ALTHOUGH they missed out on qualifying for the World Cup Finals back in 1973, surviving members of that famous team will be going to Germany next year.
It is understood that former St. Benedict’s College footballer Bede Wells is the brainchild behind the move to honour the Trinidad and Tobago’s team which was deprived of achieving history by match officials.
Trinidad and Tobago scored five goals in a final qualifier against Haiti in 1973, but lost 2-1 which enabled the Haitians to play in the World Cup in then West Germany.
Well, in collaboration with his company located in Ghana, is making the gesture possible for the former outstanding national footballers who started the dream which was finally realised last month when the Soca Warriors qualified for the Finals next year which incidentally will be held in Germany next year.
Apart from members of the 1973 team who live in Trinidad and Tobago, Wells is also attempting to contact players who have migrated to the United States and elsewhere.
It is understood that former Strike Squad coach and former national midfielder Everald "Gally" Cummings, who was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 1973 qualifying tournament, has already agreed to take up the offer.
And it is expected that other members of the team, regarded as one of the best ever national line-ups, will take the opportunity to participate in the historic occasion when Trinidad and Tobago play in the World Cup Finals for the first time. The 1973 team includes goalkeepers — Gerald Figeroux and Kelvin Barclay and Devernish "Finey" Paul; defenders — Raymond Moraldo, captain Selwyn Murren, Selris Figaro, Winston Phillips, Warren Archibald and Leroy Deleon; midfielders — Cummings, Sydney Augustine, Leon Carpette, Anthony Douglas, and Peter Mitchell; and strikers — Steve Khan, Ray Roberts, Leo Brewster, Steve David and Wilfred Cave.
The gesture is expected to cost more than $150,000 but thoroughly deserving by the ex-national footballers who could give a big psychological boost to the present crop.
The 1989 team, popularly known as the Strike Squad also came within a point of qualifying for the World Cup Finals in Italy, but were beaten by the United States at the Hasely Crawford Stadium when needing only a draw to qualify.
Trinidad and Tobago have been drawn in Group "B" with England, Sweden and Paraguay in next year’s Finals.
They open their campaign against Sweden on June 10 in Dortmund; then play top seeds England in Nuremberg five days later; and in the final group match come up against Paraguay on June 20 in Kaiserslautern.