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.
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.
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.
Wonder which pres allyuh wanna bomb?
Lasana you did not get pick? Drop the bombs.
True thing Bruce I knew a big player was missing. And he could’ve been one of the franchise players
When he stops writing and exposing my dictator president and the corrupted TTFA he will surely be on the next team when my greatest player in the universe comes for a visit soon. Them really good yes.
Allyuh have Aimar, Latapy and Angel on the pitch and allyuh studying if I’m playing? Allyuh really good yes. 🙂
Ent!!!! Afraid of you and all CAPS…….Hahaha
hahahahaha But Mr Live Wire yuh is ah big player you know and your wired supporters who only seeing you on TV being interviewed about the football, will be very surprised when they also see you on the field of play eh. Them really good yes.
We need a finisher so he fits well. Latas is the playmaker but we need a man upfront as key to the offense. But he might get plenty red cards from the famous referee
hahahahahaha The first year when Mr. Live Wire held his first Football Festival I really thought that he was just a sports journalist yes, but when I saw him on the field playing the ball. I said to myself buh A A Mr. Live Wire really have some touches dey man, he really knows the subject, so I asked meh friend Dion Sosa buh how come he never came and play for our bomb squad Foreign Base team when we use to do our thing many moons ago eh, and his reply was that he was abroad doing his studies .
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/
Mafia game. STEUPS!
Super League aint make the cut boi! Easier to get selected on a WI select XI #justsaying
Fat man not making 2mins
HUH! @Kevin Harrison
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..
Lasana I hope you were invited to cover it….hahaha
Hmm… I might want to see that game just to see if Maylee goin to hit Morace a tackle or vice versa
Just do not drop any bombs at the ground.
I still think Jack Warner is the best thing that ever happened to football in the entire western hemisphere.
Ganga is certainly legal
Lara and Chanderpaul too, I think.
u need to make clear from headlines what is satire and what is news …
Lol. Which do you think this is?
i had to click to find out
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…
Look Loy, Sancho, Steve David
And JB suing ttfa only certain crooks invited
Changing the subject slightly, Lasana, any word on the Dr. João Havelange Centre of Excellence in Port of Spain? Is it actually in use for the appropriate function or still controversy over it?
Nathan, what controversy? Jack swindled FIFA fair and square. Lol.
Of course it isn’t being used for football. Not unless you cut Jack Warner a cheque.
You know the easiest way to spot a fraud? Anyone who says that moves are afoot to regain the Centre of Excellence for football.
I think that was one of Montagliani’s first statements as CONCACAF president. And yet nobody has filed in court to retain the venue and they damn well know why.
Coach?
Lol. 15 minute halves. Here’s hoping nobody keels over?
I’m surprised that babwah didn’t make the team.
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! ???
Pulling leg…
Lol
Look like anything happening already na
lol Lasana that is a good one
No spot for Carmona and Jack boy ?
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.
Hope Maylee watches her tackles. Lol
Lmaooooo
This match not sounding like a good decision na =D
Hope she not on the bench again
Morace vs. Maylee…they better get insurance for this game oui
OGAD OYE!
But wta is this
Next thing you will be saying it not safe to let Darryl Smith mark Carolina Morace! ??
?
Oh jeezaannn! Not me nuh! ‘Sana have ah whole room fullah court clothes!
They better not put Dillion in Defence !!!
????
Lolol
Under all the ole talk Dillon can handle himself on a football field, granted last time we actually played together was more than 4yrs ago….;-)
Kirwin! Is defence self he does play!
State of oxymorons oui…
??
TTFA should sign Krysis!
Lasana Liburd allyuh good yes in Mango voice lol
=D =D =D and Ian Alleyne
LOLOL! Hello! None ah dat…allyuh behave allyuhself….politics aside de man could play! ‘Sana stop laffin’ …yuh not settin’ de right example! What yuh encouraging!
??
Listen nah man.. I over laughing so hard I had to call.my father and give him the joke yes.. allyuh win lolol
Everybody sweating in trini every night. I see Joel Gibbons on that list, sure 15 minutes is a warmup for him
You want Jamaal Shabazz to need oxygen tanks or what Brent? lol
15 minutes halves. Is small goal or wha?