Pro League and stuff like that, they may be somewhat overwhelmed by the whole atmosphere in those facilities in those big countries.
“I hope that they would be settled. I hope that they would settle early as a matter of fact, because I don’t know if we have the luxury of time to settle. We have to get down there and as the whistle blows, we have to start playing the game. So (with) that, I expect us to give a good performance. I wouldn’t bet Trinidad (and Tobago) would beat Argentina by any means, but I am prepared to stand behind Trinidad and expect that we’ll do a good performance.”
Tim Kee said he was in talks with the players and members of the technical staff, who have expressed enthusiasm ahead of tomorrow’s friendly. He thanked Minister of Tourism and Minister of Sport Anil Roberts for “extending that hand of assistance that we so badly needed to make this possible”.