TRINIDAD and Tobago football team coach Leo Beenhakker said he’s anxious to have Anton Corneal as part of his technical staff from early next year as the Warriors prepare for their 2006 World Cup campaign beginning against Sweden on June 10.
The Dutchman, in Nuremberg, Germany on Monday to visit his choice of site for TT’s main training base for the tournament, said he would be returning to Trinidad in mid-January to continue preparations with a group of home-based players.
His assistant Wim Rijsbergen will begin the training sessions at an earlier date and Corneal will also work alongside him and will be a full-time member of the technical staff for all training, preparation matches and the trip to Germany.
Another Dutch assistant has been hired, but only to work as a scout and will not be in the same position as Corneal, a former coach of the national Under-20 team.
"He definitely will be part of the team and I will hold further discussions with him on my return to Trinidad because it’s important that he knows what’s happening," Beenhakker said.
The former Ajax boss also said he was somewhat concerned over some of TT’s overseas pros not playing regularly with their clubs but had no fear that it would not put a damper on their readiness for the World Cup. He also intends to look at other England-based players including Ricky Shakes among others as well as a couple now based in Germany who are eligible of playing for TT.
"I will be spending the next few weekends checking out the other players and seeing who might be able to join us," he said.
Beenhakker also spoke to officials of the Wachtelhof Hotel and a sports official in Rotenberg, Reinhard Luedemann, about the passion displayed by the players, officials and fans in TT when the team qualified and he assured them that they will be hosts to a proud bunch from June.
As such efforts are being made to ensure that both set of fans meet up for activities and other events to develop better relationships.
The possibilitity of organising accommodation for fans, close team associates and families in Rotenberg was also an option discussed on Monday.