$4 million for T&T Gold Cup prep

This is because the T&T Football Association (TTFA) was able to secure T&T $4 million in funding from the Sport  Company of T&T (Sportt) following a round of meetings held yesterday among officials of the Soca Warriors staff and officials of Sportt at the latter’s Henry Street, Port-of-Spain office.

Reached for comment, William Wallace, manager of the Soca Warriors squad which departs for a mini-camp in Florida tomorrow confirmed that both parties had agreed to $4 million in funding for the squad which was inclusive of two camps, one in T&T and the other in Florida as well as travel and hotel accommodation for the team, match fees for players and officials and other expenses.

However, Wallace noted that the first phase of the camp will cost close to $1.5 million. The early securing of funds for the team will be a welcome relief to team manager Wallace as in the recent past the squad had to play the CFU qualifying tournaments to the Gold Cup without confirmation of stipends for players as well as payment of team travel and hotel accommodations expenses and staff salaries due to a feud between the Minister of Sport, Anil Roberts and Anthony Harford of All Sports Promotion, which was handed the responsibility of managing the T&TFF affairs.

This was evident when the Soca Warriors participated in the first round of Caribbean Football Union qualification to the Digicel Caribbean Cup where it faced French Guyana, St Kitts/Nevis and Guyana and topped the group with maximum nine points  at Warner Park, in St Kitts before going to the Caribbean Cup finals and losing 1-0 to Cuba in the final to earn their ticket to the Gold Cup, the first since 2005.

Meanwhile, newly appointed coach Hart said he was satisfied that the 23-man squad he selected was a balanced one. The attitude of the players has been impressive. The objective was to select a balanced squad and one that may allow for flexibility in the manner in which we approach games,” Hart said.

The team to be skippered by 2006 World Cup team member, Densill Theobald of Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA includes Carlos Edwards (Ipswich Town), Christopher Birchall (Port Vale), Stoke City’s Kenwyne Jones and Cornell Glen, all of whom were also part of newly installed Director of Football, Leo Beenhakker’s squad in Germany as well.

The other members of the team include long serving goalkeeping duo, Jan-Michael Williams of St Ann’s Rangers, who led the team at the Caribbean Cup before being axed due to lack of activity as well as Marvin Phillip of Central FC and Gold Cup rookie Cleon John of North East Stars, who has been rewarded for an excellent season in the Digicel T&T Pro League.

The defence will be held by seasoned campaigners Seon Power of Thailand Chainat, and Vancouver Whitecaps Carlyle Mitchell, Radanfah Abu Bakr (FC Vostok), Daneil Cyrus (W Connection), Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force), Justin Hoyte (Middlesbrough), Aubrey David (Caledonia) and Edwards, another former captain. Offensively, Hart, a former Canadian national men’s coach will be able to call on the services of Port Vale’s Christopher Birchall, Kevin Molino (Orlando City), Racing Genk’s Khaleem Hyland, Notts County Andre Boucaud, Keon Daniel of Philadelphia Union, Theobald, Samsunspor’s Darryl Roberts, Joevin Jones of W Connection and Defence Force speedy winger Kevon Carter as well as strikers Jamal Gay of Caledonia, Jones and Glen.

​Notable absentees include Finland-based Ataullah Guerra, Lester Peltier who plies his trade in Slovakia and Vietnam Hughtun Hector. Looking ahead to the camp in Florida which runs from Sunday until July 6, Wallace said while no friendly matches have been planned for the team, the managerial staff was still working towards getting in at least warm-up matches for the squad ahead of their opening match.

With regards to the Gold Cup Hart said: “We are well aware of the challenges, none of these teams will be less than difficult opponents, but we will continue to prepare with a committed desire" Hart said.