There’s a new wristband on the market, and it is all in support of the national football team, the Warriors.
The duo (who did not want to be named in the story, for fear of their jobs being jeopardised) visited the Guardian’s St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain office on April 13. They said that after the national team played USA on Ash Wednesday at Queen’s Park Oval, they thought the bands would be a great idea to increase moral support for the team.
“The team needs all the support we can give them. Although they lost to USA at that game, they still did well,” one said.
The yellow LiveStrong cancer wristbands, which were the first to begin the trend, were produced by US cyclist Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor, as a fund-raising venture for cancer research.
They were followed by green (to help fund ovarian cancer research), pink (breast cancer research), blue (Formula 1 racing circuit accident victims), white (Unicef, in its fight against crime and violence) and black and white intertwined (Nike’s campaign to stop racism in football).
The local football wristbands are red, the national colour.
“We saw how much support the Lance Armstrong bands were receiving and thought that we could generate the same effect and more for the team,” said one of the band’s producers.
The project was officially endorsed by the T&T Football Federation. Part proceeds go to the federation and part towards administrative costs.
The avid fans also agreed that it was all about the passion for the game and love for the country.
“It was not only geared towards football support,” one said, “but was also produced for the preservation of our local culture.
“There are soca entertainers and other people in society who have contributed to our culture and they were impressed with the bands.
“They are also warriors for their culture as they fight for the art form.
“We want the team to make it to the World Cup, so there is a need to increase national pride.”
Shaun Fuentes, TTFF media officer, said it was an excellent initiative, adding that it was what was needed to stir up support.
“The young people, especially, find the bands to be a fashion statement and they can wear them and still give support,” he said, in a telephone interview on April 14.
He said when the duo approached the TTFF with the idea, he was impressed.
“With the bands being red, it was not focused on the national team, but also against the crime and violence in the country.
“We all need to be a warrior against that,” he added.
Fuentes said that there were also plans to introduce the bands internationally. “When they see the colour red they could automatically identify with Trinidad and personalities such as Machel, Lara and Yorke.”
He added that the entire football team was in possession of the bands.
Soca entertainer Maximus Dan, who sported the wristband at the Concacaf World Cup qualifying game against Costa Rica on March 30 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, said wearing the band was patriotic.
“As travelling artistes, it is only when we go abroad do we learn to appreciate our own,” he said in a telephone interview on April 14.
Dan vows to go everywhere with the band and never take it off.
“Since I put it on, I have not taken it off, it is something that goes with me everywhere.
“If anyone should ask me what the red band stands for, I’ll be proud to tell them. I am a representative of the T&T republic.”
In a telephone interview, certified swim coach and Guardian columnist Anil Roberts praised the duo who produced the bands, saying that anything positive done to instil national pride among the people was commendable.
“I am behind them 100 per cent,” he said on April 14.
“Even if you cannot go to the games, you can show your support by wearing the band.
“We are all Soca Warriors in whatever we are trying to do, we need to come together,” he added.
“This is bigger than just football, it is T&T.”
The wristbands, which went on sale on April 22, will be available at a cost of $25, at Sports Outlet, Ellerslie Plaza and Gulf City Mall, La Romain.