The Honduran Football Federation have rejected a $900,000 USD charter flight direct to Australia and sought the assistance of a former Socceroo when the team arrive for the second leg in Sydney.
The Socceroos play the first leg on Friday, 10 November in San Pedro Sula, Honduras with the return match on Wednesday, 15 November in Sydney.
The winner of the Intercontinental play-off earns a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia with Honduran media labelling the two matches as “Operation Kangaroo”.
While Honduras is flying commercially to Sydney, the FFA is reportedly spending $250,000 AUD to charter a direct flight direct from San Pedro which will give the Socceroos 24 hours more recovery time.
However, not all the Honduran team will be slumming it as a large portion of the squad will not be flying economy.
"Not all, but the majority of the players are going to travel in business class to Sydney,” said Honduras team administrative manager Geradro Ramos.
“The rest of the delegation are going in a lower class along with other players.”
In addition, Ramos said a former Socceroo and NSL player Gerry Gomez will assist the team when they arrive to play the second leg.
"We have a person there who is trusted by Professor (coach) Jorge Luis Pinto who is helping,” he said.
“His name is Gerardo (Gerry) Gómez and he was a former player, he works in football in Australia and he knows Professor Pinto. We have also contacted the Honduran community so a number of Hondurans will be in the stadium.”
Last week Honduras revealed its 25-man squad which was headlined by former Hull defender Maynor Figueroa, Barcelona B striker Antony Lozano and Houston speedstar Rommel Quioto.

Team administrative manager Ramos also revealed the team’s training base would be nearly 2000 feet above sea level, and two and a half hours away from the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano.

"The preparations are already underway, the team will be concentrated in Comayagua (177kms from San Pedro Sula) from Monday October 30 until Friday November 3. Then on Saturday, November 4 the team will then stay in San Pedro Sula,” said Ramos speaking to Honduran national newspaper Diez.
“After the game (Friday 10) we leave for Los Angeles from San Pedro Sula and arrive in the early hours of Saturday, thus avoiding the migration process, then it is a 15-hour trip from the United States to Australia.”
DETAILED ITINERARY OF HONDURAS:
Charter flight from San Pedro Sula to Los Angeles on November 10 at night. -Regenerative in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 11.
Departure from Los Angeles airport to Sydney on Saturday, November 11, depart at 10:45 p.m. - The team's arrival in Sydney will be on Monday, November 13 at 8:00 AM (local time).
For more details go direct the Diez website below.
Photos courtesy of Diez.
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