WARNER
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):
TRINIDAD AND Tobago's Football Federation technical advisor, Jack Warner, has told the Government that the T&T Soca Warriors will not need its financial assistance to prepare for their historic appearance at the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany this summer.
Agitated by a declaration from Sports Minister Roger Boynes last week, that the local football bosses were yet to present a World Cup budget, Warner believes the Government tried to suggest that the T&T Football Federation (TTFF) was tardy in presenting a budget.
"I want to say now, very publicly, that I have spoken to the federation, and the executive has agreed that this Soca Warriors team ... the Government will no longer have to put any money in it," Warner said.
"The team has reached this far without government funding and the team shall reach that far the same way," added Warner, as he spoke on the national team's World Cup budget at a news conference at the Crowne Plaza this week.
Warner clarified that the Government did provide TT$2.6 million (US$413,476) at an 'earlier period', but insisted that the TTFF "shall complete the journey without any further government aid."
TTFF NEEDED TIME
Warner, a deputy leader of the opposition United National Congress (UNC), accused Boynes of behaving 'boyishly' and said the TTFF needed time to prepare a proper budget.
"The simple fact is that no budget could have sensibly been prepared unless all the facts and figures are available, where, by and large, they now are," said Warner said.
Trinidad and Tobago's Soca Warriors secured their first-ever qualification for the World Cup Finals when they beat Bahrain 2-1 on aggregate in a play-off in November and will tackle England, Sweden and Paraguay in Group B first-round matches in Germany in June.
Warner presented at the news conference, financial figures earmarked for the team including salary -- with incentives -- for the coaching staff. Coach Leo Beenhakker, who transformed T&T's World Cup campaign after a rickety start to the CONCACAF Final Round qualifying, is to be paid US$75,000 per month.
