TRINIDAD and Tobago captain Dwight Yorke says he will give it his all to ensure that his first competitive international appearance on Tobago soil turns out to be a winning on for the benefit of this country's 2010 World Cup aspirations.
"Personally it's a big honour for me to be playing in a stadium named in my honour and in front of the Tobago people, but this game is a lot bigger than that.
"It's a game whereby if we can get three points then it puts us right back into the running for qualification for the next World Cup Finals," Yorke told Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation media officer Shaun Fuentes.
"It's a historical moment and if I can be selfish--It's flattering occasion to remember for the rest of my life and I'm sure there will be a lot of family members that will be sitting in the stands proud of what we are about to achieve and nothing other than a win will be fitting.
"We don't expect Costa Rica to make it easy for us by any means, but we also know that we are prepared for the encounter and the coach has done what he thinks is necessary for us to have a successful game."
"Obviously we have a game against Mexico to play next week but first we need to take care of this game against Costa Rica on Saturday because they have come off a very good victory over the United States," he added.
About his longtime friend Russell Latapy as head coach, the former Manchester United star added: "He's got my support and I respect him now as the boss.
"I hope that Russell continues to do well and it will be a test for all of us on Saturday," said Yorke who played in a friendly international against Northern Ireland at the Bacolet, Tobago, venue a few years ago.
Yorke: Warriors ready for Ticos.
By: Joel Baily in Tobago (T&T Newsday).
TRINIDAD AND Tobago and Costa Rica, at the opposite end of the points standings, will clash in a crucial 2010 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Zone Final Round qualifier today, from 6 pm at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet.
The Soca Warriors, under new coach Russell Latapy, have two points from three matches and are in cellar place, while Costa Rica lead the six-team group with nine points from four fixtures.
TT, who installed Latapy after the resignation of Colombian-born Francisco Maturana, have not played an international match since the disastrous 3-0 loss to the United States, in their previous qualifier, on April 1 while Costa Rica’s last game, on Wednesday, resulted in a convincing 3-1 victory at home over the Americans.
The Costa Ricans will also be buoyed by their record against Trinidad and Tobago, with 15 wins compared to three for TT in 22 internationals since 1964. In World Cup qualifiers, the Costa Rican record is just as impressive, with nine wins and three ties in 12 encounters.
Latapy has wasted little time in revamping the TT lineup, recalling 2006 World Cup members Marvin “Dog” Andrews, Avery John, Collin Samuel, Cornell Glen, as well as Hayden Tinto and Kerry Baptiste, while captain Dwight Yorke returns from a two-game ban imposed in the 2-2 draw in El Salvador on February 11.
For Yorke, this match holds additional significance as it will be his first major international at the venue which was named in his honour – and built for the 2001 FIFA Under-17 World Championships here in Trinidad and Tobago.
Yorke was a second-half substitute when the ground last staged an international match – a 3-0 loss to Northern Ireland exactly five years ago (June 6 2004). The absences of Stern John (back) and midfielder Clyde Leon (a hernia operation) may affect the balance of the TT team, but they will be motivated by another statistic – Costa Rica’s three wins in this final phase of qualification have all occurred on their home ground, the Estadio Saprissa in San Jose, while their lone road game ended with a 2- 0 defeat to Mexico on March 28.