Trinidad and Tobagos senior team has been invited to Venezuela to play a charity match against that countrys senior national team to raise funds for those affected by harsh weather and rain destruction.
The game is carded for March 9 and will be played in the city of Merida.
The game comes at a right time for the Warriors who were looking at playing Honduras around the same date but that affair has been pushed back until further notice.
T&T, under coach Bertille St Clair, is currently preparing for the March 26 2006 World Cup qualifier away to Guatemala which will be followed by another World Cup date with Costa Rica four days later at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Already expected to join the team for the upcoming friendly is Japan-based midfielder Silvio Spann while St Clair is also trying to get the services of talented midfielder Joel Bailey who campaigned in the American A-League last season.
Its an excellence chance for us to get a match in against a South American opposition which plays a similar style of football to the teams we will be facing in the upcoming World Cup matches, St Clair told TTFF Media.
Manager Richard Braithwaite could not confirm which other overseas-based pros would be available for the match as the date is clashing with the clubs schedules.
Its not safe yet to say which players will be available but at the same time we are hoping to put together a decent squad for the match because it obviously is a vital warm up for the World Cup matches to come, Braithwaite said. Playing away from home at such conditions is also an opportunity for us to prepare for similar situations we may have to face in this arduous campaign.
FIFA Vice President Jack Warner was informed of Venezuelas interest in hosting T&T in the fund raiser and he didnt hesitate in agreeing that the match would be a good one for the Warriors to partake in.
This is humanitarian and urgent so definitely our footballers will be there to assist in whatever way they can at this time, Warner said. There are people there that are in dire need of help and what better way than playing football in aid of our neighbours.
Venezuela is currently 9th on the ten-team South American table of teams trying to get to the World Cup. Following eleven matches they are on 13 points, same as Chile, Peru and Colombia while Uruguay has 14 points. Argentina currently leads that race with 22 points with Brazil second with 20 points. The Venezuelans next face Colombia in the 2006 campaign on March 26.
T&T is not the only CONCACAF side playing on March 9 as Mexico faces Argentina in another friendly in Los Angeles, while the United States will host Colombia.
Meantime, the TTFF has announced that tickets for the March 26 match against Guatemala at the Mateo Flores Stadium is available to locals. Fans interested shall contact the TTFF Headquarters, Dundonald Street, Port of Spain. Tickets have been priced between US$38 and US$40 for the match against the Guatemalans.