The proposal put forward by the T&T Football Federation to Sports Minister Roger Boynes for a TT$11.5 million budget on Wednesday, to assist the national football team in its quest for a place among the 32 teams in the 2006 World Cup in Germany has been receiving favourable attention.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his cabinet discussed the proposal in its entirety, and according to usually reliable informed sources, it has received a good response from the members.
Manning is expected to make a public statement on the matter today following another meeting with officials from the Football Federation.
Boynes had stated on Wednesday that because the play-off is such a short time away, he intends to reply to the T&TFF on its proposal by today.
Manning and Boynes also held private discussions on the matter late Wednesday.
The proposal was put forward by T&T Football Federation’s President Oliver Camps, and special advisor and chairman of the Local Organising Committee Germany 2006, Austin “Jack” Warner, during a meeting with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Cecila Greaves-Smith and Sports Minister Roger Boynes at his offices at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Abercromby Street in Port-of-Spain, on Wednesday.
Yesterday, Cabinet considered two proposals, the first is for TT$7.6 million if the Warriors qualify for Germany among the 32 finalists and $3.9 million which is required immediately for the home and away playoff series against Bahrain.
Both sums include the salaries for coach Leo Beenhakker and his two-man Dutch technical staff.
The proposal included the chartering of a flight to Bahrain, the players match fees and incentives and the full management staff fees.
Boynes also mentioned that his ministry will be meeting with corporate T&T to get them on board in support of the World Cup effort.
And yesterday several corporate organisations responded to the call to support the national team financially in their history making effort.
Warner revealed that some of the corporate organisations who have assisted financially so far have been TSTT with just over $3 million in cash and about another three (million) in kind; Busta just over $1 million; KFC has again given us $1 million in cash and about the same amount in kind.
Warner had stated after T&T’s 2-1 victory against Mexico that financial assistance was mostly needed to take T&T to Germany, if the team gets past Bahrain in its playoff on November 12 (home) and November 16 (away).