Most people think of sun, sea and sand when Trinidad and Tobago is mentioned. The tiny nation is one of the top tourist destinations in the Caribbean but up until now, it has not been known for its football. Things are changing, though: the country is in the grip of football fever and right on cue the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour has arrived in town.
To the strains of Soca rhythms - a local mixture of soul and calypso – the golden Trophy landed in Trinidad's capital, Port of Spain on Thursday. With a population of 1.3 million, the island state is the smallest country ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup. The enthusiasm of the inhabitants is all the greater, therefore, when they get up close and personal with the Trophy that will be the ultimate prize in Germany next summer.
There could be nowhere better to display the Trophy than the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, a place otherwise known as the headquarters of CONCACAF, the confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean football. This excellent complex in Port of Spain, built under the aegis of FIFA Vice-President and CONCACAF President Jack A. Warner, offers a variety of training facilities for the benefit of both club and international players. There are pitches, gyms, a pool and an enormous indoor hall where the FIFA World Cup Trophy was on display for the guests to see.
Dr Linda Baboolal, vice-president of Trinidad, was responsible for officially welcoming the Cup to Trinidad. "We are very proud that our country has qualified for the FIFA World Cup," she said, before underlining the importance of Trinidad's forthcoming participation in the world football showpiece. "Football brings nations together and the day when Trinidad and Tobago qualified was like a national holiday for me." (And after the Soca Warriors sealed their historic victory in the play-offs against Bahrain, the government did indeed decree a national holiday.)
One man taking particular pleasure in this first-ever participation at a FIFA World Cup is Oliver Camps, who was coach of the T&T team that narrowly missed out on a place at Italia 90. "In 1989, we almost made it but went down 1-0 to the USA in the decisive qualifier. Now, at last, we've done it." Camps is now president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and feels "a real sense of satisfaction that we will be in Germany next summer".
Nobody in Trinidad seems to mind that their boys will have to face two of the tournament's potential big guns in the shape of England and Sweden – sheer excitement about actually being there in June is the main emotion on the island at the moment. "We'll be there next summer, and we're really going to enjoy it and have a party," said Theresa, one of the first people to come and see the Trophy on the opening day. And while most will not be able to make it over to Germany, the streets of Trinidad and Tobago will no doubt stage their own large-scale celebrations.
Among the guests at this stage of the Trophy Tour was a group of handicapped children from Port of Spain, who thoroughly enjoyed this special occasion. Their eyes lit up with amazement and disbelief when the famous Trophy was unveiled. If it were up to the people of Trinidad and Tobago, the FIFA World Cup would begin tomorrow.