TRINIDAD and TOBAGO'S national coach Leo Beenhakker has requested a friendly warm-up match against Wales for his "Soca Warriors". If that is not possible, as an alternative, he would like a game against Norway on the same date.
Neither of the proposed opponents have qualified for the World Cup. However, a game against Wales seems the more likely since they have no scheduled international friendlies listed. Norway, though, have a packed schedule in which they play Mexico on January 25 in Oakland, California, before meeting the United States national team four days later in Carson, California. They also play Senegal in March.
Yesterday, Jack Warner, special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF), said that despite his best efforts, he was unable to convince Beenhakker to play a friendly match here in May prior to going to the World Cup.
Therefore, Warner said Trinidad and Tobago fans will have their final look at the Warriors on May 29. Warner titled the friendly "The Mother of All matches" because it will be played against a high-profile international team.
Following the March 29 home game, the "Soca Warriors" preparation will be limited to weekend camps and clinics in both London and Trinidad.
The real preparation begins from May 6, when all the players have finished their club commitments. Beenhakker is currently in Austria, putting together arrangements for his team to have a camp prior to going to Germany for the World Cup, which takes place from June 9 to July 9. Austria was chosen as a central location around countries which T&T are likely to play in warm-up matches prior to playing in the World Cup Finals in nearby Germany.
Warner also announced yesterday, that the Warriors will play four to five warm-up matches in 16 days between May 6 and 22, after which, they will round off their training before heading to Germany.
Yesterday, at a news conference at the Garden Restaurant, Crowne Plaza, Port of Spain, Warner announced that a nine-member team consisting of Oliver Camps, Bruce Aanansen, Sean Fuentes, George Joseph, Terry Joseph, Roy Augustus, Richard Groden, Tracy Davidson, and Dr James Hecckle will represent Trinidad and Tobago at the World Cup draw in Germany on December 9. There was also news that Jamaican Horace Reid (Chief Operations Officer) has joined the management team of the Soca Warriors, along with Dennis Ramdeen (press officer), Brigadier Dave Sandy (security officer) and Nadine Semper (administrative assistant).
Several other organisational committees to cover broadcast rights, special events and public relations have also been established.
Beenhakker has also requested that former player and National Under-20 coach Anton Corneal join his coaching staff as an understudy. The Dutchman is desirous of passing on some of the 40 years of experience he has gained as an international coach and so leave a legacy for T&Tobago football when he eventually moves on.
The TTFF have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Tourism to promote this country at the World Cup.
Tourism Ministry official Dr Martin Hecckle said that from the World Cup draw, great attention will be placed on T&T and the country must be ready to promote its culture and take advantage of all the attention coming its way. One of the mechanisms to be used will be a website, www.Socawarriorstt.com, which will be utilised as "this is a one in a lifetime opportunity", he said".