A charming commemoration.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).
Warriors' book makes impression.
Ten months have passed since the Trinidad and Tobago national football team made its World Cup debut in Germany and there is much to suggest that the euphoria surrounding the Soca Warriors has dipped considerably. But, for those who have not forgotten the buzz experienced in the first half of 2006, the Legacy of the Soca Warriors is a charming collector's item.
The wait for a publication that captured Trinidad and Tobago's historic World Cup qualification was long but the quality of the 263 page book, penned-for the most part-by daily newspaper editor Valentino Singh and published by Medianet Limited, made it worthwhile.
The often vivid photographs and wealth of statistical information would allow readers easy access to one of the nation's proudest moments of the new millennium while it also attempted to encapsulate our 32-year international history in the sport.
The book sporadically proffered genuine revelations from within the team camp too-quite an accomplishment considering the amount of media coverage dedicated to the Warriors since its qualification.
In chapter eight, team captain Dwight Yorke was credited with talking coach Leo Beenhakker into selecting veteran goalkeeper Shaka Hislop for the country's World Cup opener against Sweden.
Shaun Fuentes, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) press officer, did not offer a direct quote from Yorke but, if true, the news might be a revelation to even Hislop.
Chapter nine, which was dedicated to Beenhakker, was an interesting read on the mysterious Dutchman although the excerpts from team meetings might not particularly interest non-football fans.
Singh used Express editor and columnist Keith Smith, freelance writer Vaneisa Baksh and former local football association president Peter O' Connor as guest contributors.
Chapter four, which was written by Baksh, had some brilliant, stirring lines."Trinidad and Tobago's historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2006 was the beginning of that journey that has not yet ended," she wrote. "Rather, it had the magical quality of being both a beginning and an end."
Smith's unique use of language also brought the "artistic arm" of the Warriors to life as he reviewed the impact of the nation's cultural ambassadors in Germany.
Consecutive defeats to England and Paraguay, he wrote, were "put into perspective with a song on one's lips, a wine of one's waist wiping off the lingering lament in one's heart".
In chapter 11, O' Connor gave a detailed look into the often overlooked world of corporate sponsorship although it is hard to understand why it warranted 33 pages while chapters on Beenhakker and Yorke were 26 and 20 pages respectively-all inclusive of photographs taken by the Express pair of Robert Taylor and Jermaine Cruickshank as well as Anthony Harris, Rolf Warner, TSTT bmobile and Fuentes.
Inevitably for most publications of this size, there were the odd errors.
National player Silvio Spann was inaccurately identified as Aurtis Whitley in one photograph and the Laventille Rhythm Section identified as the T&T Defence Force steelband in another while the World Cup scores did not indicate results decided in extra time or on penalty kicks and the tournament review, among other things, did not mention that Brazil star Ronaldo had set a World Cup scoring record with his 15th goal.
The description of local coach Bertille Clair's tenure in the early qualifying rounds seemed unnecessarily harsh too. St Clair was the second coach in 16 years to take Trinidad and Tobago into the final round of the World Cup qualifying format and he achieved it without Yorke or gifted veteran Russell Latapy.
St Clair was credited for Yorke's return but nothing else. Beenhakker's only reference to his predecessor was that the football under the Tobagonian "was very undisciplined" while Warner termed it as "totally hopeless" and sometimes "incoherent".
St Clair might not find it enjoyable reading but there would be few complaints from almost everyone else.
The Legacy of the Soca Warriors is about offering Trinidad and Tobago football sympathisers the opportunity to reminisce over a thrilling, historical moment. In this respect, it was mission accomplished.
Legacy of the Soca Warriors is published by Merdianet Ltd with colour photographs by Anthony Harris, Shaun Fuentes, TSTT mobile, Rolf Warner, Robert Taylor and Jeremie Cruickshank.
