TRINIDAD and Tobago’s World Cup football qualification will hinge on success in their opening match of the last round of qualifiers. True or False? On Ash Wednesday, our national team will oppose arch enemies the United States in what is expected to be a battle like none before (at least not since November 19, 1989).
FIFA vice-president Jack Austin Warner has made it clear, that he expects the full support of the public in this crucial match. The match has been scheduled for the Queen’s Park Oval because some believe that the size of the surface together with the close proximity of the crowd will intimidate the American team and work in our favour. The timing of the match at 3.30 pm, is expected to be to our benefit as well, with the sweltering heat keeping the American team on their backfoot. Is all of this, though, wishful thinking by the football authorities? I believe that our Football Federation have got it all wrong again. By giving early notice of the match venue and time, we have shown our “cards” too early, and please let us not be fooled by any last minute explanation from the Federation, stating that there is a requirement for such naming in December.
What the Federation have done, is to give the USA management team enough time to plan and prepare themselves for this critical match, and no doubt they will get as much information as possible on the venue, since they last played here. Additionally they may base their team in the “hot” climate of any Caribbean Island for two to three weeks to ensure the weather conditions on Ash Wednesday are not alien to them. We have also been told by the local football authorities that, our team, due to Carnival celebrations will not be allowed rightfully or wrongly, to remain in camp in Trinidad and Tobago. There are several views on this, the most potent being the obvious distraction that Carnival will present to our players and officials. Will this mean that our “home” team now forfeits their “home” advantage by not being able to train on the ground for the match days before the encounter?
Is our football team, so indisciplined, that the celebrations brought on by Carnival can destroy their team plans and programmes? What kind of men run these football programmes? If the Trinidad and Tobago team is indeed based in Barbados as advertised, when will they return home? Tuesday lunch time, Tuesday evening, Tuesday night or Wednesday morning? All this time, the American team by law, will request to practise at the venue, at least 48 hours before the World Cup Qualifier, so they will ignore all efforts to stop them in their scheduled workouts and training sessions. What of the crowd? Can we expect a sell-out audience, the day after two days of joy? Also what will be in the mind of this crowd? Will it be football thoughts or partying moments?
This sort of mood could either work for or against the national team, and it will be up to the management of the squad to ensure that the players are in the correct frame of mind for their tough encounter against USA. The revealing news that only 12,000 tickets will be sold for the World Cup qualifier at the Oval has caught many persons by surprise. The Oval for one-day cricket in May will hold upwards of 25,000 spectators, so it can only be assumed that some strict guidelines, such as seating only will be enforced. If that is so, then it may defeat the purpose of the venue with no fans being allowed on the cycling track. By the way, what about the 5,000-odd members of the Queen’s Park Oval and all the Corporate Boxes at the Oval? Will these be vacant ? All of this begs the question — Is there fear somewhere of another ticket scandal? This match has all the intrigue of a Shakespeare play. Let us hope at the end of this theatrical performance by many, that Trinidad and Tobago’s football is not further stabbed in the back.
The lack of sponsors is clearly a problem for the national football team, but who is to blame for this? Corporate Trinidad and Tobago has never refused to support sport — at least when it concerns football and cricket. It is quite strange that sponsors will not be lining up to support our national team in this the last round of World Cup qualification. It may mean that the sponsors are not confident in how their funds will be spent, and what is needed is for the Football Federation to allow transparency in all of their actions. Independent Boards of Accountability with high profile and respected business and sports persons can be established to look after the funding. Football is without a doubt, the most popular sport, both in terms of participants and spectators in the world, although some will make out a case for athletics.
It is time for people to forgive some of the errors of the past in football and to look beyond the personalities in football and instead examine the future of the country’s football team. If the Government of this country is so petty, to allow the fact that one man’s taste for the opposition’s wine to cause a neglect of our national team, then these people are indeed not caring and loving of their own country. Forgiveness can only start in your heart. If this country is to progress in football, everybody must work together, forget about likes and dislikes. This is about Trinidad and Tobago, and we will all be proud and excited when our team is at the Germany 2006 World Cup. Stand up and be counted, all of Trinidad and Tobago, Now is the time for an united approach.