Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: Flex on March 23, 2008, 05:52:01 PM
-
1966 World Cup defender De La Bastide passes on.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).
Former Trinidad and Tobago defender Tyrone De La Bastide passed away on Sunday March 22, 2008, in Whitby Ontario, Canada. The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation wishes to extend condolences to De La Bastide family.
Fondly called the “Tank”, De La Bastide was a member of the first ever National Team to participate in a World Cup qualifying competition for the 1966 World Cup Finals. In 1959, the former Maple great was also part of the T&T contingent of players on a Caribbean team to tour England.
Current Technical Director of the TTFF Lincoln Phillips and former T&T forward Bobby Sookram were both ex-teammates of De La Bastide and were together on Sunday as they shared their feelings on the deceased. Phillips relayed that De Labastide was actually the person to influence him to become a goalkeeper.
“Tyrone was the one who influenced to get involved in goalkeeping,” Phillips said. “I had just left Queens Royal College and I had the option to go to the team that I loved – Malvern and I was going to play as a central defender and I had damaged my ankle which meant I had to go the goalkeeping route if I wanted to play the game. It was 1961 and Tyrone was playing for Dynamos which was a young skillful team but he wanted to win a championship so he moved to Maple.
At the time they had an outstanding defense and with him coming in as a national defender the only thing missing to complete the team was a goalkeeper.,” Phillips recalled.
“He convinced me that I would complete the picture. We went on to play 20 games without conceding a goal. The relationship between us was outstanding. If I made a mistake he would be there to cover. We played for Maple and then together for the national team. He also played for St Mary’s College but I will not hold that against him,” Phillips chuckled.
Sookram also recalled his days growing up with De La Bastide in Diamond Vale. “Tyrone and I went a long way back… some forty years. I started with St Benedict’s College and I first met him at a Red Cross North/South game when he was playing for North and also for the national team I was a young 19 year old representing South in front of the grandstand at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
We both went on to play for the country and he was more like family to me after that first encounter. We grew up in Diamond Vale and would spend long hours talking about football and life in general. We made sure to keep in touch over the years as well,” Sookram relayed.
-
What were the results from the T&T 1966 World Cup qualifying team?
-
What were the results from the T&T 1966 World Cup qualifying team?
T&T 4-1 Suriname
Costa Rica 4-0 T&T
T&T 0-1 Costa Rica
Suriname 6-1 T&T
-
Former Trinidad and Tobago defender Tyrone De La Bastide passed away on Sunday March 22, 2008, in Whitby Ontario, Canada.
Ah wonder when he relly die, Saturday March 22nd or Sunday March 23rd?
-
De pundits and dem say he's the best left back we've ever produce.We have'nt had one as good since.
-
De pundits and dem say he's the best left back we've ever produce.We have'nt had one as good since.
He was T&T Footballer of the Year in 1968 and was inducted into the T&T Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.
-
RIP u guys paved d way 4 d present heroes
-
RIP
prayers to his family
-
Legend in T&T Football. RIP Tank
-
I heard yesterday that the great Tyrone “The Tank” DeLaBastide died in Canada a couple days ago. I understand he was ailing with cancer for awhile.
Trevor
-
one more in football heaven.RIP sir.
-
blessings...tnt
-
Been hearing his name since I was a little fella.
RIP sir.
VB
-
Condolences to the family. he was a reall stallwart in the TT defence in the 60s'. Blessings to them all. Rest in beast Tank.
-
It's sad to hear this news,Tyrone will always be remembered where Football is concerned in T&T,a modle player for all up and coming in the game.RIP
-
ah lot older head passing this week boi ,....well atleast they saw trini make it to the cup .
-
De pundits and dem say he's the best left back we've ever produce.We have'nt had one as good since.
I always saw him play Stopper with Sedley Joseph as 1st, with Maple....buh ah never see the National Team line up.
add: my pet name for dem was Mutt & Jeff
-
I had the good fortune of seeing the "Tank" playing for Maple. Boy, I never seen a fat man could run so fast and never seen a short man could jump so high. Kind of like Roberto Carlos. Rest in peace, Great Warrior.
-
An article on the "Tank" by Alvin.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/SA-8.html
-
I am glad to see Alvin write this article about the “Tank,” because I find he went too quietly. The “Tank” was a major football icon, and I hope that something is done for his legacy to live on. Just as T&T youths today worship Latapy, Yorke, and Shaka, the “Tank” was idolized by youngsters of the time. He was a true T&T hero. He was very exciting to watch. He was about 5’5” and it seemed like he ran about 100 miles per hour.
It was fire and brimstone when he tackled someone. In one of the verses in his 2005 calypso, “I in Town Too Long,” Chalkdust sang about the “Tank” and “Jap” Brown clashing in the Savannah – that meant Maple versus Malvern. This game generated so much argument between the fans. That was the golden era of club football in Trinidad. The Grand Stand used to be packed and the crowd was thick around the field. I can still see “Geese” (the old guy) putting the scores up on the scoreboard.
“Tank,” it was an honor to know you.
Trevor
-
I saw play for Maple vs Midvale. He was past his prime, but you could not tell if that was so. He was outjumping men taller that he. And running toe-toe with younger forwards. I could imagine how he was when he was younger. RIP Tank!!!