The challenge of the past few months for our national men’s Soca Warriors ended in what many considered an ideal final against Jamaica, two countries with strong rivalry history in almost every aspect of their existence.
Fortunately, sport has remained as the most intense output from the bunch of talented sportsmen and women whose respect for each other is probably the most successful.
To repeat the off the field occurrence regarding the rumour which seemed to have unsettled the Trini fans, was tantamount to the desire to see these two top Caribbean countries battle for that special place at the top in the region.
Because I am not an advocate of making weak excuses, my expectations were based strictly upon the performances of the teams as they ploughed through their opponents with their competence and their reputations to remain fully intact.
Some may have claimed that this ill-timed request for payments to them by the TTFA within hours of the whistle for the final, could well result in one way or another.
But when all was settled, the task of getting organized for the encounter was now in the hands of two coaches, both with the mindset of a particular approach as to what type of game their players will implore best.
On the field of play, the job was left to the players to follow the instructions, mixed with their appropriate technique and understanding of the great game.
Did they really achieve their goal? Some will judge the performances by the statistics which hardly ever reveals the quality of play, other than to know how many shots at goal, inaccurate passes, etc were taken by each team.
Honestly, except for a few patches of individual flair, which produced some superb interpassing, swift movement into creative spaces, ending with an attempt at goal, and was demonstrated by a Jamaican squad whose passion to gain a positive result was oozing out of their aggressive bodies in order to achieve their goal.
The Warriors never looked the part and as the experts always say: A team is as good as its last match, and in this case their last match against Cuba was comparable to the final.
How could a bunch of professionals spend hours on the field, some in the classroom, and produce a moderate level of football, the sport for which they make their livelihood?
The basic fundamentals in this wonderful game are all based upon technical competence, teamwork, positive attitude and most importantly, the art of passing in its various forms.
When coach Stephen Hart, in his TV interview, could bemoan the poor quality and aimless long passing, following the final two matches of this tournament, could someone tell me what these guys have been doing with their long and tedious sessions for two weeks, and failed at the end of it all.
No one could explain the lethargy of skipper Kenwyne Jones, the disoriented quagmire of four talented midfielders, which provided minimal potency in attack, a small percentage of ball possession in the middle of the field and a defence which was saved by total competence of Daniel Cyrus, and Aubrey David, two players whose pay packets cannot even pay the taxes of some of the more high-profile “stalwarts”.
One half of a scoring chance in one hundred and twenty minutes coming from a team including Jones, Lester Peltier and Kevin Molino whose livelihood are based upon scoring goals. Even the half chance was a gallant effort by Cyrus.
In the meanwhile, the Jamaicans demonstrated their aggression, their positive attitude to earn the desired result, and who brought their supporters to their feet by some superb chemistry on their way to the Warriors penalty area.
As a matter of fact, our only consolation was that we survived two hours without conceding a goal, before being outscored from the penalty spot.
So, to those fans who threw the blame of the “no money, no play” at the door of a poor showing. Money does not win football matches, good football does.
If you have some doubts, then ask Manchester United, and Manchester City.
We have failed miserably my friends. Our repair system must begin NOW otherwise, we may find the use of a cricket scoreboard, if we perform at the same standard against Mexico, Costa Rica, or the USA in next year’s Gold Cup.