Soca Warriors draw sets TT ablaze!

While many people showed their passion for TT by wearing their red jerseys for a second day, by the end of the match this sea of red was literally set ablaze by the Warriors’ fantastic performance.

Fans who had watched the match on big-screens poured out of bars in St James to celebrate in a frenzy of unfettered joy in an impromptu street-party that promised to build up into a mini-Carnival and go until night.

They cheered, jumped, sang and danced, in a show of sheer joy. The atmosphere was alive with passion in a mood of celebration akin to New Year or Carnival, but perhaps even better as our greatness was being witnessed on the world stage.

“Olay, olay, olay, olay!” sang bar patrons who had spilled out onto the pavement to greet the line of cars driving along the Western Main Road. The motorists, with shining headlights, responded by honking a steady “beep-beep, beep-beep-beep” and a flutter of the national flags flying from their cars. All was soon drowned out by the bars’ speaker boxes blasting out Maximus Dan’s “Fighter” song playing, “I’m a so-o-o-c-a warrior.”

Fans were overflowing with praise for the players.

Jameel Khan of Dundonald Hill declared: “We are really, really, really proud of the team. We are behind them all the way.”

Marlon Brown of St James said: “This draw is a ‘win’ for Trinidad and Tobago.”

As if the result meant more than words could say, Stewart Matthews of St James said: “Small country, big heart.” Saying TT did well with just ten men and might have won with all eleven players, he added: “Beenhakker is a boss!”

Keene McMillan of Flippers Sports Club described the Warriors as “brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!” and said many of the TT players could qualify as man of the match.

Damian St Louis, who had predicted a one-nil TT win or a goalless draw, was pleased with the result.

Andrew Stephens said the Soca Wariors reminded him of Cameron in a past World Cup who had come out of nowhere to end up in the semi-final, adding: “These things can build a nation.”

Shelly-Ann Edwards of Port-of-Spain said the result was wonderful and exciting.

The TT fans had been very supportive of the team right through every minute of the match. Some lively fans watched the game on a big screen at the Universal Bar in St James. They really appreciated our players’ many valiant clearances of the ball from the TT goal area, and our daring attacks on the Swede goal. The fans cheered the goal-saves of goalie Shaka Hislop and the clearances of defender Carlos Edwards.

Throughout the game, the fans let out a steady stream of shouts of cheer, support, concern, advice, and simple stress-relief.

In the 21st minute the fans went wild at Carlos Edwards’ daring longshot at the Swede goal. Despite a save, fans jumped out of their chairs in joy.

At that point fans realised that Trinidad and Tobago really looked as if they truly did belong in the World Cup, and that they weren’t just there as cannon fodder.

Each time the television camera alighted on TT fans flying red-white-and black in the Dortmund Stadium, the bar patrons cheered them loudly.

In the 37th minute a dangerous Swede attack on the TT goal lulled our fans into concerned silence. When Shaka Hislop pushed a shot by Sweden’s Helmsson over the net, the fans erupted loudly in salute to his brilliance.

Minutes later fans cheered a longshot at the Swede net by TT newcomer Chris Birchall. At the half-time whistle, bar patrons rose in an impromptu standing ovation clapping outstretched hands at the fantastic showing of our Warriors.

In the second half, fans erupted in joy in the 58th minute when TT’s Glen smashed the ball onto the Swedish goalpost in a near-score. The place went wild!

The Swedes gave a dangerous counter-attack which was saved by Shaka Hislop to the joyous screams and whoops of fans.

With just minutes to the end, fans tried to psychically will the Warriors to victory. People clapped their hands in a steady rhythm, someone joined in by beating a metal panel, people chanted...and then the final whistle blew. Nil-nil. Hurray!

The party began, with reports that Woodbrook Playboyz and Silver Stars Steelbands were due to later take to the streets of St James to join the celebrations. What a day!