Joy for the ‘Sea of White’ in Bahrain

Emotional.

Composed.

Two countries with a commonality, formed not from the wealth of oil, not from religion, but from sport.

Trinidad and Tobago, a republic, yesterday did battle against the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Unfortunately, there will be no second chances; there was only one winner and one loser. Bahrain’s number one sport is Formula One motor racing, the people know of Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonzo and Kiki Raikonan.

Trinidad and Tobago has been denied a World Cup place twice before, when in 1973, a referee in Haiti overturned several valid goals. He was never to referee again anywhere in the World, but that was no consolation to the players and the country at the time.

In 1989, the much loved — STRIKE SQUAD — needed only a draw to qualify for the 1990 World Cup Finals in Italy, but a Paul Caliguiri goal in the 30th minute for opponents United States of America broke the heart of a nation wide open as tears flowed for days, weeks and months.

Football is a great game, it is exciting, and it is entertaining, but where there is gain, there is also pain.

As part of a buoyant group of 200 fans in Bahrain since Sunday night, there was a lot of positive expectancy that this team can finally deliver us and it proved to be true.

The talent on display of Trinidad and Tobago was obvious, that cannot be doubted.

Kelvin Jack is one of the best goalkeepers in the region, Silvio Spann, Carlos Edwards, Chris Birchall, Cornell Glen, Scott Sealy, Kenwyne Jones, Densill Theobald, Clayton Ince, Aurtis Whittley and Stern John are the future of Trinidad and Tobago’s football.

Veterans Shaka Hislop, Marvin Andrews, Dennis Lawrence, Avery John, Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy were on a mission and it was accomplish in style with a great victory.

Dennis Lawrence known as "Tallest" by his friends, scored the most remarkable goal of his career, it was a goal that transformed Trinidad and Tobago into a "Sea of Red" in Trinidad and a "Sea of White" in Bahrain and I was in black.

When that ball entered the net it was a feeling I never felt before even when my brother and I, won with our three year old filly Priceless Fame for the very first time by over ten lengths.

We were surrounded by over a hundred journalist in the media area, but when that goal scored those distinctive Trinidad voices could be heard all over the stadium.

Names like Hasely Crawford, Ato Boldon, Malcolm Jones, Louis Lee Sing, Allan Cabral, Omar Khan and Neil Giuseppi, Rolf Bartolo are well known in Trinidad and Tobago and while they ienjoy themselves lets not forget those who many will not know such as David Melville, Rhonda Lee Whatt and Lennard Lander, and also Mr. Charles.

In all of this we must thank Jack Austin Warner he has really brought us to this position with his true influence.

Holland-born coach Leo Been-hakker is a strong leader, his nerves of steel was tested again, in perhaps his greatest battle.

He is a man, though of impeccable character and a will to achieve, there is no flamboyance to this man, and do not let his tough exterior fool you , he can be as happy as any of us, but only when the job at hand is done. And on Wednesday he was the happiest foreigner in the World.

And done to his full satisfaction.

But as a coach he can only do so much, the rest is left up to the — WARRIORS — and they proved they had the resilience when it mattered the most.

And when we look at the faces of these WARRIORS, there was always a quiet optimism, that all of the best laid plans that backfired on Saturday would now be behind us, not confined to dustbins as yet, because there were lessons to be learnt from Trinidad.

Such as; Bahrain is not merely a defensive team, they can attack efficiently and effectively.

Bahrain has a commanding captain, in Mohammed Salmeen; Trinidad and Tobago will take a small measure of solace in his absence, even if within the hearts of the Trinidad and Tobago team, they want to — BEAT BAHRAIN — at their best.

Yesterday, both teams came prepared to decide their own destiny in a noisy stadium, cooled by impending winter conditions; it is a destiny now that will change the lives of the winners and the losers for both countries.

Sport unites nations.

Sport unites cultures.

Sport unites religions.

Sport unites people.

Sport unites.

Maybe at last everyone will realise that after Wednesday night in Bahrain, that in the end — Sport has won — and those of us that were there to witness it, can be happy, and will never forget this moment in time, it is a moment in history that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. We are going to Germany.