The Golden Jaguars and Trinidad’s Soca Warriors World Cup Qualifying encounter billed for next month in the Dominican Republic is on as scheduled.
That’s the word from the Guyana Football Federation’s Public Relations and Communications Officer, Keeran Williams.
“The venue change was confirmed by Concacaf and despite some resistance from the GFF, the game will go ahead in the DR,” Williams told Stabroek Sport in an invited comment.
The match was initially scheduled for the twin-island republic but, according to reports, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) failed to get the green light from its government.
According to the TTFA, it presented numerous scenarios to the country’s health ministry all to no avail.
However, Sports and Community Development Officer of Trinidad and Tobago Shamfa Cudjoe, said there were some concerns with the TTFA proposals.
“The TTFA is saying that the players cannot quarantine and that is troubling for us here in T&T. The players must quarantine, especially the players coming from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Belgium, coming from countries with the new (COVID-19) strain that we are really concerned about,” she said.
“The TTFA proposal was for the players to come in, travel from the airport to the Home of Football, play their game, stay for two days and then go back out. That does not provide anytime really for them to quarantine. The proposal has also asked for them to room two-people to a room,” Cudjoe added.
The TTFA subsequently issued a response which stated: “Over the last few months, we have been in discussions with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Sports Company of T&T, and other relevant Government agencies. Based on these discussions, numerous proposals and scenarios were put forward to host the match in T&T, but unfortunately, none were ultimately successful, which would satisfy our FIFA mandates for international competitions.
“The MOH’s protocol and guidelines mandate fourteen (14) days quarantine for anyone entering the country. This condition is not feasible given the FIFA international match window and the MOH has declined the TTFA’s request of an exemption to facilitate a hot-bubble which would allow members of both teams including staff, to arrive within a suitable time period conducive to international football.”
As a consequence, the encounter will now be played at the Pan American Stadium, San Cristobel, Dominican Republic.
Williams said it was the right of the TTFA to decide on a venue.
“The tournament regulation gives the host nation the prerogative to decide on the game venue,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the subject of the team’s preparation, Williams said that head coach, Marcio Maximo, was pleased with preparations, despite the COVID-19 precautions and the late start.
“The Head Coach is very pleased with the preparation despite the late start. The local players are training five days per week and have made tremendous progress over the past two months,” he said.
According to Williams, GFF president Wayne Forde plans to host a press conference this week to update the nation on the status of the preparation and the plans for the competition.
