Trinidad and Tobago’s next 2010 World Cup Qualifying encounter against Costa Rica on Saturday June 6,2009 will be staged at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Tobago at 6pm.
“That has been agreed by the Football Federation and the Team’s technical staff and it was done in conjunction with the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly Orville London at a meeting yesterday. He was advised and he agreed that Tobago is part of Trinidad and Tobago and therefore it is only fair that a game be played there. We also agreed that although the stadium holding 7,500 persons, some 15,000 less than the Hasely Crawford Stadium and while it is going to be a financial loss for the Federation, the Federation believes that with Dwight Yorke being back for that match and with the game being Russell Latapy’s first official World Cup match as head coach… Tobago shall have the honour of staging the event,” Warner told TTFF Media.
“It is being done in the national interest. Latapy at a meeting this morning was ecstatic over the decision. We will also make plans to ensure that as much Trinidadians be given the opportunity to be in the sister isle for the match.”
Warner added that tickets will be priced at $400 for covered, one hundred less than previous qualifying matches and $200 for uncovered. Warner went on to say that invitations have also been extended to President George Maxwell Richards, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Minister of Sport Gary Hunt and Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Orville London.
Warner stressed that Latapy has the fullest support of himself and the TTFF as was made clear at a meeting with Latapy, Zoran Vranes and other technical team members on Thursday morning.
“This country has 1.3 million people and unfortunately we also have 1.3 million coaches and everybody knows what is best for the team. But what we have to make decisions in the team’s best interest. And at this time we are totally committed to supporting Russell Latapy as head coach and Zoran Vranes as his assistant and which ever other person he decides to bring on board. This will be discussed at meeting arranged specifically for this purpose on Monday.
“We have to give him our support and we believe he can do it. Those who people who believe, even those who played with him and who are critical now of his appointment and thinks he doesn’t have enough experience… I want to say to them that you have to begin somewhere and where else can we begin than at home. Therefore everything we can do to give Russell a chance to succeed we shall do. I want to say today that the game against Costa Rica on June 6 we shall win and that will turn our chances around,” Warner added.
“We shall take that success and turn it around as far as our qualification for South Africa is concerned. It will not be easy I know this but we have to take match by match and use each one as if it is our last match. I feel very optimistic that we shall qualify. Times are tough especially financially but we will be putting our best foot forward. We are readily behind coach Latapy to ensure he has everything he needs to be successful in that game,” Warner ended.
Latapy will begin on field preparations later this month with home-based players and further information regarding the team’s build up to June 6 including warm up internationals will be revealed in due course.