THA to spend $.5m on Costa Rica game
Tobago News
The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is spending in excess of $.5 million to host the Trinidad and Tobago versus Costa Rica World Cup Football qualifying match at the Dwight Yorke Stadium on June 6.
This was disclosed by Chief Secretary Orville London at last week's Wednesday post Executive Council media briefing.
London further disclosed that the THA had made a formal request to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) to have this match played in Tobago. Additionally, he said, arrangements were being made for Tobagonians to receive special ticket concessions for the game.
TTFF adviser Austin Jack Warner had quoted the admission prices to be $400 for the covered stand and $200 for the open stand.
London said this will be the first time that the Tobago born, international football icon, Dwight Yorke, will be playing at an official international tournament in Tobago at the Stadium built in his honour.
Meanwhile, London disclosed that it will cost $12 million to construct the swimming pool of international standards at Courland. The THA will partner with the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) to provide this pool for Tobagonians. The sod-turning Ceremony to signal the construction of the swimming facility took place last week Tuesday.
Tobago to host World Cup qualifier
Tobago News
History will be created on June 6 as the first ever World Cup qualifier will be hosted at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet. The "Soca Warriors" will face Costa Rica in a crucial encounter which can have a significant bearing on our qualification for South Africa 2010.
Jack Warner, Special Advisor to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF), FIFA vice president and CONCACAF president made the announcement as he unveiled plans for the historic event, recently, following negotiations that involved the Tobago Football Association (TFA), the Tobago House of Assembly and Tobago's most famous footballer, Dwight Yorke.
The Tobago House of Assembly is expected to foot the bill for the accommodation of players and officials, transport and security during the game.
Harvey Jack, newly re-elected president of the TFA sees the event as a leveling of the playing field for Tobagonians, who normally would have to incur great expense to show their support for the Soca Warriors when games are hosted in Trinidad.
"Our sports tourism market here in Tobago will also benefit as we anticipate at least four thousand visitors to the island for the event," he noted.
"Seeing our football stars perform up close, I hope would enthuse the talented young footballers who are aspiring for national duty or to make football their livelihood," he noted.
The TFA have been charged with providing liaison officers, ball boys, flag bearers and house announcers for the game which means that we will have an integral role in the event.
However, the Dwight Yorke Stadium has been plagued with several problems within recent months. Among them are a faulty perimeter fencing, an unreliable water supply, faulty PA system, scoreboard and lighting that must be corrected if this event is to be staged successfully. Both the management of the facility and the THA will need to work assiduously if these problems are to be alleviated in time for this historic occasion.
The decision to play in Tobago, it is hoped, will give the "Soca Warriors" an added advantage over their opponent, who is expecting to play at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. The National team is expected to arrive on the island well in advance of the game as the foreign based players would be at the end of their English season. Newly appointed coach Russell Latapy is hoping to host a ten-day camp for the team prior to the game. Tobagonians can expect to see not only Dwight Yorke in action, but former Coaching School and Petrotrin standout, Keon Daniel and USA-based Makan Hislop, all Tobago products.
They will be members of the squad that will be travelling to Tobago for the decisive game.
If the response in 2001, for the Under-20 World Cup is any indicator to go by, then a number of spectators might be left disappointed. Inquires have already started for tickets for the 7,500-seater stadium.
Jack said that he would like 5,000 tickets to be made available to the Tobago public for the game.