Warriors make us proud

The shock and dismay on the faces of the thousands of Swedish fans in the Stadium was proof positive that our Warriors had held their own and held it well. Yesterday’s success against Sweden was also a clear statement that our team was not a back-of-the-woods bunch who had qualified for the World Cup by a fluke.

The message marked the passing of the old imperial image and the emergence of an independent country whose football team could stand its ground and would not be bullied, either by occasion or opponent.

The Soca Warriors took to the field yesterday with the odds stacked against them. First, Marvin Andrews was sidelined with injury.

Minutes before the start of the match the warriors also lost their goalie Kelvin Jack to injury. Then during the game Avery John was sent off and the warriors were left to do battle with only ten players.

The blessing in disguise was Shaka Hislop in goal. When last have we seen a goalkeeper so cool of countenance but with such grit and determination? Hislop, who was not even expected to play and surely was the man of the match, rose to the occasion thrust upon him at the last moment and brilliantly stopped six straight attempts at goal that would have put the Swedes ahead.

After all Sweden had come onto the field to play against “the underdogs.” The Warriors were virtually ruled out; many expecting that they would be completely blown out and cast into the backpages of football history.

As though inspired by the greatness of the moment and instead of being over awed the whole defence led by captain Dwight Yorke, Carlos Edwards, Brent Sancho and Dennis Lawrence played extraordinarily well and countered every move by the more experienced Swedes. It was a great game.

Yesterday’s result means that the warriors have levelled the playing field as they approach the next crucial match against England on Thursday. England’s win over Paraguay yesterday was hardly confidence boosting for them and indeed the win was a result of a Paraguay player putting the ball into his own goal.

It is of course still a win. But the warriors performance against Sweden puts us in second position in our group with Sweden. Paraguay is in fourth place and of course England is in first position in the group.

Yesterday the warriors played like men. Our congratulations to Coach Leo Beenhakker, captain Dwight Yorke and the entire team.

You have made us very, very proud.