Thirty-three years after errant refereeing denied them an automatic berth to West Germany, members of the 1973 Trinidad and Tobago national football team have been afforded the opportunity to watch this country's perform at the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany from June 9 - July 9.
Members of both the "Classic" 1973 national football team and the 1989 "Strike Squad" will be in Germany this summer to support the 2006 Soca Warriors, who became the first T&T team to qualify for a World Cup Finals when they edged Bahrain 2-1 on aggregate in a play-off last November.
The two former national teams are headed to Germany courtesy of Mykon Travel and Tours (628-9333/628-6745) which have organised two World Cup Finals charters to Germany. Mykon have put together a package, costing US$5,000. Both German charter LTU, and an English airline charter, will fly package-holders directly to and from Frankfurt, Germany. The package will see package-holders being issued Category Two tickets to witness Trinidad and Tobago's preliminary games against Sweden, England and Paraguay. Also included is accommodation at three- and four-stars hotels such as the Crown Plaza and Ramada Hotel, which includes a continental breakfast as well.
The package is the inspiration of businessman Bede Wells, an ex-St Benedict's College footballer, Wells, an ex-teammate of several members of the "Classic" 1973 team says it was his dream to have his football friends join him in Germany. And in recognition of the impact they made, members of the "Strike Squad" have also been invited to make the trip. An emotional Wells said he expected great things from Trinidad and Tobago at the World Cup Finals.
"My gut feeling ladies and gentlemen is that the World will be in for a great surprise. In fact, I am looking for us to get into the second round. These young guys have done what we all aspired to do---they succeeded."
Mykon's Ann Marie Da Silva says once the idea was hatched, their team of "captains" went to work seeking to get corporate sponsors to fund the Germany trip.
The National Lotteries Control Board have already pledged their financial support and both Mykon, and Minister in the Ministry of Social Development Diane Seukeran are anticipating that the corporate community will contribute to what she considers a great nation-building effort. "The team must have support," said Seukeran, who revealed that she has had reports from as far a Paris, France, enquiring about the country ever since the Soca Warriors qualified for the World Cup Finals.
"This team is branding T&T as TIDCO could never do," Seukeran said. "These players are doing for Trinidad and Tobago what no one else can."
Also echoing Seukeran's sentiments was Sport Minister Roger Boynes, who
believes the T&T contingent is going to take over Germany.
Among the ex-players on hand at Queen's Hall, St Ann's, during last Saturday's function were United States-based Steve David, twice MVP of the now defunct North American Soccer League (NASL); Everald "Gally" Cummings, voted Most Valuable Player at the 1973-74 CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament; goalkeeper Kelvin Barclay, who now also lives in New York; Wilfred Cave; Gerald Figueroux; Winston Phillip; and Lawrence Rondon.
The "Strike Squad" was represented by Clayton Morris, captain of the 1989 squad; Maurice Alibey; Staff Sergeant Hutson Charles; Dexter Francis; Corporal Kerry Jamerson; Kelvin Jones, Floyd Lawrence; Philbert Jones; Brian Williams; Marlon Morris; Corporal Ross Russell and Marvin Faustin.
Morris lamented that they were just given a pat on the back for their achievement 16 years ago when coming within a point of qualifying for the 1990 World Cup Finals in Italy. But, he said that he cherished what Mykon had done for them and hopes that the authorities take note.
"I must say it is bitter-sweet for me. But we are very proud of the very positive vibes that the Soca Warriors sent through the country at a time when crime seems to be in command," Morris said.
Alibey, a striker with the 1989 squad paid special tribute to the 1973 "Classic" team, saying that while he had not seen them play, players of his era were inspired by the performances of that earlier squad, who scored five goals against Haiti, but had four disallowed and lost 2-1 in their crucial World Cup qualifier in Port-au-Prince, three decades ago.
"Whoever I came in contact with, always mention you (1973 team)," Alibey said. "The Soca Warriors finished the job. But, the journey has now begun and we want to carry it further."
David, the premier goal-scorer on the 1973 squad, made the gathering laugh as he reminisced about moments during the 1973 qualifying journey. "Jack (Warner) would always get a headache when it came time to discuss payment," he jovially recalled.
And Cummings, MVP of the 1973 squad and coach of the 1989 team as well, was cautious with his prediction about what the Soca Warriors could do in Germany this summer. Gally hinted that the Soca Warriors still had a lot of work to do to become a great team and said that he would be better be able to predict how far Trinidad and Tobago can progress at the World Cup after the series of upcoming warm-up matches leading up to the tournament. The Soca Warriors take on Iceland, Peru, Wales and the Czech Republic in their build-up to the 2006 World Cup Finals action.