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BY
GREGORY TRUJILLO
LOCAL football fans will witness Dwight Yorke and Russell
Latapy in the red, black and white colours of the national
team for one last time.
The “Soca Warriors” duo will be included in the
line-up of interim national senior coach, Colombian Francisco
Maturana’s team to oppose England on June 1 in the
historical friendly international—the highlight of
the centennial celebrations of the T&T Football Federation
(TTFF).
Both players who have played vital roles for their country
on the football pitch for over two decades, will be guest
players on the side to oppose the Englishmen in a re-match
of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
T&T will be seeking to avenge the 2-0 World Cup defeat
in which the English squad was held to a nail-biting 83
minutes before finally making the break-through.
Yorke is currently playing for Sunderland in the English
Premiership while Latapy is player/coach of Falkirk in the
Scottish First Division.
“We
believe that these two players played a pivotal role in
helping T&T get to the 2006 World Cup,” said TTFF’s
Special Advisor Jack Warner yesterday at a press conference
to announce the T&T versus England match at the La Boucan,
Trinidad HIlton.
“It
is our way of saying thanks to them,” he added.
While both Yorke and Latapy have accepted the invitation,
the English team, which will be at full strength, are refusing
to play the match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Simon Johnson, the director of Public Affairs of the English
FA, said that England is pleased to be part of T&T’s
football centennial celebrations.
However, he pointed out that for the safety of the English
players, the national stadium field is not acceptable.
“We
have to discuss the state of the pitch and unless steps
are taken to improve the standard that field is not suitable
to fit the occasion,” said Johnson.
Johnson also mentioned that England will be coming here
with the strongest possible squad available.
Warner explained yesterday that the venue for the match
is posing a problem because “they (England) have advised
that it is dangerous for their players”.
“It
is no secret ... the field at the stadium is in very poor
condition. We will be going to view the field at Queen’s
Park Oval and if that is acceptable, we may have to play
the match there instead.”
Officials of the English team have also refused to practice
at the stadium and Warner said that the artificial turf
at Marvin Lee Stadium in Tunapuna has been made available
for their training sessions.
Tickets for the match are being made available to over 2,500
English fans stated Warner.
Also coming in for the match, according to the FIFA vice
president, will be over 140 journalists.
“After
this, the rest of the tickets for the match will be available
to the TT public,” he pointed out.
“TT
will not only be seeing the top English players in flesh,
“ stated Warner. “They will also be holding clinics
and moreso working with underprivileged youths to help them
gain a sense of purpose.”
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