Warriors to hold public session today

Soca Warriors training session will be an open affair today from 5 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo as coach Stephen Hart and captain Kenwyne Jones invites members of the public to get an up close view of the team before it departs for Buenos Aires on the weekend.

During the open session, fans will have the opportunity to meet the players for photo ops and autographs at the end of the session which is expected to go until 7pm.

Jones, who is spearheading the team for the game against the Argentines on Wednesday in Buenos Aires and then Iran three days later in Sao Paolo, is eagerly anticipating the run of events over the next few days.

“It’s been a good few days of preparation for us and every player is really up for the challenge ahead in these two matches. I’d like to think also that the public at large is keen on getting behind the team as this is all preparation for the future competitions like the Caribbean Cup, Gold Cup and of course the most important of them all which is qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia,” Jones of the Cardiff City.

“We all know these two games will be anything but easy but it’s where we want to be in terms of the challenges we are facing when it comes to playing at this level of the game. We’ll be doing our best to ensure we are ready for it and hopefully the fans can get behind the team and certainly we’ll be looking forward to having some of them, especially the younger ones, coming out to see the boys.” 

Central FC midfielder Ataullah Guerra, who had a stint in Finland last season, is vowing to raise his level, listening to the appeal from head coach Stephen Hart for him and some of the other home-based pros to up their tempo.

“I know we have to raise our game because this is a great opportunity for the country. We have never played Argentina in a friendly at this level and everybody’s talking about Messi and these guys. So that in itself is a huge incentive for every player to want to give his best in the training and the match next week,” Guerra said.

“I think everyone in the team is preparing mentally for the game and we will be putting in the extra efforts in training and trying our best to follow the coach’s instructions. We will prepare for the way e wants us to play and what he expects of us in the roles that we must perform for these games.” 

Meanwhile, the T&T Football Association (TTFA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism is also encouraging more support for the supporters charter that is heading to Buenos Aires on Sunday for the friendly international against Argentina, which kicks off at 3.30 pm T&T time at the Estadio Monumental Wednesday. 

There is now a new group rate package which will see groups of four persons or more accessing packages at TT$10,000 per package which includes round trip between Port-of-Spain and Buenos Aires, four-night stay at the Marriott Hotel (with breakfast based on double occupancy), city tour and added attractions, fan pack, ground transportation and category one match ticket. Groups of three or two persons can purchase the package at TT$12,000 per package. Single occupancy rooms are available at the Marriott at an additional US$200. 

Interested persons can get more info by calling the TTFA at 623-9500 or logging on to www.nissicharters.com

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