Letter to the Trinidad Express
Once again Austin "Jack" Warner is set to benefit from ticket sales at the world's premiere sporting event. It is perhaps now common knowledge that his travel agency - Simpaul Travel Service - has the sole rights for match tickets for at least our preliminary round matches at next year's World Cup finals. I have verified this by checking with other travel agents and the local football body, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF).
If Simpaul's package was reasonably priced, I would have no problem in purchasing from them. But look carefully at their newspaper advertisement and evaluate what they are offering for TT$30,000 (not the deluxe package). You will only get 12 nights' accommodation, tickets for our Group B matches and some supporters' paraphemalia. No arrangements are made if we qualify for the next round. Let us assume what the basic package offers - Category 3 tickets (at 45 Euros each) and a three-star hotel (at 100 Euros per night). Leave the higher categories for their deluxe package. The total cost of 1,335 Euros comes up to a bit over TT$10,000 - a whopping 200 per cent return on investment, made only possible by Mr Warner's connections.
And when you look at their caption - "Ticket or Leave It", this arrogance shows no consideration for the grassroots football lover. This deluxe package is more suited for those who want to party - not for the true football lovers. We simply want to be there to support our national team. It seems that we are victims of the politics for we have not heard a word from the Minister of Sport or officials of the TTFF.
The Sunday Express has Mr Warner on its list of nominees for the "Individual of the Year" award. Kindly investigate his claims for all the funds he keeps pumping into local football against the benefits he allegedly gains from it due to his position as FIFA's vice president.
There are others like myself who have relatives living in Germany. Our accommodation cost will be negligible. I called Simpaul requesting a quote for match tickets and airfare alone. I was told that all that they can offer is one of the two packages - "Ticket or Leave It". What are we supposed to do? The other option is on-line purchasing which is based on a lottery system. Can we depend on luck when such a trip will require financing, arrangements for vacation leave etc?
Let us not have to miss out on this opportunity which for some of us took a lifetime. Can we wait for another 16 years? Mr Warner, the tickets are in your hands, but they belong to our true football loving patriots.
True Football Lover
San Rafael