TRINIDAD AND Tobago football fans will see the 2006 World Cup qualifying encounter against Costa Rica tomorrow in Tegucigalpa on the National Carnival Commission (NCC) TV channel four from 9 pm.
CONCACAF president and Special Advisor to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) Jack Warner said yesterday that the initiative was a costly agreement between himself and the NCC.
Warner had also made "live" television transmission of the exciting 3-2 win by the Trinidad and Tobago over Guatemala at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Saturday. He said it was an 43rd Independence Day gift.
Warner said however it was impossible to organise chartered flights for local supporters to travel to the Costa Rican capital for the match.
He said huge costs have prevented this from happening and was reluctant to reveal how much the undertaking would involve.
Warner said in the past he has lost a lot of money with chartered flights for national football matches.
Tomorrow’s encounter with the central American Ticos is being looked at as "a decider" if the Warriors are to secure a place in next year’s World Cup Finals in Germany.
Trinidad and Tobago are now on seven points along with the Guatemalans.
Costa Rica are three points ahead on ten. A win for Trinidad and Tobago will push the team level on ten points with the home team with two matches to go.
The Warriors will next face cellar-placed Pana-ma and a victory is not remote which will boost TT to 13 points.
The Costa Ricans will have a much tougher assignment in their next encounter with the United States who have already qualified for Germany, beating Mexico 2-0 on Saturday to top the standings.
Guatemala meanwhile would have had two difficult matches which if they lose or draw will work in Trinidad and Tobago’s favour.
Tomorrow they play the United States and will then meet the Mexicans who will be looking for a comprehensive win following their shock defeat to the US.
In the best case scenario for the Warriors, the Costa Ricans would go to 16 points if they win their last two matches. Trinidad and Tobago would also move to 16 points— should they defeat Costa Rica, Panama and the Mexicans in the last match at home.
Then goal difference could be the determining factor to find the fourth qualifier from the group, with Trinidad and Tobago or Costa Rica heading into a play-off.
Meanwhile Richard Braithwaite, Director of Development at CONCACAF has described the win as "a wonderful performance which has put the team right back into the picture."
"We should be able to get at least a point from Costa Rica and then we have Panama next who are virtually out of it," Braithwaite said yesterday.
The top football administrator praised Sydney FC striker Dwight Yorke for his performance, saying that Yorke has indicated that he is not only a great player but also a good captain.
He noted that Yorke, together with Shaka Hislop, David Nakhid and off course Russell Latapy are part of a very unique group in the history of Trinidad and Tobago football.
He stressed that the players have all captained the national team and represent the most successful group of players produced locally.
Braithwaite said he was happy to see all the players back and involved in the 2006 World Cup campaign and it will be a fitting climax to their careers if they could all be there in Germany for the finals.
He said Warner deserves special credit for ensuring that the most talented players have been brought together for the Journey to Germany.