US$13,000 to go to W/Cup.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Newsday).
With just under 100 days before the start of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, All Sport Promotions have scheduled an historic charter flight for die-hard football fans.
At a press briefing yesterday at the CL Duprey Suite of the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, All Sport’s Marketing Director Anthony Harford announced details of the package which will cost US$13,000 for Trinidadians and Tobagonians and an additional US$1,000 for nationals of other regional territories.
Harford further revealed that Republic Bank who is partnering with his company to make the trip a reality, will offer loans of up to $75,000.
Tisha Lee, the bank’s Manager of Corporate Communications, who attended yesterday’s media conference, said that arrangements will also be made for persons on the charter to access a credit card worth a maximum of US$1,000.
The World Cup tour will feature two mouth-watering clashes involving five-time champions Brazil, starting with their opening encounter with North Korea on June 15 and against the Ivory Coast, including Chelsea star Didier Drogba on June 20.
Football fans making the tour will also get the opportunity to watch Diego Maradona’s Argentina and upstarts South Korea on June 17 as well as a match-up between European champions and World Cup favourites Spain and Honduras on June 21.
And before their return home, the TT football fans will witness a clash between Cameroon and the Netherlands on June 24.
Harford said they are catering for 225 more people since to date, already 21 of the packages have been sold.
He explained that they will deliberately miss the opening ceremony but the Air Tahiti flight will arrive in Johnnesburg on June 13 and will tour Gold Reef City and the Apartheid Museum soon after the opening Brazil match.
The charter passengers are also to visit the Kruger Wild Life National Park on June 18 and 19 and will have a wine tour with lunch at Moyo on June 23 before departing for Trinidad and Tobago June 25.
Yesterday Special Advisor to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) and FIFA vice president Jack Warner, in giving his blessing for the tour, urged football fans to make the trip since it will not only be about football, but a historic one as well.
