By CLINT CHAN TACK Friday, May 1 2009
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SPORTS MINISTER Gary Hunt yesterday remained hopeful that Trinidad and Tobago’s 2010 World Cup qualifiers against CONCACAF powerhouse Mexico will not be affected by the swine flu virus which has killed 159 persons in that country.
The “Soca Warriors” are scheduled to play the Tri Color in Mexico City on June 10 and again in Port-of-Spain on October 14.
Addressing the post-Cabinet news conference at the Prime Minister’s Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, Hunt said no discussions have taken place about postponing either of these matches because of the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico which has since spread to other countries.
The minister said whether those games proceed as planned depends on talks between the World Health Organisation (WHO), FIFA, the TT and Mexican football federations.
“Certainly we would hope that things would proceed as normal so that we could qualify for next year’s World Cup,” he said.
The Warriors’ next World Cup qualifier is against Costa Rica here on June 6. Currently, the situation in Mexico is bleak with their government indicating they were unable to host the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) Aquatic Championships carded for June 28 to July 5.
President of CCCAN, Orban Mendoza said “It is impossible to determine or guarantee the start of CCCAN Championships in Mexico City due to the risk that exists in contracting the virus.”
He added “It is for this reason that regrettably the CCCAN executive committee has cancelled these Championships in Mexico City and Cuernavaca, Mexico.”
The CCCAN executive committee has set a May 10 deadline for one of the member federations to host all of some of the five disciplines which are; swimming, synchronised swimming, water polo, open water swimming and diving. On Tuesday the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT) held discussions about finding a solution to the debacle with other federations working feverishly to find a solution. ASATT has deferred selections of its team managers pending a solution to the situation.
On Wednesday, the TT Under-17 team was cleared by the Health Ministry to go home, after they returned home from Mexico. The team had been participating in the CONCACAF Under-17 when the swine flu virus outbreak took place there.
Hunt also said preparations for this country’s hosting of the inaugural Caribbean Games in July were on schedule and within budget.
The minister said over 1,200 athletes have already registered to participate in these games.
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