FIFA Vice President Jack Warner, a man holding the same post for the Caribbean Football Union, has had many a reason to nod his head in a positive fashion over the last few days based on what he has experienced in the ongoing Digicel Caribbean Cup.
Warner, on Friday at his CONCACAF office in Port of Spain, complimented Digicel and officials of the local organizing committee for its running of the tournament so far, not forgetting the teams for what he described as a professional and promising display of football as the tournament went into the semi-final stage on the weekend.
“We couldn’t have hoped for a better competition and I want to thank Digicel for their commitment and efforts throughout the entire period. The quality of the organization and the promotion of the event itself has been of a high standard. In the past when we had four teams, now we have eight in the finals and with this we have shown that we can handle more teams and more football,” Warner told TTFF Media.
“What I think is interesting is that we now have the best four teams in the Caribbean going through to the CONCACAF Gold Cup and they will be playing for some handsome cash awards not just at the Gold Cup but also in this Caribbean Cup all thanks to Digicel. And I must mention too that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, even though they have not yet received their cash rewards for this tournament, have already paid out their monies to the players and staff and members,” Warner added. “And if they win the tournament they have more to get. What they have received already and could end up receiving further after the last stage is what had agreed with them (T&T team) before the start of the tournament.”
The CONCACAF President also recognized the mix in nations representing the region at the Gold Cup.
“The fact is that we now have Guadeloupe playing in the Gold Cup for the first time and again that is a credit to Caribbean football. We have one English-speaking team, two French teams and one Spanish team. Then of course we also have players attracting MLS interest, one from Joe Public too and there will be others to follow as they are being looked at by scouts from Mexico and the US who have been sitting in the stands watching Caribbean football. And not to forget Europe and other parts who have seen the football on their television screens and will be requesting more footage,” Warner stated.
Warner, from a T&T standpoint, said head coach Wim Rijsbergen, his staff and players deserved full credit for results they have achieved. Their performances have resulted in a friendly international match against Costa Rica there on February 4 and also an invitation from Panama to play there on January 31
“If you remember it’s the same faith we kept before, even myself, with Leo Beenhakker and we have done it with Wim too. When everyone was calling for Stern John’s head, Leo kept the faith and Stern came through big time for us in the critical time and people tend to forget that. And the same has happened to Wim. He has performed a similar feat with this team because no one really knew what to expect from him and the team in this tournament. Now we have Panama and Costa Rica wanting to play these same guys.
“It proves too that we don’t have to rely totally on our overseas-based players. We have home grown talent and if we get the proper funding, we will be able to groom them and get them ready in time for the World Cup qualifying and make this country proud again. Mexico has a totally local team and so too does Cuba. We hope the funding will come for this team because I repeat that up to this point in time TTFF is yet to receive a nickle from the Government towards the preparations and the salaries of the coaches. I have paid their salaries since July and this continues. What more else must the players do again...They have shown it on the field of play We also hope the funding can come for the Pro League because that can be a feeder for this national team program,” Warner continued.
He pointed out too that he expects to get a response from Transport Minister Colm Imbert who has been written too on request of Priority Bus Route passes for the national team. The national team, following its training session on Friday morning at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, had to face at least an extra 45 minutes in traffic on the Beetham Highway on its way back to the Crowne Plaza.
“These things have been written about to Minister Imbert and normally he is considerate and generous towards these things in the past and I sure hope he does the same with this.”
Turning back to the tournament, Warner spoke well off the officiating and appealed to the four teams who went home in the first round to build on their accomplishments up to that point.
“The other teams have also left here with their heads high like Guyana and St Vincent and the others. They must not see this elimination as a setback but should use it as a catalyst for future success. And then of course you have the coaches, persons like Jamaal Shabazz who have performed creditably and local coaches must look at this and try to aspire similarly. The officiating too has been good and this augers well for the future of football in the region. I am particularly pleased and so too is the tournament’s referee’s inspectors with the work from officials like Neil Brizan and Courtney Campbell and then you have others who have done their part well,” Warner said.