Trinidad and Tobago has been forced to withdraw from yet another pair of international warm up matches because of the reshuffled schedule of preparations leading up to the 2006 World Cup in June.
This time, head coach Leo Beenhakker, because of having already outlined his schedule of warm up matches, after having to shift to a match against Wales on March 1 after FIFA switched the international dates before the tournament, has had to turn down an offer to participate in the 2006 Cup in Saudi Arabia with the host team and Korea Republic.
The mini-tournament takes place in Riyad from January 21-25 but Beenhakker has regrettably had to overlook the offer from organizers Skycomm. The package is said to have included lucrative appearance and match winning fees.
Special Advisor to the TTFF, Jack Warner explained to TTFF Media, “We shall not have our full World Cup team of which 17 out of 21 players are playing in clubs in England and other parts of Europe. Were we to accept, we would have to participate with a sub-standard team and this will do nothing for the competition nor for our image.”
This follows other matches against Argentina and Ghana having to be overlooked for similar reasons. But Beenhakker, expected to be in England this weekend, is looking ahead to games against Wales on March 1, as well as Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.
Beenhakker remains confident that despite not being able to take up the ongoing invitations for matches, that his team will not be least prepared for the big stage.
“We know the situation as it is and it’s not been any different before. The majority of our players are playing in England and Scotland and it’s difficult to just come together for a match. But at the same time, we have a period for our preparations before the tournament and we will make the best use of that time. Every player knows himself and what he has to do and I can tell you that we will not falter in this way,” Beenhakker told TTFF Media. Both Warner and Beenhakker continue to monitor the offers as they come and are keeping close heads as they go about in ensuring that the right decisions are taken and process carried out same time.