TTFA announces season tickets for “legends” and Warriors fans; and another Bostock bummer

Two hundred Trinidad and Tobago “football legends” are set to finally receive free access to Soca Warriors international matches, as the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) announced a TT$250,000 partnership with the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) yesterday, which will see the implementation of a Season Ticket Program from now until November 2017.

The move follows a similar initiative by the former Raymond Tim Kee-led administration, which allotted passes for members of the Veterans Football Association (VFA) for all national team games—men, women and youth matches—during 2013-2015.

Photo: Former Trinidad and Tobago stand-out player and coach Everald "Gally" Cummings (right) is recognised by former President Maxwell Richards at the TTFF Centennial function.
Photo: Former Trinidad and Tobago stand-out player and coach Everald “Gally” Cummings (right) is recognised by former President Maxwell Richards at the TTFF Centennial function.

However, in this case, the season tickets will go straight into the hands of our former football players and administrators.

The 10 legends presented with tickets by current TTFA president David John-Williams, in today’s launch at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Port of Spain, are: Alvin Corneal (former National Player and Coach), Everald “Gally” Cummings (former National Player and Coach), Leroy De Leon (former National Player), Osmond Downer (former FIFA Referee), Sedley Joseph (former National Player and Coach), Jean Mouttet (former National Keeper), Lennox “Bullet” Pilgrim (Administrator), Bobby Sookram (former National Player), Rudolph Thomas (former Administrator) and Edgar Vidale (former National Coach).

Two-time Olympic medalist, Keshorn Walcott, and Rio Paralympic medalists Akeem Stewart and Nyosha Cain will also be given season tickets. Further presentations will be made in the coming weeks.

In 2013, Wired868 submitted a two-tier proposal to then TTFA president, Tim Kee, which suggested season tickets for members of special national teams—the 1966, 1974, 1990 and 2006 World Cup qualifying teams—as well as players who amassed 50 or more full international caps.

John-Williams’ implementation was closer to the gesture envisaged by the website than Tim Kee’s move.

Photo: TTFA president and W Connection founder David John-Williams.
Photo: TTFA president and W Connection founder David John-Williams.

Soca Warriors fans stand to benefit too, as a total of 6,400 season tickets will be made available to the public—with 5,000 for the uncovered section and 1,400 for the covered section. The covered stands tickets will be priced at TT$2,000 while the uncovered tickets will be priced at TT$1,000.

There are added incentives for the season ticket holders, as they will receive a 20% discount on any official TTFA merchandise they purchase. Furthermore, a few lucky fans will get the chance to see the prestigious World Cup Final in Russia.

“As part of the Season Ticket Program as well, the TTFA, in discussion with FIFA, will obtain six tickets for the final game of the World Cup in Russia 2018,” said John-Williams. “And those people who participate and purchase a season ticket will go into a lottery that will give them to opportunity to win a ticket for the finals of World Cup Russia 2018.”

Apart from gaining entry to friendlies, Caribbean Cup games and Trinidad and Tobago’s five “Hex” matches on home soil, season ticket holders will be allowed access to select National Team training sessions, reserved stadium entry access on match days and meet-and-greet sessions with the players.

First Citizens Bank will be the official retail outlet for the TTFA’s season tickets, which go on sale next Monday.


Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland (second from right) gestures to fans after Joevin Jones' second goal against Guatemala during Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying action at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on Friday 2 September 2016. Both teams played to a 2-2 draw. (Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland (second from right) gestures to fans after Joevin Jones’ second goal against Guatemala during Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying action at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on Friday 2 September 2016.
Both teams played to a 2-2 draw.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868

Early bird buyers will get the chance to use their tickets next Wednesday when the Warriors tackle Dominican Republic in a Caribbean Cup fixture at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 7pm on October 5.

Tickets for the match are priced at TT$200 (covered) and TT$100 (uncovered) respectively, and go on sale tomorrow at Ramsingh’s Sportworld in Couva and all Sports and Games and Kenny’s Sports Shop outlets nationwide.

National Senior Team coach Stephen Hart was in attendance and, although he promised to name his Caribbean Cup squad by Friday, there was some bad news.

France-based midfielder John Bostock looks set to miss out again, as the England FA have stalled the player’s switch to Trinidad and Tobago, after allegedly alluding to possible discrepancies in his application.

Bostock represented England at youth level and featured in the 2010 Euro Under-19 tournament where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Austrian international David Alaba and French hitman Antoine Griezmann.

Photo: Lens midfielder John Bostock (centre) is congratulated by his teammates.
Photo: Lens midfielder John Bostock (centre) is congratulated by his teammates.

John-Williams was in a buoyant mood yesterday though, as he indicated his desire to start a football Hall of Fame within the next year. And he warned football fans to be on the lookout for another major announcement.

“I dare say, this is the first of good news that will be happening in the next two weeks,” said John-Williams. “If you think this one is big, stand by for 14 days later. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag.”

