West Indies cricket icon Brian Lara, president of the Local Organising Committee of Germany’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Steffi Jones, Trinidad and Tobago’s boxing sensation Ria Ramnarine and hockey superstar Stacey Siu-Butt are in the star-studded cast of athletes expected to grace the stage of the Draw Ceremony of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010.
The sports stars have agreed to be Draw Assistants for the ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on May 5 at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain Trinidad.
Chairman of the FIFA Organising Committees of the FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women’s World Cups, Franz Beckenbauer will also be attending the gala ceremony.
The Local Organising Committee of the event is promising a spectacular show which is truly representative of Trinidad and Tobago’s unique and diverse culture.
Chairman of the LOC and FIFA Vice President Jack Warner says the draw is yet another stepping stone on Trinidad and Tobago’s journey to become the home of Women’s Football.
“The fact that some of Trinidad and Tobago’s most prominent athletes have agreed to lend support to this event is testament to the growing popularity of women’s football in this country. This event will once again showcase this nation’s ability to host world class events. Trinidad and Tobago has the passion and the drive to host a successful Women’s World Cup,” Warner said.
“I wish all of the teams the very best and I look forward to welcoming the world to our beautiful island. I promise not only an unforgettable night but also an exceptional and memorable event,” Warner stated.
The draw will determine the fixtures for the group stage of the competition, which will be played at five venues in Trinidad and Tobago — The Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain; the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella; the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar; the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva; and the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago will host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup from September 5 to 25.
Draw Assistants:
Brian Charles Lara, (Born May 2, 1969, in Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago), is a former West Indian international cricket player. He topped the Test batting rankings on several occasions and holds several cricketing records.
Lara holds the record for the highest individual score in First-class cricket, with 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994, which is the only quintuple hundred in First-Class cricket history.
He also holds the record for the highest individual score in a Test innings after scoring 400 not out against England at Antigua in 2004. He is the only batsman to have ever scored a hundred, a double century, a triple century, a quadruple century and a quintuple century in First Class matches over the course of his senior career.
Steffi Jones, (Born December 22, 1972 in Frankfurt and Maine) is a former International German football defender. She scored nine goals in 111 caps for the German national team between 1993 and 2007) .
In March 2007, she retired from the national team and in December 2007 she announced her retirement from active football to become president of the Local Organising Committee of FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Germany 2010.
Jones’ first cap for Germany was earned in 1993. From 1997, she won three consecutive European Championships with the German team, earned an Olympic bronze at the 2000 Summer Olympics and was part of the national squad that won the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Ria Ramnarine (Born October 12, 1978 in Carapichaima, Trinidad and Tobago),she made her boxing debut in Port-of-Spain on December 9, 1999, and won the WIBA Mini Flyweight World title on May 27, 2005 at the Jean Pierre Complex in Port-of-Spain. On July 31, 2009, she won the interim WBA Female minimum weight title against Ana Fernández in August 20, 2009.
She is 5 feet 2 inches tall and 110–105 lbs, and is also active in Muay Thai events.
Stacey Siu-Butt, Trinidad and Tobago’s hockey field has never been the same since Stacey Siu Butt picked up a hockey stick in 1985.
Born into an athletic family where her mother Mary Siu Butt was a national field hockey goalkeeper for over 17 years, playing field hockey for her came like second nature.
The 37 year-old midfielder/forward has helped put Trinidad and Tobago on the map several times including qualification to two World Cup tournaments in 1992 and 2002.
She also guided her university (American University) in Washington DC, USA to their first ever national ranking breaking numerous records from 1994 to 1997.