T&T has a new favourite son
By Darren Devine (Western Mail)
DENNIS LAWRENCE likes leaving things late. With no sign of a professional contract by his mid-20s many would have given up on football in the hope of carving out a career that would guarantee a future beyond the next few years.
Not Lawrence. And how the Trinidad and Tobago defender's faith in himself has been repaid - so much so he is currently a bigger national hero than the great Brian Lara.
The first contract came at the age of 26 with Wrexham and last Wednesday it was followed by an achievement that dwarfs every other success he has enjoyed in his career.
At the age of 31, Lawrence was drinking in the last-chance saloon long after the bell for last orders had been sounded as far as World Cup qualification goes.
But his second-half goal in his country's play-off decider with Bahrain has seen him usurp legendary West Indian cricketer Lara as Trinidad's best-loved sportsman.
While Lara hundreds live long in the memory of all Trinidadians, the scenes of jubilation unleashed by Lawrence's goal were without precedent.
With a population of just 1.1 million, it is the first time Trinidad and Tobago have reached the World Cup finals and only the fourth time any Caribbean nation has made it through to the competition's conclusion.
Lawrence said, "If we hadn't reached the World Cup finals this time that would have been it for me because we have got enough players back home to do the job.
"But all good things in football have come to me a bit late. I was 26 when I joined Wrexham and I could never have said that this was going to happen.
"But it has and I'm going to enjoy it - and I hope everyone around me is going to enjoy it as well."
Lawrence is a fiercely proud Trinidadian and has always made himself available for his country - even for the kind of inconvenient friendlies that leave club managers livid - so next summer's tournament in Germany is the pinnacle of his career.
"I'm very honoured and proud of my country," he said. "I would give anything to try to achieve things for it, just as I would give almost everything to achieve things for Wrexham.
"I'm proud of where I was born, my culture and my heritage, so there's no reason why I shouldn't want to play for them."
The centre-back's joy at his winning goal was shared right across the Caribbean island and the scenes he witnessed after flying back from Bahrain for a civic parade will live long in his memory.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning declared the day after qualification a national holiday but, as another government official wryly observed, the people would have taken one - with or without their leader's blessing.
"At the final whistle I looked up at the scoreboard and I saw 1-0 to Trinidad and Tobago and I just knew that we were in the World Cup draw," said Lawrence.
"That was so special to me. I lived in Trinidad for 26 years before I came over here and I've never witnessed anything in my life like what I saw when we got off that plane.
"There were so many people in the airport and people were greeting each other with so much love it was something that I believe was sent not just from us, but sent down spiritually.
"It is the best thing that could have happened to our country at the moment and, I hope, they enjoy it for as long as they want to.
"I wish I could still be there, but obviously I've got to prepare myself because I've got a job to do at Wrexham.
"The trip from the airport to the capital, Port of Spain, takes normally no more than 30 to 35 minutes, but it took us six-and-a-half hours to get there because people were lining the streets celebrating.
"They just wanted to welcome the team back from Bahrain. We were on an open-top bus and the people deserved it because they have been with us through thick and thin during the campaign.
"They even tried to get another public holiday on the Friday, but that was never going to happen."
Speculation has suggested the players have been rewarded by the prime minister for their historic victory over Bahrain with a plot of land each and a £60,000 qualification bonus.
But Lawrence insists the financial perks that flow from World Cup qualification are secondary to what he regards as the real reward - the reaction of the island's people.
"I've not heard anything about it (the plot of land) but if it's true I'll be welcoming mine. People keep asking, 'What should you be rewarded with?'
"But to me seeing the people of Trinidad and Tobago come together as one - you can't ask for more than that.
"I'm sure everyone would love to be rewarded with gold and money, but we just have to keep our heads and know we have done this for the people."
Lawrence and his team-mates must now turn their attention to the World Cup finals and the possibility of facing the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Italy and France.
And while everyone will expect them to be on the first plane home after the group stages, Lawrence insists he and his colleagues are fearless. In fact, world champions Brazil would be his first choice of opposition.
"I'd love to play them - I've been a big fan of the Brazilians since I was a kid. So being selfish, I hope they're in our group.
"We have got absolutely no fear about going into the World Cup at all because from day one we're going to be underdogs. Everyone will be thinking, 'Oh look, Trinidad and Tobago, we should get three points out of them.'
"But we are going to go into it confident and do the best we can and make our country even more proud.
"I've just got to keep myself fit and prepare myself right mentally. I will fight it out with all the other boys who will be trying to get a spot in that squad for Germany 2006.
"But what I can say is that I've got a great opportunity and if I do get there I will enjoy every moment of it."
Amid all the celebrations for his nation's achievement Lawrence also set another record closer to his adopted North Wales home.
When the 6ft 7in defender takes to the pitch in Germany he will become the first Wrexham player to compete in a World Cup finals.
"That will be another achievement for me that will go down in history," he said.
"I've always had ambitions since I came to Wrexham. I want to do things and achieve things for the club. We've won promotion in the past and the LDV Vans Trophy as well.
"All those things are very special to me and I'll cherish them for the rest of my life, just as I will if I become the first Wrexham player to play in the World Cup."
