Soca Warriors sign up World Cup contracts.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
UK-based members of the Trinidad and Tobago National Senior team met with the management of the “Soca Warriors” in Manchester last week to discuss and finalize the terms of contract for the 2006 World Cup.
Manager Bruce Aanensen met with the core of players including captain Dwight Yorke where several issues were discussed including the upcoming schedule of events leading up to the World Cup as well as the run of events in T&T when the team assembles on May 7 for the match against Peru.
Among the items addressed in the contract are appearance fees and bonuses, daily per diem, image rights and the conditions of financial allocations to the players fund from sponsorships and other contributions. The specifics on code of conduct was also agreed upon.
Aanensen explained that regarding the image rights of the players, it was negotiated and agreed by the players that any image used by a sponsor or promoter in which six or more players appear, the image is property of the TTFF. But for any image with less than six players, the rights belong to the players and their permission is required before these images can be used. Additionally, all commercial value arising from this use of image, goes to the players fund. In the event of a player’s image being used, outside of the team, or if a player is involved in a promotion outside of a team activity whether it be with his club or other private arrangement, then all commercial value from this belongs to the sole individual.
“Everyone was cooperative and professional, and while the meeting lasted several hours, we had the opportunity to discuss all issues on the agenda prepared in conjunction with the players and everyone expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, Aanensen told TTFF Media. “The end result of the meeting means that the players will not have any contractual issues on their minds and they can prepare to go into the World Cup and the other activities around it, with a total focus on the job at hand.
Players based locally have also met with Aanensen this week and those based in the United States will have their contracts finalized early next week.
The players who have signed contracts but are not selected by Head coach Leo Beenhakker will automatically be released from the contract once the coach has announced his squad of 23 players, which has to be done before the FIFA deadline of 15th May 2006.
