THE Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 footballers left alone Friday for the United Arab Emirates, but they may have many more supporters in tow when they take on hosts Egypt in the opening match of the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which is to be staged from September 25-October 16.
"We will try to leave here on the 22nd of September and we will take in the three games, including the opening match of the championship. So, our hope is that we will have the support at the higher level, the level of Government, to take along as well a cultural group and as many supporters as would want to go, and through the efforts of the TTFF the parents of the boys who are eventually selected on the World Cup team."
The U-20s played a final warm-up on Thursday before Friday's departure for the Middle East, where they play the United Arab Emirates in two matches on April 28 and 29. They will then go on to Nigeria, Ghana and South Korea.
The team had a bitter-sweet day Thursday. First, head coach Zoran Vranes fell ill and was hospitalised, but the "Young Warriors" also had a bright spot when assistant manager Carl Joseph was presented with a cheque for $150,000 by William Powell of sponsors bmobile, their prize for winning both the league ($120,000) and knockout ($30,000) titles in the 2008 National Super League.
"The Super League gave us a really good start to qualifying for Egypt," Joseph said in accepting the cheque.
Due to their participation in the 2009 U-20 World Cup, the national U-20s will not defend their Super League titles. But at Thursday's launch of the 2009 edition of the Super League, which took place at the Queen's Park Oval, Harford declared that they had set a high standard.
"I felt that we, the Super League, played a part in the national team qualifying," said Harford. "I think they showed the other teams what good management is about."