Top local telecommunications group Bmobile has joined the list of sponsors for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, here in Trinidad and Tobago, from September 5 to 25.
The launch took place at the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) Corporate Box, Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain yesterday.
In welcoming Bmobile as part of the event’s sponsors, Nataki Kerr, deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the World Cup’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) said the firm is “one of the life-long partners of Trinidad football, officially as one of our national supporters.
“The national supporter is the term that is used to describe a sponsor for a World Cup,” she said. “So they (TSTT) is one of our national sponsors. We’ll like to say thank you to TSTT for extending their hand in partnership.”
Bmobile joins Hyatt Regency Trinidad and Red 96.7 FM as the local supporters, while Adidas, Hyundai, Coca Cola, Sony, Emirates and Visa are the official FIFA partners.
Kerr added that Bmobile will also be sponsoring the team’s training, in both etiquette and protocol, starting yesterday — an arrangement which was not included in the contractual agreement.
Diane De Souza, vice-president of corporate marketing at TSTT, said: “Today I’m here on behalf of TSTT, who’ve agreed to support this event, both in cash and in kind.”
She declined to reveal the financial input by her company, saying “unfortunately that was part of a contract with FIFA.”
However, she made it clear that “we’re also providing in equivalent value, in communications services for the nearly month-long event.
“This includes mobile phones with airtime, communications infrastructure at all stadia and at the secretariat office at the Hyatt,” De Souza added. “This will also cover the international and local media covering the event. We will also be assisting with the advertising and marketing for this event.”
Concerning the overall preparations for the World Cup, Kerr stressed: “Anybody who want to buy tickets needs to buy their tickets now. People are calling in presently,” she added. “I’ll like to advice the public to buy their tickets as fast as possible.”
Kerr noted that the ticket sales (the costs range from $20-$60 per match) has been well-received by the local football fans, while allocations will be made for foreign supporters who come to Trinidad and Tobago for the event.
With regards to the readiness of the five stadia (Hasely Crawford in Mucurapo, Larry Gomes in Malabar, Ato Boldon in Couva, Manny Ramjohn in Marabella and Dwight Yorke in Bacolet, Tobago), Kerr said: “I know that we have several concerns with regards to all our stadia.
“I remain very positive that we’ll be ready by September 5,” she noted. “I remain very positive and confident, in the Government of the day, that they are working hand-in-hand with us.”
The LOC’s deputy CEO pointed out that the 15 other teams will be arriving in Trinidad and Tobago from August 26.
All set for Under-17 World Cup.
By Roger Seepersad (T&T Express).
Nataki Kerr, deputy CEO and marketing director for the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010, is confident that the venues for next month's event will be ready on time.
Kerr, speaking yesterday at a joint press conference with Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) at their Hospitality Suite at Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain, said the LOC were committed to the cause of hosting a successful event.
Four venues in Trinidad--Hasely Crawford Stadium, Ato Boldon Stadium, Manny Ramjohn Stadium and Larry Gomes Stadium--and one in Tobago--Dwight Yorke Stadium--will host 32 matches from September 5-25.
"I remain very positive that we will be ready for September 5," said Kerr.
She explained that there were inspections done by FIFA earlier this year and that the LOC were in the final stages of ensuring that the stadiums comply with international standards.
"They have started work on all the fields and there was some infrastructure work to be completed. FIFA did give us some guidelines as to what needs to be done and we are just making sure we meet the requirements as best as possible.There should be inspections in the next couple of weeks," said Kerr.
"We are on a quest for perfection. We are burning the midnight oil," added LOC communications manager Hema Ramkissoon.
Dianna De Sousa, vice-president of Customer Service and Corporate Marketing at TSTT, was also on hand to launch the official World Cup song, entitled Girls Can Kick Too.
The song was composed and produced by Daryl Braxton, featuring Terri Lyons, Raymond Ramnarine, Super Jigga TC and Devon Matthews.
Speaking about the World Cup song, De Sousa said: "We feel that this song captures the essence of this event...the excitement, the sportsmanship and the striving for excellence that these young athletes are going to show to their international audience."
De Sousa also said that TSTT were going beyond monetary sponsorship, pointing out their commitment to the development of the athletes.
One way they are going beyond was etiquette and protocol training sessions that TSTT organised for the national Under-17 girls which began yesterday.
The T&T Under-17 squad will be on show today at Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, where they take on the senior national women's team from 4 p.m. in a warm-up match for the World Cup.
Competing teams begin arriving in T&T from August 26 to September 1.