 

Editor’s Note: The TTFA’s Season Passes are available at First Citizens Bank branches on Independence Square, One Woodbrook Place, Arima, Tunapuna, Chaguanas, Point Fortin, San Fernando, Gulf View and Scarborough.

There are 1,400 Covered Stands and 5,000 Uncovered Stands passes available. Fans can book by calling the TTFA Hotline: 270-6868.

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About Roneil Walcott

Roneil Walcott is an avid sports fan and freelance reporter with a BA in Mass Communication from COSTAATT. Roneil is a former Harvard and St Mary's College cricketer who once had lofty aspirations of bringing joy to sport fans with the West Indies team. Now, his mission is to keep them on the edge of their seats with sharp commentary from off the playing field.

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91 comments

  1. “I dare say, this is the first of good news that will be happening in the next two weeks,” said John-Williams. “If you think this one is big, stand by for 14 days later. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag.”

    Well it’s 14 days later. De cyat come out de bag yet? What’s the major announcement?

  2. What I’m struggling to understand with the season tickets is the radio ad says that my seat is guaranteed but I’m sure I’m not the only one to notice that persons are left standing when all the seats are occupied (especially in the uncovered stands)!

    So how is my seat guaranteed if you are clearly selling more tickets than the stadium can seat?

    Also how is my seat guaranteed if the game switches to one of the stadia which has a smaller capacity?

  3. Sherron Charles, you can comment on those tickets here. 😉

  4. Roneil K Walcott, it’s not all first citizen bank branches from today?
    These ppl tell me come back tmw. ?

  5. They should confirm the venue for these matches as well as the opponents for and dates of these friendlies.

  6. Chabeth, the tickets supposed to go on sale from next week.

    • Oh hey. Sorry. Didn’t see this.

      In any case… this doesn’t say they’ll be using lotto booths for ticket sales, does it? I was wondering why they reverted from that system. It was more convenient that having to go to a sports and games or kenny’s.

      But I guess with this season pass thing you have to go same section at every stadium. Can’t go covered at AB and uncovered at HCS.

      And…let’s give everybody their full due nah…
      Sedley Joseph wasn’t just a national player, he was captain. ???

    • i thought it curious that they added administrators and stuff. I think it is a good idea. But I’d definitely like to see the whole list.

    • Maybe the lotto booths would be for “big” games. Unless there was an issue they aren’t telling us about.
      Notice how the TTFA stopped giving match day figures once DJW came in. Even Jack Warner used to give those. Not accurate ones I’m sure. But something all the same. Lol

    • Oh i thought they withheld the full list cause they didn’t want us to know you on it.

    • Match day figures meaning the number of ppl in attendance?
      The guy on the PA system calls out something. Wrong as hell though.
      His erroneous info made me have to buy a drink for somebody inside of here.

    • Tickets sold, match day expenses, complementaries… We got that info even under Tim Kee. But our president boasts publicly about preferring to operate in silence as though it were a good thing.

    • Ahhh… ok. Well wait for audited accounts I guess. Should be able to access those under FOIA hopefully.

  7. Do you all think that this cudb the English FA making a statement with regards to JW?

  8. is the John Bostock switch a ” World Record ‘ for how long its taking ??..must be..

  9. Well Lasana Liburd, at least there is some good ideas coming out from DJW, but i wish he could really focus on actually developing a local real professional league with the clubs we have here where this season ticket initiative could really take off more with local clubs so every weekend we have a Professional League football match to go watch that would stimulate the economy and development of the youths, the grassroots in general. I am waiting for his plans on this front. The reason i say this, because some reason i feel the Caribbean Premier Football League would not happen.

  10. Well Lasana Liburd, at least there is some good ideas coming out from DJW, but i wish he could really focus on actually developing a local real professional league with the clubs we have here where this season ticket initiative could really take off more with local clubs so every weekend we have a Professional League football match to go watch that would stimulate the economy and development of the youths, the grassroots in general. I am waiting for his plans on this front. The reason i say this, because some reason i feel the Caribbean Premier Football League would not happen.

  11. Kenrick Burke Ansarii Moses Mark Saunders James Braxton James Saunders Jeruel Placide Orneilo Greaves Ato Julien

  12. Sean De Silva should get selected. He has shown his ability and discipline on many occasions

  13. This is a very commendable step; both the season ticket and the acknowledgement of legends!

  14. This Bostock issue is really frustrating…… jeez

  15. Why wasn’t pro league games included to boost attendance? Roneil K Walcott Lasana Liburd

  16. Vachel ‘tallo’ Thompson it should have included pro league games but I taking progress

  17. What a pity for Bostock! He has become one of the favorites at Lens’ Bollaert stadium with a double recently and many assists already…

  18. I gonna try n get one bai…dats gud stuff

  19. Best thing TTFA ever do in recent times oui

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