Leo Beenhakker, who guided Trinidad and Tobago to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, and his fellow Dutchman, legendary midfielder Ruud Gullit, are expected to be on these shores next week as part of The HollandBelgium Bid Team, which is campaigning to host either the FIFA 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
On Wednesday (September 22), the Bid Team will be staging a football clinic with members of four local Children’s Homes, from 2.30 pm, at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, followed by a match between legends of Holland and Belgium football.
The visitors’ team includes Gullit, Gilles De Bilde, Pierre Van Hooijdonk, Rob Witschge, Aron Winter and Gert Verheyen against legends of Trinidad and Tobago football comprising Russell Latapy, Leonson Lewis, Clayton Morris, Michael Maurice, Kerry Jamerson, Marvin Faustin and Brent Sancho.
And, on Thursday (September 23), The HollandBelgium Bid Team will pay a visit to the Youth Training Centre (YTC), at 10 am, to give inspirational speeches to young offenders and feature in a game of football with the inmates. According to the group’s website, Belgium and the Netherlands are making every effort possible to be nominated as the joint hosts for either the 2018 or the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Under the banner, Together for Great Goals, The HollandBelgium Bid is not only aiming at putting together a great campaign and scoring goals on the pitch, but it is also looking to use the power of football to help make the world a better place, both environmentally and socially.
The HollandBelgium Bid is positioning itself for a World Cup that will be of major significance to the footballing world.
This is fully in line with the footballing tradition of both countries.
Belgium and the Netherlands’ candidacy proves that not only large countries, but smaller countries too can organise world tournaments.
The experience gained by The Bid’s organisers — including the successful UEFA Euro 2000 Championships and various youth tournaments — form a solid and viable guarantee for the event’s organisation.
The HollandBelgium Bid Foundation is formed by the Belgian and Dutch Football Associations, the KBVB and KNVB respectively. The Foundation’s committee consists of members from both associations and is led by chairmen François De Keersmaecker and Michael van Praag. Gullit is the president of The HollandBelgium Bid.
The four-man management team has a formidable track record within the footballing world and is made up of Michel Sablon, Henny Smorenburg, Gilbert Timmermans and Harry Been.
The foundation is supported financially by both governments, the two football associations and the Official Partners. And the Bid Team features an array of ambassadors — past and present football stars — including Van Hooijdonk, Witschge, Winter, Bert Van Marwijk, Dick Advocaat, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, Edwin Van Der Sar, Clarence Seedorf, Marco Van Basten, Guus Hiddink, Robin Van Persie, Dirk Kuyt, Rafael Van Der Vaart, Arjen Robben, Nigel De Jong, Wesley Sneijder, Mark Van Bommel, Frank De Boer, Hans Van Breukelen, Jaap Stam, Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp, Marouane Fellaini, Thomas Vermaelen, Michel Preudhomme, Enzo Scifo and Jean Marie Pfaff.
T&T 'Legends' to tackle Dutch 'All-Stars'
Beenhakker returns to T&T.
(T&T Express).
Trinidad and Tobago's football "Legends" will come out of retirement to face former World Cup stars from Holland and Belgium on Wednesday at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya.
The T&T Legends will be coached by T&T's 2006 World Cup coach Leo Beenhakker, while former Dutch football icon Ruud Gullit will coach the combined Dutch/Belgian squad in a five-a-side game.
Team T&T will include current head coach Russell Latapy and his 1989 "Strike Squad" teammates Marvin Faustin, Dexter Francis, Kerry Jamerson, Leonson Lewis, Clayton Morris, Michael Maurice, along with other ex-T&T players Angus Eve, Brent Sancho and Wayne Lawson, also a trainer of past national teams.
The Dutch/Belgian All Stars will include Dutchmen Pierre van Hooijdonk, Aron Winter, Rob Witschge and former Belgian players Gilles De Bilde and Gert Verheyen.
The match is part of the Dutch/Belgian effort to drum up support for their joint bid to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022.
Gullit is president of the Holland/Belgium bid committee and their All-Star team is currently travelling the world to drum up support for their bid. They have also played matches in Cape Town, South Africa, Seoul, South Korea, and Zurich in Switzerland, where they presented the bid book to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
Before Wednesday's match, the All-Star team will conduct a football clinic at the Marvin Lee Stadium from 2.30 p.m. for children from four different children's home in T&T.
There will also be a joint "World Coaches" project, in which T&T coaches will benefit from a five-day coaching clinic that started yesterday.
The project is a collaboration between the Low Countries Football Associations and the Johan Cruyff Institute, founded by and named for another Holland great ex-footballer.
Gullit will present the coaches with their certificates shortly before the exhibition match kicks off.