New Era to honour heroes.
Trinidad Newsday.
An organisation called New Era Incorporated Company Limited (NEI) is planning “A Tribute to Legends of Soccer — An Evening of Honour” at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. Their plan include a match-up between the Strike Squad and the USA squad for World Cup Italia ‘90 — the November 19 rematch. And already, Taylor and his organisation which include Carl Goodridge and Hayden John have contacted Desmond Armstrong co-ordinator of Team USA who confirmed their participation. In their April 9 venture, NEI headed by attorney Peter AC Taylor plans to pay homage to past and present national football heroes between 1966 to the current period. According to Taylor, NEI propose to honour World Cup players from the 1966, 1974, 1990 and current eras with special customised medals.
Added to the feature match will be an encounter between an Intercol XI and a national Under-16 team. The organisers will also put on a cultural show featuring Maximus Dan, Iwer George, Ronnie McIntosh and other leading soca artistes along with steelband, tassa drummers and moko jumbies. To this end, NEI have been in contact with officials at the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs and leading corporate sponsors. NEI have also produced a fund-raising proposal called “World Cup 2006 and Beyond.” This is to recognise the contributions made by national heroes, football in particular, with an objective to honour past and present pioneers, to mobilise national and regional support for the Soca Warriors on their journey to Germany and to further promote and develop football among the youth.
At their awards ceremony, NEI propose to make a presentation to FIFA vice-president Jack Warner for his outstanding contribution and tireless devotion to the development of football throughout Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. And NEI propose to invite President of the Republic Professor George Maxwell Richards to make the presentation to Warner. Invitations are also to be sent to Brian Lara, Wendy Fitzwilliam, Giselle La Ronde West, Hasely Crawford and Janelle “Penny” Commissiong who will make presentations of medals to the honourees. The entire package is intended to set the stage for the Soca Warriors farewell match against Peru on May 10, which NEI said will be a fitting climax before the team’s departure for Germany.
