I thought I was going to die in Bahrain

“IN MY WHOLE LIFE I was never so terrified as was the case after Trinidad and Tobago defeated Bahrain 1-0 at the Rafa Stadium, Manama,  Bahrain, on Tuesday. “It is true that the victory ensured that we would be on the road to Germany in 2006 for the World Cup, but when I saw the missiles being thrown all over the place and in our direction also, and I saw that we were outnumbered by  hundreds to one, I felt that this was the end,” according to Mishri Lutchemedial, president of the SIS Balmain Sports Club,  of Creig Street, Balmain. Lutchmedial, who is also president of the Central Zone of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), and vice president of the Central Football League,  returned to Trinidad on Thursday after  viewing the match in Bahrain, “and while all round it was a gratifying experience, it was also  frightening at the end.”

He praised the security officers on duty for the efficiency with which they handled the Trinidad and Tobago delegation “ if not some of us would have been injured.  As a matter of fact  I had to push aside Ato Boldon at one time as he was narrowly missed by a piece of small rock, so serious was the situation.” He explained: “I was very traumatised  and I am sure that others in the touring party were also affected by the dreadful scene that erupted. “I was really never so scared in my entire life,” Lutchmedial said. “At one time I heard a loud explosion and reading about terrorist activities in places like Iraq and Baghdad, etc, I felt that this looks like the end and I really began worrying about the whole entourage that was in the country,” he said.

Lutchmedial recalled when in 1989 Trinidad and Tobago  lost 0-1 to the USA  “we applauded them as I was part of the thousands that filled the Hasely Crawford Stadium.” He  said that the “reaction of the people really surprised us as we had some very memorable and pleasant tours of part of  the countryside  visiting mosques  and wild animal life and meeting residents along the streets and we were very well impressed.” Among other points that Lutchmedial noted were that the police service included many foreigners (Pakistanis, Indians, etc), and that the King of the country  looked after his citizens as it was an oil rich nation.

Despite  the missile-throwing, however, Lutchemdial said that “I still love Bahrain, considering  the good treatment we got before the match.” He thanked  all who contributed to the Warriors’ success so far and for the part that the Government and Ministry of Sports played as well as corporate citizens as well as the Trojan of them all Jack Warner — whose vision and initiative and resourcefulness — was the main pillar on which  the road to Germany had been built.