Millionaire Warriorshttp://guardian.co.tt/news2.html BY GIZELLE MORRIS
After months of secrecy, Prime Minister Patrick Manning unveiled a multi-million-dollar reward package, yesterday, for T&T’s Soca Warriors.
The package included $1.2 million gift and a diplomatic passport for captain Dwight Yorke, $1 million each for the 24 players and the nation’s second highest award for the team.
Addressing the crowd at the Government’s welcome home tribute to T&T’s national football team at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain, Manning said the team deserved a just, fair and reasonable reward for their achievements.
While the crowd shouted its approval, Manning unwrapped a package totalling $ 31 million, the long-promised reward for the team’s qualification for the World Cup Finals in Germany.
It was last month, after private talks with Manning at Whitehall, that Yorke had said Manning promised to reward generously the players and members of the technical staff after the World Cup.
In addition to their cash bonuses, Manning said the Central Bank Governor was asked to arrange workshops on money management for the footballers.
“Save, Warriors, save. Save like Shaka Hislop, put your bounty to good use. You must save for a rainy day, now that you are prosperous and strong,” Manning advised the players.
Manning thanked the footballers for bringing the people of T&T together in unity and scoring “five goals” for T&T.
The goals Manning referred to, however, were off rather than on the football field.
He said the Soca Warriors made T&T known throughout “every nook and cranny” in the world, and kept the flag flying high in the global arena.
The second goal Manning identified was the Warriors’ “inspirational performance” and show of discipline on the football field.
He also thanked the team for helping place T&T’s culture on the world stage and opening the door to further economic growth.
As a result of the headway made in Germany, said Manning, trade missions are planned for Europe, Asia and the Far East with the first delegation to Europe leaving at the end of July.
Manning also said Yorke, who was called out of retirement to captain the team, was a positive leader and indefatigable, articulate helmsman who deserved to be recognised and rewarded for his outstanding leadership.
“As soon as he is available he will join Brian Lara as a sports ambassador for T&T in the international community.”
But while Manning heaped praise on the team for most of his address, Fifa vice president Jack Warner—the man some credit with getting the Soca Warriors to Germany—was mentioned only in passing near the end of the Prime Minister’s speech.
“Finally!” one woman commented as Manning mentioned Warner’s name.
“I would like to thank Mr Austin Jack Warner most sincerely for contributing to the success of the Warriors and the development of football.
“If it was not for his effort, we might not have made it to Germany.”
As the crowd cheered, Manning invited Warner, Beenhakker and Yorke to be a part of discussions to determine the role of Government in getting T&T to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
“We must not only go to South Africa, but qualify for the second round and must be favourites to win in the next World Cup...
“Government will ensure we do everything possible to build on the achievement.”
The Prime Minister also announced a package for the growth of sport in T&T.
This included making the Ato Boldon Stadium home of the national football team and using the Manny Ramjohn stadium in Couva for the development of track and field athletes.
Yorke, who also addressed the fans, thanked Warner and the public for their support.
“It is important to see all of you come out in your numbers to support what we tried to achieve.
“I know some had doubts about the Soca Warriors, but we wanted to prove to the world we belonged on the world stage.”
Later, those members of the team present were awarded the Chaconia Gold Medal by acting President Dr Linda Baboolal, in a special investiture ceremony.
When the team arrived in the Stadium at just after 5 pm to deafening cheers, there were more empty seats than people in the venue, with only the covered stands boasting a crowd.
As the evening wore on, however, people flooded the venue.
As the team members took their seats in a special VIP area, eager fans, mainly scantily-clad women, rushed towards the team and almost succeeded in mobbing the smiling players.
Soldiers and police, armed with large sub-machine guns, had to form a human chain to hold back the mass of bodies.
Among the dignitaries attending the event were former presidents Ellis Clarke and ANR Robinson, who wore a Soca Warriors football jersey, and several members of Manning’s Cabinet.
Included in the generous bounty announced by Prime Minister:
* The nation’s second highest award, the Chaconia Gold Medal, for the 24 footballers who represented T&T in Germany.
* $250,000 each for the 16 members of the national squad who were not selected for the matches, ($200,000 in units from the Unit Trust Corporation, $50,000 in cash)
* $250,000 cash for each of three assistants to Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker.
* $1 million for each of the 24 players who travelled to Germany. ($750,000 in UTC units and $250,000 cash).
* $1 million cash and the Chaconia Gold Medal for Beenhakker.
* $1.2 million for team captain Dwight Yorke ($1 million units, $250, 000 cash), along with the title of His Excellency as a Sports Ambassador of T&T.
