Soca Warriors star in Esquire magazine.
By: Shaun Fuentes.Following qualification for the 2006 World Cup this country’s football profile has risen over the past few months with much interest being shown in the “Soca Warriors” particularly around their big match ups against England, Sweden and Paraguay.
They have been on the wanted lists of several top media publications both television and print and so far while there have been precautionary measures to ensure that the extra promotional activities in no way affects the team’s preparations, skipper Dwight Yorke and his teammates have done a fairly good job of keeping the team and by extent the country’s image alive.
Among the latest attractions has come in the form of an eight-page pull out in the established men’s magazine -
Esquire. The BBC and the Daily Record has some of the players doing World Cup diaries while Scottish drink Irn-Bru has Jason Scotland involved in an advertising campaign. E-Bay and Italian-based company Panini SPA have also signed deals to use the Soca Warriors as part of its World Cup promotions.
Following initial set ups through TTFF international relations consultant Mike Berry, players Dwight Yorke, Chris Birchall, Jason Scotland, Kenwyne Jones, Brent Sancho, Dennis Lawrence and stand by Hector Sam were all featured in the June issue. With England’s Joe Cole on the cover, the Soca Warriors also grabbed a sub heading “ Trinidad and Tobago –meet the minnows taking on the three lions”.
“This is all part of the exposure the boys and by extent the country has gained through their qualification and the fact is that everyone wants to know more about Trinidad and Tobago especially as we’re the smallest nation ever to go to the World Cup,” Berry told TTFF Media.
The players were all outfitted in designer wear for the photo shoot with Yorke sporting a Paul Smith wool suit valued at £500, Missoni cotton shirt (£155) and Canvas trainers (£30). Jones’ Ermenegildo Zegna wool suit was priced at £699 and Hogan trainers at £185 while Sancho’s Giorgio Armani wool suit and trousers came up to £940. Birchall, Jack, Sam Scotland and Lawrence also sported suits and other accessories from Hugo Boss, Armani, Polo Ralph Lauren, Burberry London, Gap, Missoni, Umbro, Puma and Adidas in the range of £700 and up.
With their profiles also printed on the pages, among the questions put forward to Lawrence by Esquire was how would he celebrate if T&T defeated England and his response couldn’t have been better than: “Just the same as if we beat Mexico or anyone else. The England game is not the only game we’re interested in winning. We want to win all the games we play.”
Berry went on to add that this was just part of what the team was picking up after booking their tickets to Germany.
“It’s not just Esquire but you realize that a lot of publications are interested in the guys and it’s a whole different type of opportunities for them. Obviously the main focus is to get ready for the World Cup and play your hearts out which is what the team is aiming for with all the preparations across here. But at the same time there are numerous bonuses for those involved within the set up,” Berry said.
