Big plans are in store for this country’s next international friendly against Iceland at Loftus road on February 28.
“Everything is setting up very nicely for a very exciting occasion at Loftus Rod. We intend to make it similar in anyway possible to what Carnival Tuesday will be like back in Trinidad and I think the fans who are away from Trinidad are eagerly awaiting the chance to be close to their team,” Berry told TTFF Media.
The team arrives in Heathrow on February 26 and will be keen to not only give a good showing in their first match since the 1-0 win over Bahrain but also put their hands on the TDC Pre World Cup which is being sponsored by the Tourism Development Company.
Aside from the match, FIFA Vice President Jack Warner has arranged through his contacts with the English FA to have the T&T contingent also attend the friendly international between England and Uruguay at Anfield.
Meantime, Nova Alexander who heads the Tourism Development Company Office in the United Kingdom revealed that several plans are in place to make the event a memorable one.
“From the moment Trinidad & Tobago reached the world cup finals we knew our destiny had been handed to us on a plate, ” Alexander told TTFF Media on Thursday.
“Getting people to Trinidad & Tobago is our priority and working alongside the Tourism Ministry and the T&TFF can only strengthen our objectives. We have invited over 250 travel partners & press to come and support Trinidad & Tobago on Feb 28th some of whom have already sent people to our Islands or written about us. Most however know little about Trinidad & Tobago but want to learn more and we are only too happy to encourage their enthusiasm, We also intend to have a mini Carnival atmosphere at Loftus Road,” Alexander added.
She also mentioned that flags highlighting the recently launched socawarriorstt.com website will be handed out to the fans and in addition The Voice newspaper has adopted Trinidad & Tobago. This publication caters specifically to the ethnic market with a circ of 144,000 and every week will feature profiles about T&T and the TDC will follow-up with advertising in conjunction with a tour operator & airline. The game will also be broadcast throughout the Caribbean, Iceland, Sweden, Germany, UK and the USA and will allow T&T to maintain a visible presence.
“The TDC has many activities planned all over Europe in the coming months, our focus is to turn all this visibility into contracts. This is the time when we can solidify our business relationships,” she added.