Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup campaign benefited from a huge cash injection on Thursday, after four major companies threw their financial support behind the team's qualification bid.

Beer company Carib Brewery, First Citizens Bank, fast food giants Kentucky Fried Chicken and telecommunications company TSTT announced they would give a combined $3.3 million (US$ 527 495) to the country's bid to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Sense of belonging

Jack Warner, special adviser to the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association, welcomed the finan-cial support while speaking at a press launch for the 2010 qualifying campaign.

"Today (Thursday) I must admit carves out its own unique space in my experience of events of this kind simply because of what it represents, the novelty of the strategies deployed and the warm embrace which four of this nation's best brands have given to the programme," said the FIFA vice-president. "At the end of the day, this campaign will do much more than create a nation of Soca Warriors fans rooting for the home team, but also create that crucial sense of belonging to a special place, a home, T&T."