Everald "Gally" Cummings was in a Cuban hospital recovering from knee surgery when the "Soca Warriors" were creating history for Trinidad and Tobago football in Bahrain.
But the 1-0 victory that qualified them for the World Cup finals in Germany next year was the perfect news for the recovering patient.
According to the former national coach's wife, Roslyn, his recovery has been smooth ever since.
"Congratulations to the Warriors and the technical staff for a long overdue qualification for the World Cup," the former "Strike Squad" coach said via a statement yesterday.
"Fate has been kind to us because in 1973 (in Haiti), we actually qualified (for the 1974 World Cup in Germany) but did not get a chance to go because of the referee."
Cummings was a star player then, and then the coach of the 1989 unit which came within a point of qualification for the 1990 tournament in Italy.
For 16 years, he shared the deep pain of that failure with his ex-players, including Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy.
But "Gally" has finally seen his former charges earn redemption for the national team.
He said yesterday he "wanted to thank Russell and Dwight for the leadership in realising the dream which started with them in 1989".
"Gally" said he was now a "relieved" man, one who can now get rid of a sad reminder of the past.
For 16 years, he's kept a bottle of champagne which he had hoped to use in celebration of an '89 victory.
Now, he says, he can finally get rid of it!
Cummings is expected back home in a week's time.