Trinidad and Tobago is an old hand at staging large-scale events. Each year the country’s famous Carnival erupts in a whirlwind of rhythm and colour as thousands take to the streets in costume, and in 1999 the country was the venue for the Miss Universe Pageant. This September, the twin-island nation can add an international football tournament to its résumé, when, from September 13-30, it plays host to the future stars of world football during the 8th FIFA Under-17 World Championship.
Trinidad and Tobago is the first Caribbean nation to have been chosen as a venue for this prestigious youth event. Sixteen teams (see box), including Trinidad and Tobago’s Team 2001, will vie for the Championship title, which is currently held by football powerhouse Brazil.
Local football fans and the many visitors expected for the event will converge upon the five FIFA-standard playing facilities that have been specially prepared for the tournament, hoping for a glimpse of the next Pélé or Maradona. These stadia, four of which were built from scratch, have been sited at strategic locations across Trinidad and Tobago, and have given the country the opportunity to pay tribute to five of its outstanding sporting personalities: 1976 Olympic 100m gold medallist Hasely Crawford (National Stadium, Port of Spain); sprinter Ato Boldon (Couva, central Trinidad); West Indies Test cricketer Larry Gomes (Arima, eastern Trinidad); Manny Ramjohn, who brought the country its first gold medal in 1946 (Marabella, south Trinidad); and Manchester United footballer Dwight Yorke (Bacolet, Tobago).
The Championship will kick off on 13 September with a grand opening ceremony. Coming from the people who stage an annual Carnival dubbed “The Greatest Show on Earth”, this alone should be something to see.
FIFA UNDER-17 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
13/9/01 T&T vs Croatia 7:30pm Port of Spain
14/9/01 USA vs Japan 4:00pm Tobago
14/9/01 France vs Nigeria 6:30pm Tobago
14/9/01Australia vs Brazil 6:00pm Port of Spain
15/9/01 Oman vs Spain 4:00pm Couva/Marabella
15/9/01 Argentina vs Burkino Faso 6:30pm Couva/Marabella
15/9/01 Mali vs Paraguay 4:00pm Arima
15/9/01 Iran vs Costa Rica 6:30pm Arima
16/9/01 Japan vs Nigeria 5:00pm Tobago
16/9/01 USA vs France 7:30pm Tobago
16/9/01 T&T vs Australia 5:00pm Port of Spain
16/9/01 Croatia vs Brazil 7:30pm Port of Spain
17/9/01 Spain vs Burkino Faso, 5:00pm Couva/Marabella
17/9/01 Oman vs Argentina 7:30pm Couva/Marabella
17/9/01 Paraguay vs Iran 5:00pm Arima
18/9/01 Rest Day
19/9/01 Nigeria vs USA 5:00pm Tobago
19/9/01 Japan vs France 7:30pm Tobago
19/9/01 Brazil vs T&T 5:00pm Port of Spain
19/9/01 Croatia vs Australia 7:30pm Port of Spain
20/9/01 Burkino Faso vs Oman 5:00pm Couva/Marabella
20/9/01 Spain vs Argentina 7:30pm Couva/Marabella
20/9/01 Costa Rica vs Mali 5:00pm Arima
20/9/01 Paraguay vs Iran 7:30pm Arima
QUARTER FINALS
23/9/01 5:00pm and 7:30pm
24/9/01 5:00pm and 7:30pm
SEMI FINALS
27/9/01 5:00pm and 7:30pm
THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF
30/9/013:00pm Port of Spain
FINAL
30/9/01 6:00pm Port of Spain