Boy Palos on this whole reminiscing thing, this week I watching the WCQ vs Honduras, exactly 28 years ago in 1988, my pops take me as a small man to watch my very first national football game. It was in the Oval, playing Honduras in the first leg of the knockout WCQ. I will never forget that experience - the energy of the crowd, people trying to break down the gate and storm, the 2 teams coming out in all white and is only the red socks being used to separate the players...I remember for the first time seeing a short magician on the ball, mazy run through 5 players on the edge of the box (a clip used for Sport Sunday for many years after) and hearing the man name Latapy. A young Tobago schoolboy called Yorke coming in as a sub and injecting energy into the team and crowd...And then watching the return game on TV and seeing what Central America looked like for the first time. Hutson Charles scored the goal that got us through onto the final round for the Road to Italy... I was hooked, I thought T&T was the best thing in the world. This was right after the World Cup of '86
and I thought this football thing and T&T was the real deal.
Now 28 years later I watching us play Honduras on TV again with my own son (he way smaller than I was, so no concept of what going on). My father, Rest in Peace, would be cussing and turning in his grave at that display. But at least he was lucky to experience the Germany qualification...
Man is 28 years these Soca Warriors giving me heartache. No wonder why so many T&T fans don't follow the team until the edge of possible success and prefer support European Club teams yes.
And not forgetting your Nov 16 date, I ain't know, November 19 is still the date that resonates more with me..