The T&T Warriors would have been in the rain regarding
accommodation, had Austin Jack Warner arrived in Bahrain 12 hours
later that he did on Monday, to make arrangements for T&Ts stay there
for the leg of the play-off on November 16.
The Warriors and their supporters will leave for Bahrain on charter,
four hours after the first leg of the play-off at Hasely Crawford
Stadium at Mucurapo on November 12.
Warner said that T&T will be staying at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in
Manana along with their supporters.
"Bahrain is the financial centre in that part of the world and will
be hosting a big convention around the same time of the return match
on November 16, so had we arrived there later than scheduled we have
found ourselves in some problems in getting hotel space."
Bahrain will be staying at the Trinidad Hilton and will train at the
Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar two days before the match at 6.30pm on
each occasion. The team arrives November 6.
First class facilities
THE scheduled time for the final leg match of the play-off between
T&T and Bahrain is 7 pm. The weather will be very cool, said Austin
Jack Warner who has just visited Bahrain with other TTFF officials to
make arrangements for the T&T team.
"The hospitality on our arrival in Bahrain was spellbound. We were
met by their top officials and whisked away in two separate Mercedes
Benz to the VIP Lounge.
Comparing the training facilities in T&T and Bahrain, Warner said he
was happy with the quality of what he saw in Bahrain.
"Their training fields are right next to the match venue and are
excellent. The grass used on the practice field and the stadium is
also the same and I have informed them that its the same with our
match venue and training fields.
"The National Stadium is an all-seater and can hold 35,000 people,
while the VIP Box, where President George Maxwell Richards will
occupy is a dream. His suite for the duration of the time he will be
in Bahrain is also a beauty.
"Actually none of the facilities for us is more than 20 minutes away
from the hotel."
Boasting of the hospitality Warner said: "Everything was covered by
the Bahrain Federation, even our hotel expenses.
"Its not a war, its about friendship, that's what's its about, but on
the field of play we must battle as hard as we can."
Warner said he did not stay on for the friendly match between Bahrain
and Panama, as he understood that the Bahrain team was not up to full
strength and Panama was using many young players.
"The 5-0 result does not surprise us, in fact we expected more.'
Asked if there was a lot of hype surrounding the match in Bahrain
during his time there, Warner said: "Actually no, but this is because
they are observing the month of Ramdhan. Sometimes they have to force
the players to eat."
Bahrain camp in Jamaica
Bahrain will camp in Jamaica after all, in preparation for the World
Cup play-off first leg with T&T on November 12.
FIFA vice-president and TTFF special advisor Jack Warner yesterday
announced at a press conference at the Courtyard Marriott, Audrey
Jeffers Highway, that Bahrain will camp in Jamaica for six days prior
to the fist leg of the play-off against T&T.
The training camp was called off earlier this week after Bahrain said
that Jamaica had asked for B$350,000.
***************************************************
Roj (Roger James)
