WITH just 45 days to go before the first kick at the World Cup football finals, FIFA vice-president Jack Warner announced, yesterday, that funding for Trinidad and Tobago's first-ever showing on the big stage has almost dried up.
Warner described as "false propaganda" recent reports that the Soca Warriors had received $45 million in assistance from the T&T Government. To date, he said, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) has not received a cent of the money approved by Cabinet and promised by Sports Minister Roger Boynes.
"I wish I could have come here this afternoon and say we have all the money. I wish I could have come here today and say that the team will be comfortable based on all the money we have received," Warner added. "But sadly enough I can't because we simply do not have the money we need."
Warner, special adviser to the T&TFF, painted a desperate picture in which the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for Germany 2006 informed him that six million dollars were urgently required last Monday to pay several bills. After several urgent appeals, Warner said he was able to pay three million dollars, but still needed to have the rest by tomorrow (Friday).
One such appeal, from Warner to Isa Nicholas, chairman of the Nicholas Group of companies, yielded $200,000, which was donated yesterday on behalf of Crowne Plaza, the official team hotel. Another $250,000 was presented yesterday by Dennis McComie, corporate communications manager at the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC).
Warner said recent statements by the Ministry of Sport, claiming that it had funded the team, was both premature and irresponsible. He said it had the ripple effect of halting most corporate sponsorship, since the business community had now formed the impression that the Soca Warriors had all the money they required. Warner said money is needed immediately both for daily operations and for preparations for the team's stint in Germany. According to Warner, Government has not given them a cent of the promised funding.
Despite the current position, Warner said he would not allow the Soca Warriors to go to Germany in an uncomfortable position. He said the LOC had still managed to pay the coaching staff their April salaries. Warner added that players' bonuses will also be paid.
"For the first time Mr (Oliver) Camps can say that the T&TFF owe nobody,"
Warner boasted. "They have paid all their debts. They have paid all the players, and by tomorrow all the officials.