News

Thumbs up for Soca Warrior Warner

Trinidad & Tobago’s newest goalkeeping recruit Tony Warner has not joined the Soca Warriors just for the ride.

Warner, who plays for Premiership side Fulham, is eligible to play for the World Cup debutantes as his father Clyde was born in the land of carnival. Warner agreed to play for the Warriors only last month and is now setting his sights on the No.1 shirt.

However, Warner is aware he will face the challenge of displacing Clayton Ince and Shaka Hislop if he is to fulfil his World Cup dream.

Warner, 31, told the Voice of Sport: “There’re a lot of good goalkeepers in the squad. But I want to go to Germany and play. You don’t want to be an observer but I’ve got to take one step at a time.

EXCITED

“I’m very excited. It’s what every player strives for, to play or be involved at the highest level. I think it’s going to be a fantastic World Cup and to experience it would be amazing."

Trinidad & Tobago, like the Republic of Ireland and Scotland before them, have looked into individual players’ heritages in order to boost their numbers. Other Premiership stars that have come under the T&T microscope are Aston Villa’s J-Lloyd Samuel and West Ham’s Bobby Zamora.

Warner, formerly with Millwall, Liverpool and Cardiff, fully understands Trinidad’s recruitment process.

“If someone offers to use your services in a World Cup, most players would grab the chance."

Warner, who only met Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation’s special adviser Jack Warner (not related) a month ago, admitted: “It was a chance to put a face to a name for all parties."

Tony Warner may get a chance to stake his World Cup spot when the Warriors play Iceland in a friendly on February 28. It will be the last chance for Caribbean fans to see the team in London before they embark on their World Cup mission.

“We’re all focused on the Iceland game and if I play, I can hopefully show what I can do,” Warner said.

Published: 20 February 2006
Issue: 1206

site comments powered by Disqus