The World Cup meltdown

On the question on where TT stands on the global radar, I was flabbergasted to hear a United States ESPN sportscaster, covering the World Cup say: “This little island of Trinidad and Tobago has nothing to be ashamed of. It’s smaller than some of our counties upstate.”

The importance of a country is premised, in the US on its size and the importance of the country in the global sphere. As such, the fact that the Soca Warriors had not won a game or scored a goal, was inconsequential.

The fact that they were at the World Cup, was all that mattered. Had this been the US soccer team, it would have been a horse of a different colour.

I didn’t share the sportscaster’s sentiment then, and don’t share it now.

The Soca Warriors were not a “seven-day wonder,” transient at best, just there to put their small country on the map. We have been there before and will certainly show up on the radar again in the not too distant future. When the next World Cup, comes around in 2010 the Soca Warriors, should be better funded by the government and business sector.

With the absence of Jack Warner and with an offence oriented-attacking coach, the Soca Warriors would acquit themselves most admirably, beyond our wildest expectations. Even if they pull off one victory, it will be a victory, that will stick.