Soca Warriors testing time approaches in Tobago
By Alvin Corneal (T&T Guardian)
Within the confines of a relatively small nation consisting of a population of one million plus, the aspirations of our people often supersede the reality of where our true capabilities can take us. However, psychologists will encourage us to think this way, only because we must aim for the highest point at all times. This has been best demonstrated in our sport, where world Champion status has been achieved by some of the exquisitely gifted athletes which we presented to the sporting world, the names of people like Brian Lara, Hasely Crawford, Yoland Pompey, Roger Gibbon and Dwight Yorke, to name a few. After these experiences, who can blame us for believing that nothing is too much for us to achieve?
Football has reached that imaginary pinnacle which dangles like a carrot before our eyes, and engages the interest and enthusiasm of our fans.
Tobago has had the spotlight placed upon them for the next two weeks, with a host of the country’s leading footballers gracing the Dwight Yorke Stadium daily, aiming to get acclimatised to the field itself and the environment as a whole. If one is to judge the type of support for the game by the Tobagonians, I will pleasantly reflect the happenings of the World Youth Championships U-17 tournament in 2001 where the love and appreciation demonstrated by the residents of the sister isle rebounded to the benefit of countries like Burkina Faso, France, Nigeria and USA. I expect even better with the Soca Warriors, led by home grown Dwight Yorke enjoying the hero welcome which he so deserves.
There is also the added attraction of having the opportunity of seeing the new coach and probable player, Russell Latapy realise his dream, and those of many fans, by leading the charges, many of whom have been basking in the glory of the Germany 2006 World Cup experience and retaining the support of this nation. The selection process has almost been completed. An array of the same players of four years ago such as Clayton Ince, Carlos Edwards, Dennis Lawrence, Colin Samuel, Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy, Chris Birchall, Stern John, Kenwyne Jones, Jason Scotland, Marvin Andrews, with Silvio Spann (selected but injured) and Khaleem Hyland, the youthful exuberant midfielder who grabbed the vital point against Honduras some two months ago and has played in Belgium since.
The test of our performance will not be based upon the talent of these players three years ago, but on their present level. We could envisage this situation in two ways, the first being, that these players are now wiser and more equipped with much of what may have been missing during the Germany encounter. The extent of the work done by the new coach will also take the team’s performance in a direction which is visualised as more productive than what previously existed. The supporting players who did not participate in the German experience will benefit from rubbing shoulders with their more experienced colleagues and probably learn something from their type of play. Their natural talent will also lend some insight into areas of play which may not have been evident, even in the atmosphere of Europe.
Not having seen a single session since the last game against the USA, the novelty of change will be exciting for me as well as those who are just awaiting the big days of June 6 and 10. The fact that there was one single friendly being played in between the USA debacle and the match against Costa Rica, is extremely surprising and bothersome as well. Our opponents have been playing these friendlies regularly and working towards the task ahead. I have to assume that the use of experience will see us through the two most crucial matches in our quest to reach South Africa. The answer lies just around the corner.
