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 Former Costa Rican 1990 World Cup goalkeeper Luis Conejo believes that the battle for CONCACAF places in the 2010 World Cup could be one of the closest in years.
Conejo, the outstanding goalie for the Central Americans during the 1990 “Road to Italy” campaign and at the Finals in Italy was in Trinidad recently as one of the participants at the FIFA/CONCACAF Goalkeepers instructors course which had TTFF technical director Lincoln Phillips and American Skim Thorpe as the chief instructors.
Conejo was among several participants from throughout the region including United States, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala as well as Caribbean islands as Grenada, Aruba and St Vincent and the Grenadines among others.
Phillips expressed satisfaction on the closing day that the course had been well received and United States Soccer Federation coach Tim Mulqueen and Conejo both agreed. Conejo played against T&T in the past and was Costa Rica's outstanding goalkeeper at the 1990 World Cup Finals in Italy. There were also four T&T participants including Jefferson George, Ross Russell, Garvin Gardner and Natalie Noel.
"I think we definitely achieved a great deal with this course as a lot of the participants demonstrated that willingness to increase their knowledge as well as to go back to their respective associations and pass it on," Phillips said.
FIFA Development officer for CONCACAF Harold Taylor and Deputy Officer Darryl Warner were in attendance to hand out the certificates to the participants at the closing ceremony earlier this month at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence. In a brief address, Taylor stressed the need for continuity and said his office was at the disposal of the associations seeking assistance in its development
 Meantime, Mulqueen, who works with US National teams, said he was glad to have attended the course which served as an eye opener to him
"It showed me that in the Caribbean here and the rest of the region there are really good coaches and if we (USA) don't watch ourselves we will have a tough time competing with these countries in the future in the goalkeeping department. This course served its purpose and was a real eye opener to me," Mulqueen said.
Conejo, now a Costa Rican National teams goalkeeper coach said he felt T&T could be close contestants for one of the top three spots but warned that they would have a stiff test because the race in CONCACAF is tightening.
“We have a lot of respect for countries in the region. There are the likes of Mexico, USA and Canada, and then it’s going to be a strong race in Latin America and the Caribbean. It’s important that our countries compete well but those that have the opportunity to assist or play are going to represent CONCACAF because this is our territory,” Conejo told TTFF Media.
Reflecting on his 1990 experience and his stint at the country, Conejo’s spirits lifted.
“I was very happy to be here in this country. The 1990 World Cup was a beautiful experience and an opportunity to represent Concacaf amd I learnt a lot from it. To participate in such a big field is a fantastic experience and is a learning and growing experience for countries like this. It was an opportunity to play against Trinidad and Tobago in the elimination phase and later on in the first Gold Cup in Los Angeles.
“Trinidad has always been a very competitive team because of their strengths, passion and they produce fantastic players.
“I have been here for ten days for the course and it came as a result on behalf of an invitation from Mr Phillips and Concacaf and it has been a fantastic experience to participate and I am available to give service and help to any one who requires it,” Conejo added.
He has been to five World Cups with the various Costa Rica national teams including the 2001 FIFA Under 17 World Championship in T&T. (Photos show Luis Conejo and participants and officials at the closing ceremony)
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