Former National Coach and Technical Director, Brazilian Rene Simoes has paid tribute to the “Soca Warriors” on their qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Simoes, who took charge of the team during the latter part of the 2002 campaign before leaving the job due to financial constraints of the Federation in 2002, said he was close to tears on witnessing Leo Beenhakker’s team defeat Bahrain 1-0 on television last Wednesday.
Speaking to TTFF Media on the day of the match in Manama, Simoes said he had all faith in the team being able to pull off the result
“My friend, I told everybody that the Trinidad and Tobago team could reach the sky from the day I started to work in your country,” Simoes said. “And I still think the same way today.”
“The team must know that Bahrain is under pressure but we (T&T) must be calm. Remember in 1989 when the USA went to Port of Spain and won. Why can’t we do that now. Be strong and be believers and true warriors,” Simoes added on November 16 before kick off.
In a second conversation on Saturday, Simoes expressed his joy on seeing T&T complete the journey.
“You have done it and I felt so proud and happy after watching the game on television. I think Mr Warner and the entire team deserves everything now for what they have done. Every Caribbean player must be proud of this achievement and they should always have the chance to show what they can do on a world stage. The quality is great and it was such a great feeling to see a small country make it to the big stage and show its potential to the whole world. The great lesson out of this is that nothing is impossible when you believe in it and go for it,” Simoes told TTFF Media.
René Simoes is a well-travelled man. He had led Jamaica to the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France and was also head coach of the Brazil Women’s team which finished second to the USA at the 2004 Olympic Games.
On beating Greece 7-0 at the Games, Simoes, in a fifa.com article, stated how it should have been a learning experience for the Greeks.
“I said I had a similar experience when I coached Trinidad und Tobago. We played Brazil in the last game of the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship and lost 6-1. So I've been there. I said "Don't be angry with yourself, you were playing Brazil. It is difficult, but forge your own path and don't dwell on the past." There is no progress without defeat. We learned that with Jamaica over four years. During the first three years, we lost many many games. Everybody used to ask me "Are you crazy?". But if you don't know how to lose, you will never learn to win.”