Soca Warriors chances
On the Beat
Opoku Ware
Monday, June 5th 2006
TobagoNews.com
As promised, this column intends to keep our readers engaged in different aspects in the build-up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup tournament. This week we will examine the contingents of nationals being sponsored by Government and the THA to attend the tournament in Germany. It would also be important to continue to examine our Soca Warriors chances in the competition.
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Now to the World Cup of Football. It is clear that the sport of football and the national cultures of the participating teams will be the highlight of the event in Germany, on and off the field, respectively. Therefore, any nation, which has earned qualification for the competition, should make maximum use of the opportunity and for a nation like Trinidad and Tobago, which is not sure, when again it may qualify for such a high profile tournament, such an opportunity must not be wasted.
It is against this background that I cannot understand the thinking by the government and the THA in terms of some of the persons they have selected to be sponsored by taxpayers' money to travel to Germany.
For example, I have heard no mention of the Original DeFosto Himself being selected on the Trinidad contingent even though he had one of the biggest songs on Germany World Cup 2006. I do hope De Fosto is on the trip for he is deserving. For sure I do know that Super Blue, the original Soca soccer Calypsonian has not been selected.
It was Super Blue who led the T&T cultural assault in the 1989 World Cup campaign and maybe such a trip could be of some help to him in his personal battles at present. Here is where the Calypso organisation should have made its voice heard, instead of trying to determine 'who is a calypsonian'.
As for the THA contingent, again we have 'missed the boat', while we must be elated by the family members of the Tobago players on the national team making the trip to Germany. However, the selection of the Tobago contingent can be classified as an insult to the Tobago football fraternity.
Such an opportunity should have been used to enhance the sport of football on the island.
This is why preference to the trip should have been given to those who have made and are making dedicated efforts to develop football in Tobago.
It is quite disturbing that the authorities have blanked former national junior football coach Peter Granville who has and is contributing massively to the development of soccer both in Tobago and Trinidad. Bertille St. Clair would have been my first choice Tobagonian for the Germany trip with Peter Granville as number two, but I doubt St. Clair would have chosen to go in such a manner. Therefore, Granville must be Tobago's number one choice. Since obtaining his coaching qualifications from the English FA, Granville has done extensive coaching in Tobago and Trinidad.
He even coached several players on the Soca Warriors team including Colin Samuel, Kelvin Jack, Silvio Spann, Brent Sancho, Cornel Glen and Jason Scotland.
Granville has also coached a number of Tobago teams including Plymouth's Stokely Vale, Speyside's Sidey's, Calder Hall United and now Tobago's only professional football team, Tobago United. What about the other hardworking Tobago coaches such as Terry Williams of phoenix who runs a coaching school at Bon Accord.
Where is Rhodil Clarke? What about Tony Keith who has been doing excellent work among our young footballers for many years? What about some of the stalwarts who have contributed on the field of play in Tobago over the years? Instead, the THA have chosen persons to go to Germany who have never 'kicked a lime' in their lives.
What can they learn in Germany to bring back to the sport in Tobago. It is surely a mockery of a golden opportunity, no wonder our society is heading in the direction it is.
