September 2 – Trinidad and Tobago is ready to host the second FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, despite a last minute rush to complete preparations, the Organising Committee’s deputy chief executive Nataki Kerr (pictured left) has promised.
Jack Warner, a member of Trinidad and Tobago’s Cabinet who is also the vice-president of FIFA, had claimed earlier in the week that the world governing body were not satisfied with the playing surfaces dressing rooms, media centres and VIP areas.
The 16-team tournament, which is due to kick-off on Sunday (September 5) will be played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva and the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago.
The tournament will be the second FIFA event hosted by Trinidad and Tobago following its successful staging of the 2001 FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup.
Kerr said: ”Work is continuing on a 24-hour basis and I’m hoping we reach a stage where we can be happy.
“Unfortunately there were much more problems than we had anticipated.
“But we will have work crews around the clock until Saturday night and they are giving their best to make sure this country puts on a tournament of high quality.”
Kerr claimed that there has been a late rush for tickets for the opening match when the hosts take on Chile .
She said: ”They [Trinidad] deserve to get the full backing of the entire country.
“They have put in a lot of work over the past 18 months under coach Even Pellerud and his staff.
“And it will be satisfying to see the public come out in their numbers and show their appreciation for what they have been doing.”