Gov’t Ministers join FIFA president, Infantino, Aimar, Angel and Latapy for exhibition match

National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, Sport Minister Darryl Smith and Deputy Speaker of the House Esmond Forde are among special guests who will rub shoulders with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and some illustrious former football stars on Monday afternoon in an exhibition match at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

The game will kick off after a press conference scheduled for 4.15pm at the same venue.

Photo: FIFA president Gianni Infantino. (Courtesy TTFA Media)
Photo: FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)

Infantino, who was born in Switzerland but also holds Italian nationality, took part in a star-studded four-a-side event at the FIFA headquarters on his first day on the job, which included former football greats like Diego Maradona, Marcel Desailly, Lucas Radabe, Gabriel Batistuta, Carles Puyol, Walter Zenga, Eric Abidal and Trinidad and Tobago’s 2006 World Cup captain Dwight Yorke.

On Monday, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) hopes to give Infantino another fun outing with a contest between a FIFA/TTFA team and a Government/SPORTT outfit.

Infantino and TTFA president David John-Williams will head the FIFA/TTFA side which should also include: national coaches Dennis Lawrence, Stern John, Russell Latapy, Carolina Morace, Clayton Ince, Brian Williams, Stuart Charles-Fevrier and Ross Russell, as well as TTFA General Secretary Justin Latapy-George, Soca Warriors manager Richard Piper, technical director Muhammad Isa and elite youth program coordinator Jamaal Shabazz.

The FIFA president has added some star power of his own too, as former Argentina playmaker Pablo Aimar and Colombia striker Juan Pablo Angel both accepted invitations to take part.

Aimar, now 37, is a former La Liga winner for Valencia while he represented Argentina at Under-17, Under-20 and two senior World Cups in 2002 and 2006. He had 52 senior caps for Argentina with eight goals and played in the 2005 Confederations Cup final and 2007 Copa America final.

Photo: Former Argentina playmaker Pablo Aimar.
Photo: Former Argentina playmaker Pablo Aimar.

The 41-year-old Angel, a former teammate of Aimar at River Plate in Argentina, scored nine times from 33 appearances for Colombia and also starred with England Premier League team Aston Villa and MLS outfit, New York Red Bulls.

The opposing team will be headed by Smith, Dillon and Esmond Forde and includes: Clayton Morris, Anthony Blake, Joel Gibbons, Dwayne Richardson, Tyrone Marcus, Cindy Cupid, Richard Smith, Garvin Warrick, Dexter Skeene, Omar Hadeed, Francis Lovell, Maylee Attin-Johnson, Leonson Lewis, Jomo Pitt and Jason Williams.

The game will comprise of two 15 minute halves.

Infantino, who lands in Piarco at 10am, will also make courtesy calls on President Anthony Carmona and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at 11.15am and 12.15pm respectively.

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66 comments

  1. Wonder which pres allyuh wanna bomb?

  2. Lasana you did not get pick? Drop the bombs.

  3. Former South American football stars, Pablo Aimar and Juan Pablo Angel, join FIFA president Gianni Infantino for exhibition match at Ato Boldon Stadium today alongside former players Russell Latapy, Stern John, Clayton Morris, Dennis Lawrence, Leonson Lewis, Clayton Ince and Carolina Morace and National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, Sport Minister Darryl Smith and Deputy Speaker of the House Esmond Forde
    http://wired868.com/2017/04/08/national-security-and-sport-ministers-join-fifa-president-infantino-for-exhibition-match/

  4. Super League aint make the cut boi! Easier to get selected on a WI select XI #justsaying

  5. Seriously, this visit should have been used to build bridges not solidify your power base. Although the inclusion of Mailee is welcomed.

    • In a sense, I can see where he may believe he is building a “bridge” to the government.. I agree it could have been a wider bridge, but that requires true planning skills, vision and indeed, maturity..

  6. Lasana I hope you were invited to cover it….hahaha

  7. Hmm… I might want to see that game just to see if Maylee goin to hit Morace a tackle or vice versa

  8. Just do not drop any bombs at the ground.

  9. I still think Jack Warner is the best thing that ever happened to football in the entire western hemisphere.

  10. u need to make clear from headlines what is satire and what is news …

  11. You can tell a lot by who wasn’t selected… No Gally Cummings, Clayton Morris, Terry Fenwick, Stephen Hart, Anton Corneal, Angus Eve… They coulda send for David Nakhid…

  12. Lol. 15 minute halves. Here’s hoping nobody keels over?

  13. I’m surprised that babwah didn’t make the team.

  14. You forget FIFA have a restraining order out on Jack? He not allowed to go anywhere near a football ground.
    I don’t think he can even get into Sports and Games! ???

  15. No spot for Carmona and Jack boy ?

  16. Maybe the FIFA president decided to come to our sweet country with plenty of monies to help the corrupted TTFA to pay their TT $ 10 million worth of lawsuits. Them really good yes.

  17. Hope Maylee watches her tackles. Lol

  18. Next thing you will be saying it not safe to let Darryl Smith mark Carolina Morace! ??

  19. They better not put Dillion in Defence !!!

  20. Everybody sweating in trini every night. I see Joel Gibbons on that list, sure 15 minutes is a warmup for him

  21. You want Jamaal Shabazz to need oxygen tanks or what Brent? lol

  22. 15 minutes halves. Is small goal or wha?

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