Cold welcome for U-17s in T&T.
By: Karyl Walker (Jamaica Observer).
Despite travelling for over eight hours to get to the twin-island republic of Trinidad & Tobago for a Caribbean Football Union (CFU) tournament, the Under-17 Jamaican, Turks & Caicos and Cuban football teams were given the cold shoulder upon arrival at the Piarco International Airport in the capital of Port of Spain on Tuesday.
No official from the Trinidad Football Federation was on hand to welcome the visiting teams. The abandonment of the visiting teams forced head of the Jamaican delegation, Carlton 'Spanner' Dennis, to use his initiative and coerce customs and immigration officials to process the Jamaican delegation speedily. The Cuban and Turks & Caicos Islands teams were not so lucky, however, and had to endure a long wait to be processed.
"This is not the way we treat visitors when they come to Jamaica. The boys have been travelling for over eight hours and no one is here to greet them and see that they are taken care of," a peeved Dennis remarked.
But the young Boyz's plight had just begun as after they were processed by airport officials, there was apparently no provisions made for a tour bus to take them to the Ambassador Hotel in the district of St James.
However, quick action on the part of the home country's officials resulted in two "maxi taxis" being contracted at the last minute to ferry the young Jamaicans and their luggage.
The situation almost sunk further into controversy after inadequate food was prepared for the team. One member of the hotel kitchen staff was overheard rebuking some members of the team for sharing their food too heavily. The situation caused team coach Christopher Dawes to almost lose his cool.
"The youths have been travelling from morning. They are a teenage sports team and they have to eat adequately," Dawes said. But despite the hitches, the young Boyz settled in nicely and were tucked in by midnight.
They team underwent a light training session yesterday morning before a more intense session later in the day. The Jamaicans are among 21 under-17 national teams participating in the CFU Youth Cup 2008, which runs from 31 July to August 10. The Jamaicans will take on Antigua and Barbuda in the opener today.
The tournament will see six groups playing at five venues in Trinidad & Tobago during the first round - Fatima College Ground; Guaracara Park; St Mary's College Ground; Tobago; University of the West Indies field and Marvin Lee Stadium, where the Jamaicans will see first-round action.
The six group winners, along with two best second-placed finishers, will progress to the quarter-finals on August 6. The semi-finals and final will take place at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya on August 8 and 10, respectively.
