El Salvador, beware…beware
By Andre E. Baptiste (T&T Guardian)
The Greatest Football debate ever. Many questions, few answers. Is it that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation has given up on the chances of our Senior Soca Warriors- ahead of the crucial World Cup Qualifier against El Salvador on August 12th at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.? By the way, does anyone know if the football surface is in a good condition for the encounter?
Or is it that, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation has decided to place all their emphasis and drive behind Trinidad and Tobago’s Under 20 team that has already qualified for the Under 20 World Cup in Egypt which begins in September? Or is it, that there is no funding, no finances, to sustain both ventures and a decision had to be reached, based on only one team being given priority? If this is so, who made the decision? And what was the basis for choosing one (Soca Warriors) over the other (under 20 footballers.)?
There is also another school of thought, that this low key (lack of quality opposition preparation and practice matches ) approach is a ploy to catch El Salvador napping (maybe just as they caught us out in our first match in February this year with two late goals.) .Perhaps the “wise people” in Trinidad and Tobago’s Football believe that El Salvador will arrive in this Country over confident after some creditable performances in the Gold Cup. If this is the case, then all of these persons are guilty of wishful thinking.
But what is the true story ?Why is it that the new Coach Russell Latapy, seems to be at a disadvantage in terms of preparation, in terms of players availability and in terms of assistance from the Football federation?
Some people believe all of this, lack of concern and genuine lethargy on the part of the Football Authorities is a conspiracy to get rid of Latapy as coach, and to yet again emphasize how poor and inadequate our local coaching pool is.
Others are saying that FIFA Vice president Austin “Jack” Warner is far too busy elsewhere these days and has lost his main focus of Football, and without his input, nothing will happen in the Sport. Meanwhile we are all left wondering about the senior team, whom mathematically still has a chance to qualify for South Africa 2010. We are currently languishing in last place (sixth) with only two points from 5 matches, but we have five more matches left, starting with the El Salvador encounter.
Despite all those who doubt our team including it would appear some of the football officials and former players, if we can win our next two matches ( at home to El Salvador and away to Honduras on September 5th) then we will be in contention for a battle for most likely either 3rd or 4th place. We must not just throw up our hands and easily succumb to the belief that all is lost. I refuse to believe that players the caliber of Dwight Yorke, Stern John, Marvin Andrews, Dennis Lawrence and Avery John will want to end their careers on a low key, under performing note. Therefore despite the fact, that these players may not be match fit, we can expect them to lift their game for the ensuing battles, as they all realize this will be their final “hurrah”.
The news that Russell Latapy may also throw his football boots on, and entertain us, and in the process keep the El Salvador team guessing about his possible appearance on the field also is good for the team. Let us all still make every attempt to attend this match on the 12th August against El Salvador as it is important to send a signal that Trinidad and Tobago is ready for a fight. Those of us who were there in El Salvador for our first match, watched as the crowd roared their team on, even though they were 2-0 down, we need to follow that example here in Trinidad and Tobago and begin to demonstrate we understand what football means.
The planned presence of both Bobby Zamora and J Lloyd Samuel will certainly add to the excitement for the important fixture and allow us a chance to witness some other talent from overseas. Let us hope the existing players welcome them into the fold, because we need their help badly. So El Salvador, Beware, Beware, The Trinidad and Tobago football team is coming at you with all their football skills.
