The events of Tuesday evening was definitely a signal of renaissance for T&T football caused by the impact of this country’s national women’s footballers in their decisive Fifa Women’s World Cup qualifying match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain.
As captain Maylee Attin-Johnson and her teammates struggled to come to terms with the 1-0 defeat to Ecuador in the dressing room, Soca Stars Rodney “Benjai” Le Blanc and Olatunji Yearwood did all they could to lift the mood on the outside.
Soca Warrior hitmaker Edghill “Maximus Dan” Thomas [now known as Mx Prime] was on a high like the thousands gathered at the Stadium on the momentous evening.
“This is what it should be like. All different classes and races coming together for a great cause. What I’m experiencing here at the stadium has brought me a lot of joy and inspiration. These players have brought this to us again, just like we did in 2005, there is a real love in the air again,” Thomas said.
Benjai and Olatunji, currently burning up the airwaves with their hits Phenomenal and Ola on the Can Can rhythm, agreed to take the microphones together at the final whistle and expressed their love to the team to help lift their spirits while they were at their lowest.
“I was standing behind the T&T goal and I couldn’t hold back my emotion. T&T and football is very dear to my heart and I felt a strong vibe and passion in there for this game. These are moments that don’t leave us,” Olatunji said.
There was an immediate influx of congratulatory and consolation messages pouring out for Women Warriors on social media via the TTFA’s Facebook and Twitter pages and email accounts. Here are some of them:
Vindon Hadaway wrote: “I haven’t been to a World Cup game in over ten years. This team has piqued my interest and so I made the journey down to stadium like many other thousands of Trinidadians today. Hold your head up high girls, you were magnificent, and a World Cup team in my eyes! T&T loves you regardless.”
Toolah Julien said, “We love you still...Warriors never quit. You have made us proud...God bless you all.”
“This is the start of ah bright future for these ladies and women’s Football in TT. Inspired by them,” Bryan Bernard posted.
“I am not just a supporter, I am a believer. The next World Cup qualifiers will soon roll around and when that time comes we shall be automatic qualifiers. Today we deserve to shed a tear there is reason, next time we shed tears of joy as we establish the reason. Well done Warriors,” said Derryl Porter.
Those who began exiting the venue seconds after Ecuador scored also came in for some bashing from many, for not staying until the end to at least stand by the Randy Waldrum’s team.
Generally though there was a real feeling of national pride, passion and optimism for the future.