Trinidad and Tobago’s FIFA Vice President Jack Warner was on Sunday honoured by the Brazilian Football Federation for his contribution to football youth development over the past two decades.
Warner, currently in the Netherlands for the ongoing FIFA World Youth Championship said he had all reason to smile after being recognized by a powerhouse in world football for his work in ensuring that football was being developed at the lower levels as well.
But aside from that, Warner was thrilled to reveal that while the Youth Championship is the centre of attraction there, the news of Leo Beenhakker’s progress along with the T&T Senior team has also drawn attention of the Dutchmen.
Beenhakker, an ex-Dutch national team coach and assistants Theo De Jonk and Wim Rhisbergen who both played for the Dutch Senior team have been working with the “Warriors” for over a month now and this has not gone unnoticed back in their native land as even Dutch television crews were in Port of Spain to follow the 2-0 win over Panama and have been in contact with TTFF Media on an regular basis.
“I have gone to over six venues over the last few days in Tilburg, Emmen, Kerkrade and people are all enthusiastic about our country’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup. The two presidents, Sepp Blatter of FIFA and Dr Mathieu Sprengers of the Dutch FA felt we made the correct choice and generally the feeling is that Leo is the man to take us to the World Cup,” Warner told TTFF Media from the Netherlands on Monday.
“Guus Hiddink also spoke to me saying that the decision on Leo was a good one and he felt we could go all the way.”
“He added that we maybe need to tighten up our defense but generally the team’s play was good. I for one felt they have played well in the last two games and even in defeat to Mexico I felt they had done a good job. I am pleased with the investment in the staff and the commitment shown by everyone and this augers very well for our upcoming games starting with the one against the USA in August,” added Warner who is also chairman of the organizing committee for the World Youth Championship.
He mentioned that the administration was trying to ensure that conditions were well set for the team.
“There has been a general transition in the team and we are trying to ensure that the players are taken care of. All allowances and payments are being made promptly and you will realize too that there are no more outstanding payments for any player on the team. Problems are being discussed and sorted out and this also stems from what Bruce Aanensen and his management staff have been doing since coming on board. We are going the distance to make this dream a reality,” Warner said.
Next up the team will travel to the Hilton in Ft Lauderdale for a training camp a week in advance to its opening CONCACAF Gold Cup match against Honduras on July 6. Warner meantime travels to Germany for a FIFA Finance Committee meeting next week and is then off to the Confederations Cup Finals before returning to Holland for the World Youth Final and then the Gold Cup.