Letter to the Soca Warriors
Tuesday, June 20 2006
Dear Warriors,
Today you have a chance to get through to Round Two of the World Cup if you can beat Paraguay and if at the same time as your match, England beats Sweden.
We, your fans in Trinidad and Tobago and around the world, would simply like to wish you all the very best of luck. So far in this tournament you have made us proud beyond what words can say.
We were so proud when you initially qualified for the World Cup that we would have been satisfied with just seeing you participate. Yet, lo and behold, you went on to stun the footballing world and defy predictions by holding Sweden to a nil-nil draw, and then by holding back England for 82 minutes until they scored a questionable goal, and then another.
We salute you.
But you have done far more for TT than just entertain us by playing brilliantly on the field.
Not only have you performed fantastically against highly-favoured England and Sweden, but you have awakened a spirit of pride in this nation that has never ever been seen before. People are saying they can’t remember ever before seeing such a collective mood of love of nation that you all have inspired. Fans are saying that win or lose they are with you. Pure unconditional love!
Warriors, if you were home here in Trinidad and Tobago you would not believe the huge outpouring of support which is gushing out of our people from all walks of life. People are flying their red flags from their cars and homes between the four corners of Trinidad from Carenage to Cedros and from Grand Riviere to Guayaguayare, and the length of Tobago. On your match days everyone is wearing a red jersey. “Since when are you this big football fan?” one woman asked her sister during your last match.
Warriors, you have made converts of us all.
Even after Saturday’s loss, we back home felt prouder to be nationals of Trinidad and Tobago than we have ever felt before in our lives.
Warriors, we know what you are up against today as you face Paraguay, a World Cup veteran who the bookmakers rank as today’s favourites. We know Paraguay won’t be a walkover as they were beaten by just one-nil by each of England and Sweden.
Yes, we would like to see you truly thrash Paraguay who are already out of the World Cup, while England beat Sweden, but you already know what you’ve got to do and we are not going to put any additional pressure on you today. As far as we in Trinidad and Tobago are concerned, you have already done us proud. We wouldn’t ask for more. All we will do is tell you that we are completely confident that you will play with the heroism in goal-keeping, defence and attack which you have so far displayed.
Warriors you have given this country a new feeling of national pride. While we hope you overwhelmingly beat Paraguay today and advance to the second round, to all of us at home you are already national heroes, win, lose or draw.
So give it your best shot guys and let’s see how we do.
Go, Warriors, go!
