WHAT can Trinidad and Tobago hope to achieve from the 2001 Fifa Under-17 World Championship?
That question was posed to several prominent people—past and present—in local footballas the host nation prepares for a 1 p.m. kick-off today in the tournament’s opening game against Croatia at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Trinidad and Tobago are drawn with defending champions Brazil, runners-up Australia and Croatia in Group A, one of four groups for the September 13-30 championship.
Those interviewed yesterday gave the following responses:
JIMMY BLANC (T&T Football Federation talent scout and former national coach):
“First thing, I would hope that we can get into the second round. We are in a difficult group but, if we put our best foot forward, you never know because the result is in God’s hands.
“Hopefully, we will go into the second round and see what happens from there. I think today’s game would be the most important.
“Because if you win you are on the right road and if you lose your back is against the wall...
“We don’t want to ride on the back of the youngsters. We will hope that they are successful and the country can enjoy their success.”
KEN BUTCHER (former Trinidad and Tobago player, coach and radio sports commentator):
“I am hoping to see a good perfomance in the opening. If we can get a creditable performance in the opening, I think the entire nation will come out to support.
“If we can get past the first round, which will be very difficult, I think we will see an outpouring of love and national pride and that certainly could out the fires of viscidness that going on now.
“They will come out and be united and it will do extremely well for the country... I think we can capitalise on the event and see so many more visitors coming to the country.
“I think it could be a good springboard for sports tourism in the country.”
OLIVER CAMPS (T&T Football Federation president and former national manager):
“I would like to see that we are successful in running the tournament, that we have a successful tournament and I'd like to see my 2001 team advance to the second round and beyond.
“But the main thing is that the people of Trinidad and Tobago can be proud of hosting the world’s greatest tournament.”
ALVIN CORNEAL (Fifa development officer and former national footballer and coach):
“I believe that the experience of playing against some more advanced countries will serve as a good lesson for our young players.
Having seen them in their most recent warm-up matches, they did not leave the supporters with much hope of good results.
“However, the opponents in the group will certainly demonstrate to our youngsters that the game is about proper organisation, intelligent play, and a level of fluid soccer that can act as a catalyst for the years ahead.
“I would be more than satisfied if the team is able to string their passes together regularly and force the opponents to play hard to earn any victory they get.
“I will continue to support the team regardless of the results.”
TERRY FENWICK (CLF Jabloteh coach and former England World Cup defender):
“It will be a great achivement if they can perfom very well.
“I think that they are in an extremely hard group and it will be an achievement to give all the other teams in the group a run for their money.”
CLAYTON MORRIS (former “Strike Squad” captain and national youth team assistant coach):
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Every player’s dream is to play in a World Cup. And to be given the opportunity to play in a World Cup at just 16 or 17 years...words cannot describe it.
“It’s a great start to their career.”
PETER O’CONNOR (former Trinidad and Tobago Football Association president):
“I hope that (in the end) they get some stadia which are economically feasible for sport to use.
“I hope that we can begin to develop a little national spirit which we have never had and if we can do it, maybe we can build a national team in the future.”