The country with the smallest population ever to be represented in the FIFA World Cup is Trinidad and Tobago.Support for this team,however,will not only come from those born in the twin island state but from all its sister states in the Caribbean.Caribbean people all over the world will be singing,chanting,dancing and waving for the Soca Warriors.An impossible dream beats in the hearts of this Carnival fun loving nation. Only four Caribbean teams have ever made it to the finals of this prestigious tournament since its inception in 1930.They are Cuba in the third World Cup in France,Haiti in the World Cup in Germany 1974 and Jamaica's lively Reggae Boyz in France 1998. Trinidad and Tobago's Soca Warriors play their first round matches starting June 10 against Sweden ,followed by England on June 15 and Paraguay on June 20. The Soca Warriors won a place in Germany by first emerging from their elimination matches to get into a group of six with the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama.They came fourth. Then they beat Bahrain 2-1 over a heart stopping two-legged play-off.They join USA,Mexico and Costa Rica as CONCACAF's representatives in World Cup 2006 in Germany. Wrexham defender Dennis Lawrence entered the realms of legend when his powerful header hit the back of the Bahrain net in Manama. He had scored the goal which booked Trinidad a finals place. The team's manager is Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker who took over after an initial poor start in the six group CONCACAF playoff. His experienced skills organised and moulded the indifferent and inexperienced squad into World Cup finalists.Beenhakker is regarded as one of the strengths of the team because he is tactically astute and inspires his squad to perform at their best. The Warrior's captain is 33-year-old **Dwight Yorke**. He is Trinidad and Tobago's greatest ever footballer. He came out of international retirement in 2005 to inspire his team from a central-midfield role. He has genuine top-level experience both in the UK and Australia.He and Stern John are the sort of players who can seize an opportunity and find the back of the net when needed. The Soca Warriors are currently ranked 47 in the world. What are the odds of their winning? They are extremely long shots at 1000/1.Even their most ardent fans probably only hope for them to beat Paraguay in their final group B match on the 20th June. If they do that they would equal the feat of the Reggae Boyz who beat Japan in their final 1998 match in France. Look for Trinidad and Tobago to go ballistic if that happens.There will be celebrations the like of which has never been seen on the islands. And what if they win or draw in their first two matches? Well the nation will probably go into orbit around the earth with joy. For those who love the World Cup and who follow the game I would like to recommend a timely new book:World Class: An Illustrated History of Caribbean Football by James Ferguson. It has 116 photographs including one of legendary reggae artist Bob Marley in a knockabout match in Kingston,Jamaica. Other books that deal with Caribbean or Black footballers are: Colouring Over The White Line:The History of Black footballers in Britain by Phil Vasili, Black Magic:England's Black Footballers by Brian Woolnough written in 1983. Don't forget to pick up a copy of : One Love:The Reggae Boyz-An Incredible Soccer Journey by Robbie Earl and Daniel Davis,it's a chronicle of Jamaica's World Cup adventures. I dream the impossible dream for the Soca Warriors. Light and love to them. |
