Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) press officer Shaun Fuentes made no mention of the country's all-time record goal scorer, Stern John, in a release concerning the squad for Cuba.
Supporters of the "Soca Warriors" have often been accused of a blasé attitude towards their heroes. Not the fans who log on to the socawarriors.net forum to discuss the state of their national team, though.
Within 48 hours, more than 100 "forumites"-they comprise mainly "Trinbagonians" living at home and abroad-had taken up G's gauntlet while more than a thousand logged in to read the discourse.
"First, he get bench for (Jerrol) Forbes and now Stern get drop?" asked 'Arrow', rhetorically. "This is the final nail in the coffin for Maturana. Stern on his worst day is ten times the goal scoring threat that (Andre) Toussaint is."
A seething 'Small Magician' felt the national coaching staff had "crossed the line".
"How can we score goals without the goalscorer?" asked Small Magician. "How can a coach drop Stern John for Trinidad and Tobago when he is fit and available?"
A loss away to Cuba, Small Magician suggested, was a result worth taking if it prompted a coaching change-presumably for an official who was more appreciative of John's record international tally of 69 goals.
The way that John claimed to be informed of his exclusion, via an unofficial text message, also disappointed some forumites.
"Ay Stern. No need svcs 4 Cuba game next Wednesday," posted "Omarldinho", in the form of a mock text message. "Want plyr who run fast and no stand up lol. Siempre su amigo, Pacho."
"Lickslikefire" did not see the funny side.
"All this talk about different points of view and why he get drop is chupidness," said Lickslikefire. "Bottom line: Stern deserves more than a text. "Hate him or love him, he's one of our TNT footballing heroes." The man deserve more than that."
Others moaned about the fiasco over the captain's armband, which was handed by Densill Theobald to John without Maturana's approval in February before an outing against Guadeloupe. The Colombian was not amused.
"If that is not undermining you as coach then tell me what that is?" asked Frico. "When our Prime Minister leaves the country he gives the job to someone while he is away. How do you think he would feel if that someone gives the job to another without consulting him?"
" "Andre Samuel" tried to pacify Small Magician while "Fatimarima" chided him.
"No Stern hurts, but let's see how his plan works," wrote Andre Samuel.
"T&T can't afford to sacrifice any game," posted Fatimarima. "Sorry you feel that way about the coach and the coaching staff but that's your personal problem. "
"I want T&T to win every time regardless of who coaching."
There were disagreements about whether John's services would be missed.
"We can't afford no loafers for this match against Cuba," wrote Frico. "John puts too much pressure on other players and we can't afford that kind ah luxury against Cuba. We need ten men fighting for each other."
"Morvant" disagreed.
"A man scoring ah goal ah game and you complaining?" posted Morvant.
A general consensus was not found but many of John's supporters agreed to swallow their disappointment if the team succeeded without him. Even Small Magician calmed down.
"I just venting," wrote Small Magician. "At the end of the day is T&T and (I) supporting the selected players and the non-selected (and) not Maturana not Corneal not any of them... (Stern) probably gave Anton and Maturana a piece of his mind after the Bermuda game but I don't blame him...
"He is Legend 14. He will be back cuz I can guarantee we will need him... You can't win games without goals."
The forum has spoken.
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