Francisco Maturana would surely have an easy time returning to Trinidad and Tobago.
Maturana will slip in quietly and nod and smile in his polite manner before returning to wherever he lives to do whatever he does between international assignments.
Perhaps he will have his family over. Maybe he would throw a party or paint or head to the beach. Nobody knows. Nobody cares.
There will be no photographers at his doorstep or hate mail. No one will wreck his car-if he has one-or vandalise his property.
Contrary to the evidence of the front pages, Trinidad and Tobago is essentially a friendly country that respects the personal space of citizens and guests alike.
Maturana may have lived in more affluent nations with stronger football ties. But he could not have had more charming hosts than in this twin island republic.
The goodwill of a tiny Caribbean nation, it appears, has been abused.
Trinidad and Tobago's trip to the United States, once again, was an embarrassment. The 3-0 defeat-Wednesday's and last year's-was the worse result ever by the red, white and black away to one of our fiercest rivals.
The rivalry is, admittedly, more one sided than our contests against Caribbean neighbours, Jamaica, and it is unlikely the "Yankees" put a red circle around their clashes with the "Soca Warriors".
Yet, Trinidad and Tobago's hurt after decades of losing thousands of students, relatives and workers to the global superpower, added to the pain of our crushed dreams on November 19, 1989, means that a football match against the United States is not just another game.
Surely, it is not too much to expect empathy from Maturana on such occasions. On match day, at least, he is paid to defend our interests.
There must have been scores of long faces in Tennessee and thousands more in Trinidad and Tobago around their television sets.
Of course, it is only one from ten games and the Warriors' 2010 World Cup campaign is far from decided.
Maturana has seven games left to turn things around and maybe he will.
It is not that the Colombian gentleman is necessarily a poor coach. In fact, statistics suggest otherwise.
The shocker from Bermuda apart, our only defeat on home soil from 20 matches came against an England team that are, at least, among the world's best eight teams. In 12 away games, Maturana's team lost just four outings with as many wins and four draws.
As a young man, "Pacho", who played professionally for 12 years, combined duties as a central defender for Atletico Nacional-where he won two Colombian League titles-with regular trips to the University of Antiquia, where he successfully obtained a degree in dentistry.
It was a remarkable triumph that says much for his strength of character, intelligence and ability to thrive under pressure.
But it is precisely in the arena of temperament and personality that Maturana has left Trinidad and Tobago wanting.
His regular about-turns provoked ridicule in and outside his own dressing room.
Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) special advisor Jack Warner did not respect his opinion when, against the Colombian's wishes, he replaced his former assistant, Anton Corneal, with Russell Latapy last December.
And senior players like Clayton Ince, Jason Scotland, Carlos Edwards, Densill Theobald, Stern John, Avery John, Cyd Gray and Chris Birchall, who were all members of the 2006 World Cup squad, have all been perplexed by Maturana's sporadic selection policy.
Edwards was hauled off at half-time during a World Cup qualifier against Guatemala, last September, and was stunned that his coach offered no explanation for the change. Theobald, Scotland, John and Birchall have been there too. When pressed, Maturana's excuses for his tactical meandering often seemed so improbable that players have stopped bothering.
Jones, Trinidad and Tobago's most high-profile player at present, was supposedly rested against Honduras, when three points were a necessity, and then used for 90 minutes away to the United States where we have never taken more than a solitary point.
Anthony Wolfe, an attacking midfielder or striker by trade, was deployed at right back and replaced at the interval by a central defender.
At the other flank, Maturana persists with Defence Force player Aklie Edwards although the regiment team clearly consider his namesake, Michael Edwards, to be the better defender-Defence Force coach Kerry Jamerson used Edwards (M) at left back and Edwards (A) at left wing back last season.
It is Maturana's job to make such decisions. But is it too much for him to explain his thoughts to the nation that assured him a fairly comfortable life for the past 15 months and come out to support his set-ups on match day?
Might he tell us why we should believe in his ability to take us to South Africa at all?
It is time for the Colombian to explain himself. Not through the TTFF's press officer but directly to the public who support his team and afford him the lifestyle-and this is not confined to monetary terms-that he has enjoyed here.
If Maturana does not respect Trinidad and Tobago, he should not expect respect in return.