Tuesday, 30 January 2007 Port of Spain, Trinidad: Just one week after the Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals ended in a thrilling final match in which Haiti beat Trinidad 2 - 1 to claim the Digicel Caribbean Cup for the first time, national football teams around the Caribbean have arrived back home to reflect on the progress they made as a team and the experience they gained playing competitive International matches over the last five months.
The top four teams of the tournament, Haiti, Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba and Guadeloupe have all qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup which is due to kick off on 6 June and last until 24 June.
Playing regular International matches over the last four months and reaching the final stages of the tournament has given them regular match experience on an International level which will not only have aided them in their challenge for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but has had a significant impact on their official FIFA World rankings as well as the CFU football team rankings.
Haiti returned home last Wednesday morning to a rapturous welcome in Port-au-Prince. Accompanying the nations Minister for Sport, were thousands of supporters who all turned up to welcome their heroes home and congratulate them on such a spectacular win. Having played more qualifying games than any other team in the tournament, before qualifying at the last hurdle, Haiti were the first team to advance to the Final.
Commenting on his team's progress and spectacular win, Head Coach, Luis Garcia, said, "For Haiti to come from a position of playing the most games in order to qualify for the Finals and then winning in such a spectacular fashion is incredible. We have learnt so much over the last five months and our footballing skills have improved enormously. As a team, we have grown and developed and we have the confidence and belief now that we can take on any International side and win. The CONCACAF Gold Cup in June is another great platform for us to show how much the Digicel Caribbean Cup has helped us as a team."
The remaining seven teams have all spoken about the phenomenal experience competing in a tournament such as the Digicel Caribbean Cup has contributed to building on their skills as International footballers.
Martinique Head Coach, Nisa, said on arrival back home, "It's been a long road that the team has traveled since the first group matches back in September. As a team, the experience of playing International matches over a five-month period has given us more confidence and experience than we could have hoped for. The Digicel Caribbean Cup is now a tournament that competes on an International level and I'd like to thank Digicel for all of the support they have shown us over the past few months."
Record numbers of supporters from across the Caribbean have been attending all stages of the Digicel Caribbean Cup. Football in the Caribbean has not seen this level of attendance since the final World Cup qualifying games, which is testament to the high regard with which the Digicel Caribbean Cup is held across the region. With over 69 games played, 242 goals, 24 teams involved with 4 teams qualify to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the tournament has been a resounding success.
ABOUT DIGICEL
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the fastest-growing wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean. After five years, Digicel is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services, and state-of-the-art handsets. It is the largest GSM operator in the region.
By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting-edge of wireless communications.
Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and has operations in twenty two markets including Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, Curaçao, The Cayman Islands, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. Digicel also has a license in Guatemala and coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths.
The company is the lead sponsor of Caribbean sports teams including the West Indies Cricket Team, Special Olympics teams across the Caribbean and is title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Football Union Cup, which involves over 30 Caribbean countries and is an important qualifier towards the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
