Tickets for USA qualifier on sale Friday
By JOEL BAILEY (NEWSDAY).
PRESIDENT OF the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) Raymond Tim Kee has called on a large fan support for the 2018 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Zone Fourth Round Group C qualifier at home to the United States on November 17 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Tickets will go on sale on Friday for the fixture, with fans required to pay $300 for the covered section and $150 for the uncovered section.
In a media conference at the TTFA office, Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday, Tim Kee said, “November 19 (1989) is history. We are now facing another World Cup encounter, two days (ahead) in terms of digits.
“I would really like to see people come out and support that game,” he added. “And I want to say to all those people who got complimentary tickets, let your conscience be your guide and know that we need money, the players need to be paid. Everybody with complimentary passes, you can leave it home.” Tim Kee made it clear that, “it’s a World Cup qualifying game. The prices are quite moderate. I hope it’s a sell-out (crowd).” Concerning the cost of the tickets, Tim Kee emphasised, “we have to pay FIFA fees, as well as CONCACAF.
We have ground transportation, players’ accommodation, and World Cup teams don’t go in any two-star hotel, and of course the match fees and all the other expenses.
“The cost of police and fire (personnel) sometimes could be thousands of dollars,” he added. “All those costs have to be borne by us and we are not accustomed to getting (a reduction) of those charges.” The first set of tickets will be sold online at islandetickets.com while the second batch will go on sale next week at all Sports and Games, and Fan Club, outlets nationwide, Kenny’s Sports Centre in Port-of -Spain, Ramsingh’s Sports World in Couva, and at Fan Zone Store in Chaguanas.
In related news, the USA qualifier will begin at 7.36 pm and, according to TTFA media officer Shaun Fuentes, the time has been strategically set “due to international broadcast rights and the airing of the game as well.” As far as the November 13 qualifier away to Guatemala is concerned, Tim Kee pointed out that plans for a charter flight to take fans to the Central American nation were squashed due to financial issues.
However, the Stephen Hartcoached squad will have a training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States for a few days before travelling to Guatemala.
