June 6 Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica

Tobago tickets sold out for T&T vs Costa Rica

Tuesday, May 26th 2009

Tickets for the June 6 CONCACAF World Cup qualifier between Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago, were a hot commodity yesterday.

The 2,000 tickets allocated strictly to fans from the sister isle were quickly sold out yesterday, with those for the uncovered stands disappearing by 2.15 p.m., according to CCN TV6.

Little more than an hour and a half later, the covered stand tickets had also been sold.

The Tobago ticket hotline--635-2255 (635-BALL)--was busy for most of the day, from the moment they opened at 8 a.m.

Those who were successful in reaching the ticket office will collect their tickets tomorrow between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the match venue. Those purchasing tickets must walk with cash to complete payment.

The Dwight Yorke Stadium seats a maximum 7,500, a far cry from the 24,000 of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, which is currently under major renovations ahead of the inaugural Caribbean Games in July.

On Sunday afternoon, Trinidad and Tobago head coach Russell Latapy arrived in the sister isle with 23 players in his provisional squad to begin a live-in training camp ahead of the World Cup qualifier.

Following check-in at Le Grand Courlan Hotel, Latapy conducted an evening training session at the Dwight Yorke Stadium and they will continue preparations before Latapy announces a final squad a week before the all-important qualifier.

The only new addition to the squad which trained in Trinidad over the last two weeks is English-born midfielder Chris Birchall.

"As I've said before, I'm quite happy with the way things have gone so far. One of the things I wanted to achieve was getting us to a fitness level that is conducive to playing international football and we're getting there and getting enough time to get them to understand the way I want them to play as a nation. We will spend the remaining days focusing more on how we want to play the upcoming games," Latapy told TTFF media officer Shaun Fuentes.

"The professional league (Digicel Pro League) has started here and we're asking a lot of these boys to play and prepare with us, but the national team must always be a priority and we expect no less of players when it comes to them representing the country AT the international level."

On the introduction of some of the players, Latapy said he will continue to monitor their progress.

"My job is to get the best team so I have to look at everybody. I have not finalised my squad as yet but it's important that we have the best possible players involved in the preparations that would lead to us getting the best squad to play on the day," he added.

The Sunderland FC trio of Dwight Yorke, Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards are scheduled to join the training camp later this week following their final Premiership fixture against Chelsea on Sunday.

T&T provisional squad in Tobago:

1. Clayton Ince; 2. Marvin Phillip; 3. Keyeno Thomas; 4. Stern John; 5. Jan Michael Williams; 6. Dennis Lawrence; 7. Marvin Andrews; 8. Hayden Tinto; 9. Nicholson Thomas; 10. Khaleem Hyland; 11. Chris Birchall; 12. Densil Theobald; 13. Trent Noel; 14. Silvio Spann; 15. Makan Hislop; 16. Radanfah Abu Bakr; 17. Keon Daniel; 18. Collin Samuel; 19. Hughton Hector; 20. Jason Scotland; 21. Kerry Baptiste; 22. Devon Jorsling; 23. Atulla Guerra.