Panday also at game

SOCA Warriors fans were last night generally in a mood of mild acceptance at the one-all draw against Peru in the local team’s final home game before the World Cup Finals in Germany.

By the end of the match, many were still digesting the results and what if anything it means for our progression to the World Cup. Fans gave Newsday various reactions.

John Berkely said he was happy with the result although he didn’t think the Warriors played to their full potential. Conversely, another fan said he too was happy, but for the reason that he hadn’t expected the Warriors to win against a South American side.

“They (TT) took off their best guys during the game,” added another fan. Fans were taken on a roller-coaster ride of emotion. Jubilation, deflation, and then mild elation, marked the progress of the match respectively as the game began, Peru scored and Trinidad and Tobago equalised.

During the match, fans kept up a constant chanting, urged on by both the master of ceremonies and the constant beat of the Laventille Rhythm Section.

Indeed, seeing the sea of red jerseys sported by fans and hearing the heartbeat — like pounding of drums, really made one feel the Warriors were playing for the life-blood of the nation.

Every single action that took place on the field prompted an emotional response in the crowd. When Peru scored, the crowd lulled into a stunned silence.

Aurora Tardieu somberly told Newsday: “I’m waiting for the ref to say it’s a mistake.” No such luck.

But fans exploded in delight when Trinidad and Tobago scored the equaliser. All jumped to their feet. People started singing “Ole, ole, ole, ole” to call for another goal, at the urging of the MC.

Fans stayed surprisingly calm when the Warriors got into a shoving match with the Peruvians.

FIFA supremo Jack Warner initially told Newsday he was expecting to see Trinidad and Tobago beat Peru by two or three goals to nil, and had said a victory would be important for us. Also attending the match in his first public appearance since his conviction for breaching the Integrity in Public Life Act, was former UNC chairman Basdeo Panday along with wife Oma and daughter Mikela. Several other UNC members were also in tow.

Panday smiled and put on a brave face but at times appeared ill and had an ashen complexion. Works Minister Colm Imbert, who vowed not to pay $500 for a ticket, was also spotted in the company of Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

President George Maxwell Richards and Prime Minister Patrick Manning formally greeted both teams at the start of the match which saw various cultural presentations including performances by soca star Shurwayne Winchester, the Angostura Woodbrook Playboyz, Rosalind Gabriel’s Children Carnival band and the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force band.

The fans really enjoyed the event which was a great social leveller across all demographic lines, aided by the universal uniform of the red tee-shirt and the participation in two Mexican waves, that spread around the stadium.

At the final whistle, fans cheered appreciatively but noticeably absent, was the wild abandon of unfettered joy.