Minister of Sport Roger Boynes, on behalf of the Government of T&T presented a cheque valued at TT$14.4 million to T&T Football Federation (TTFF) president Oliver Camps at the TTFF headquarters on Dundonald Street Port of Spain yesterday.
This payment was the first out of the TT$45 million which Boynes announced as being approved by cabinet last month, to go towards the “Soca Warriors” as help for their preparations for the 2006 World Cup in Germany starting in June.
“We have been working hand in hand with the T&TFF as we make sure that we get the accounts right. The T&TFF has been extremely corporative with us and we applied and requested funding from Ministry of Finance and comptroller of accounts.
“What has to happen is that we need appropriate info on what has been paid and we need proof and they have provided proof to demonstrate payment has been made,” Boynes said.
He added that a corporate company has agreed to make a contribution and this along with other payments from the Government will be carried out later this week.
He also said that team captain Dwight Yorke, who arrives this week, has an appointment with Prime Minister Patrick Manning on the honouring of the players for their qualification.
Since the Warriors qualification for the mega event last November, PM Manning has met with Yorke and Russell Latapy once and nothing firm has been arrived at, in terms of honouring the players in the best possible way. So far, Jabloteh players Aurtis Whitley and Cyd Gray have been given homes in the HCL Development in Trincity. These houses were sponsored by insurance Giant Clico.