Winning is a joyful experience in almost the same way that losing provides essential lessons for the future.
Unfortunately, despite a courageous and sometimes exciting display of football, the chips did not fall in quite the place that their efforts deserved.
I cannot help but feel a sense of pride for being among the thousands of my people coming together to champion a cause which identifies our love for each other on this sporting occasion.
The game of football is powerful enough to bring a nation together, and if you doubt me, ask the members of the strike squad.
Today, the women soca warriors may be bemoaning the fact that they did not capitalise upon the chances which they created, as often as five times in the first half and another three in the second.
Strange enough, being the realist that I like to be when it comes to football matches, my predictions for Tuesday’s match could have been one where creativity and ball possession by Ecuador would be our team’s biggest challenge.
It was actually the other way around. The movement of the ball from the T&T defence to midfield was smooth, cohesive and lent itself to a formidable unit which had the prospect of achieving its objective—a goal—but it was not to be.
For those of us who followed this team during the qualification process, much of what we saw from central Defenders Arin King and Rhea Belgrave, our playmaker captain Maylee Attin Johnson in midfield and two speedy and skillful strikers in Kennya Cordner and Ahkeela Mollon, offered to this country a wonderful chance of reaching to Canada.
The assessment was accurate. Our central defenders were excellent, both in their communicative ability and responsibilities of winning the ball in a most organised fashion.
At no time did the Ecuadorians appear to create any serious challenge in the first half, especially as the endurance, intensity and ball distribution of Johnson, who ran from one penalty area to the next marshalling her forces into competence.
For the better part of the match, there was evidence of a victory, especially after a half time team discussion produced the necessary corrective measures.
The similar type of game which was based upon the striking power of Cordner needed some type of alternate approach.
The brilliant young striker had missed some early first half opportunities which seemed to have affected her confidence and the time was ripe for the technical staff to change the method of attack, using the build up from the flanks to bring the number of crosses which were effected in the first half.
Cordner has the speed in short distances to outrun the slow turning Ecuador central defence, so it was necessary to bring her into centre forward position and force her opponents to make adjustments.
Incidentally, this quick footed striker reminded me of former national striker Sammy Lewellyn, one of my favourite strikers of years. Two superb goalscorers.
The second change that was necessary was to take the ball into the opponent’s half of the field, so that they will always be required to concentrate on defensive play.
With tired legs on both teams, the path to the opponents’ goal would have been be shorter if they were closer to Ecuador’s penalty area.
From my assessment these factors were lacking, perhaps not because of the coach but lack of implimentation by the players. There were some well served corners and flank free kicks by Karyn Forbes, Arin king, and Mariah Shade which met with too few scoring options because of insufficient players available in the box.
The Warriors had gained maximum possession, more attacking freekicks and a full house at the Stadium as witness, but ended without that all important goal.
Eventually, an unnecessary foul committed just outside the left portion of the penalty area, minutes past full time, saw Kamika Forbes leaving the goalline to catch a crossed ball which she could not reach, and especially when two T&T defenders were well placed to avert danger, causing a terrible anticlimax to what could have been the most memorable sporting day in our history and especially in women’s football.
The process is not completed and I would hope that the financial powers that be will appreciate some more investment in the same direction, when the TTFA can decide to play their own group in Canada 2015.
It is simple. Get four teams to accept friendlies three weeks from the start of the Fifa World Cup 2015.
A choice of Germany, France, Brazil and Argentina would again prove to us that the road to a world cup final may not be far away. It will also prepare our teams for the Olympic qualifiers. This must be done now.
Well done, girls, you have made us proud.