TT comes full circle 16 years later

With that 1-1 draw against Bahrain last night, Trinidad and Tobago must win the return leg in Bahrain on Wednesday to reach the World Cup finals in Germany next year.

Many TT supporters leaving the Hasely Crawford Stadium last night had the same question on their lips — will Trinidad and Tobago falter again? The planned celebrations did not take place. Instead, frustrated football fans blamed nearly everyone who had something to do with the Warriors. They even blamed Government’s high-tech blimp which passed over the stadium before the match.

Was it ironic that the first calypso played at the end of the match was Shurwayne Winchester’s "Dead or Alive?" The calypso did not lift the spirits of the fans — what it did was give people something to think about in the do-or-die return match on Wednesday in Manama, Bahrain.

The day started brightly for the Warriors. Fans turned up at the stadium very early, some seeking last minute tickets which the scalpers had in abundance. Tickets went for as much as $400, along with bandanas and wrist bands.

But soon the sunshine disappeared and the clouds opened with thunder and lightning. Hundreds of fans were outside the stadium gates for the planned 2 pm opening. But the authorities were soon under pressure and people starting pushing and cursing in the rain. Despite all the planning and meetings, the authorities were unable to handle the chaos, as was the case with the ticket fiasco on Friday.

The rain subsided at 2.50 pm, but the chaos at the eastern side of the stadium continued. The security forces were on high alert. Members of the elite Special Anti-Crime Unit were out in full force with their new uniforms. Heavily armed soldiers, officers of the Guard and Emergency Branch and the plain clothes police officers were present. Searches were conducted at intervals in case the dustbin bomber switched to the football venue. By 4.45 pm, the entire stadium was filled. It was so jam-packed, it reminded many of that fateful day on November 19, 1989, with vast overcrowding, when many patriots cried at the result. The PA announcer said the unofficial attendance figures yesterday were 24,991. But it seemed more like 30,000, according to police estimates.

Fans were standing and sitting in the aisles causing numerous announcements to be made by the Fire Services. Once again, the sea of red was a sight to behold. As some fans said after the match, the national team should drop red and play in white in the future. Red seems to be a blight on the team, they added. The team will wear white in Bahrain on Wednesday.

With a packed stadium, several entertainers hyped the crowd. Shurwayne Winchester, Destra, Maximus Dan, and Iwer George had the large crowd jumping. The performers went around the athletic track several times. Even Bill Trotman, dressed as an ancient Indian, tried to follow his younger performers, but once was just enough.

With the players lined up at 6.20 pm, the blimp passed. The PA announcers remarked, "Make some noise for the blimp, it finally fix." That drew laughter from the crowd. Then it was the turn of the officials to meet the players before the match. Only President George Maxwell Richards drew sustained applause from the crowd. Oliver Camps, the TTFF president was booed, so too were the CEO and general manager of TSTT, and Sports Minister Roger Boynes. The head of the Bahrain delegation got a lukewarm reception.

The Angostura Woodbrook Playboyz steel orchestra surprised many when it played the Bahrain national anthem.

The match got underway at 6.34 pm. It was evident very early that the Bahrain coach did his homework on the Trinidad and Tobago team. Russell Latapy and Stern John were marked out of the match, so it was not a surprise when they were substituted in the second half.

The Bahrain players were quicker to the ball in the early stages and took the fight to the local team. It was against the run of play that Bahrain scored. That silenced the large crowd. But not for long as Chris Birchall’s right-foot bullet drew the scores level sending the 30,000 crowd into a frenzy.

The next 18 minutes had the TT fans on their feet, hopeful that the Warriors would net the winner as was done against Guatemala and Mexico right there at the stadium. It was not to be and when the referee blew the final whistle, there was a solemn scene. No one was cheering the players.

Fans started leaving the venue, frustrated at the result, and wondering what is in store for the Warriors in Bahrain. Only time will tell. But in true Trini-style, hundreds went to their favourite watering holes in St James and Woodbrook last night to ease the frustration.