Twenty-five years later, and Clayton Morris is still recovering from November 19, 1989.
“We still healing after 25 years,” he told the Express yesterday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the then Strike Squad’s 1-0 defeat against the United States that sent the Americans and not Trinidad and Tobago to the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
“Every day we live that day November 19. When this day comes it brings back everything. Once this time come around, every time we come together and we talk, you get consolation,” said Morris, the captain of that team.
Needing one point to secure an historic first-ever World Cup appearance, the side coached by former national star Everald “Gally” Cummings could not find an equaliser for Paul Caligiuri’s 30th minute goal. The country, including those in an over-crowded National Stadium and the players themselves were left to consider what might have been.
Asked whether he thinks about what it would have been like had T&T not lost, Morris replied this way:
“We did psychology with Ms (Shirley Rudd) OIttley...(In those sessions) you see yourself after the game. But to be honest...I could not see after (beyond) that game. I just leave it as God’s doing.”
But he is clear that this particular anniversary is extra special.
“This one feeling more emotional,” he said. “Water running out my eye.”
And referring to Dwight Yorke’s Soca Warriors and their victory over Bahrain on November 16, 2005 which made them the country’s first World Cup qualifiers, Morris made this observation: “Nobody remembers November 16. Why does November 19, 1989 stand out? Are we taking the positivity out of that?”
For Morris, that failed campaign continues to strike a chord with the public because the experience transcended the game itself.
“You go back through everything—you see the joy on the people’s face, that consoles your heart,” he said. “The good thing is to see how the country bonded together.”
He added for emphasis: “It’s not just football. Even as we (ex-players) coach now, when we teach the game is for life, not just for winning a football game. We coach for life. We have talent now, but they lacking what we had in us; administrators lacking it. It didn’t have anything about individuals.”
That comment prompted another about the reported threat by the current team not to play last night’s Caribbean Cup final against Jamaica in protest over monies owed to them.
“I wouldn’t blame the players only. Administrators have to realise that this is their job. Somebody not holding to the agreement.”
But skipper “JB” also could not help but add of his group of locally-based players at the time that, “we weren’t paid. Them players now want to stop because they not getting paid. In those days we just get time off from our job and we play. Sometimes we broken, but we put the country first...The Strike Squad was a team of unity, those three words—peace, love and unity.”
That theme of unity will be emphasised again today when the available members of the squad and non-playing staff assemble at President’s House at 1.30 p.m. at the request of President Anthony Carmona in recognition of the anniversary.
Among those expected to attend are Morris, Brian Williams, Leonson Lewis, Dexter Francis, Floyd Lawrence, Dexter Lee, Kelvin Jones, Kerry Jamerson, “Marvelous” Marvin Faustin, Errol Lovell, coach Cummings and supporting staff Lester Osouna and Ikin Williams. Among those who will be missing will be ex-striker Philbert Jones because of recent knee surgery. But captain “JB” is appealing to all other members of the squad and staff who are available to attend.
On Saturday the “Strike Squad” will gather again for a Peace Love and Unity walk around the Queen’s Park Savannah.
“We have to bond together to bring our country back to what it used to be,” Morris said, confident that 25 years on, his “Squad” has left a legacy the rest of T&T can embrace.