Retired Trinidad and Tobago World Cup hero Dennis Lawrence took the afternoon off to chat with the Soca Warriors Online. Read what Dennis has been up to lately, his ambition to be a coach, his love for the game plus many more.
1. Dennis, what have you been up to these days as far as your career goes? Will we see you run out for a Pro League team again, or will you head back to Europe?
A: I have just completed my B licence coaching course and looking forward to going for the A soon. As for playing I have more or less said goodbye to it as I had to be honest with everyone and I was begging to lose the passion to play competitive football.
2. How was the experience playing again in the Pro League/CONCACAF Cup when you signed with San Juan Jabloteh in 2009. San Juan had a poor season in 2009, in your view where did it all go wrong?
A:It was a very interesting one as I got an inside view as to where we (meaning players) and the League in Trinidad and Tobago are in professional terms. It went wrong because we were not good enough as a team.
3. You became the first Wrexham player to compete in a World Cup finals when T&T took part in the 2006 world event. How was the reception when you went back to the club.
A: The reception was first class and I still live in Wrexham, because to me its home away from home.
4. When T&T played England in Germany 2006, how did you feel standing next to Peter Crouch, someone who is actually taller than you on the field (smile).
A: It was actually very good to be second fiddle in that department.
5. Who was the best player/s you've ever played against?
A: Pavel Nedved, Laurent Blanc, Wayne Rooney to name a few are the ones who I've played against that really stood out in matches.
6. Who was the best player/s you've played with?
A: Russell Latapy I must say stands head and shoulders above all as he is the one player who I can say I could see do almost anything with the ball at his feet.
7. Your goal in Manama took T&T to its first ever world cup. I personally feel you should have a stadium named after you in T&T. How do you feel about that?
A: If given, thank you very much, but what I saw on the return to Trinidad on the 16th of November 2005 will live with me for the rest of my life, so thank God for that.
8. Dennis, we would like to hear your side of the story on the current impasse with the players and the TTFF.
A: In life every man has choices to make weather right or wrong. I made mines while others made theirs. As long as a man can look himself in the mirror and say yes I made my choice and I believe it was a honest choice that's all that really matters.
9. Some of your World Cup teammates were disappointed that you, Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy among others did not stand up with them and that you guys accepted secret payments from the TTFF. Care to clear this up?
A: The day one of my teammates have the bottle to look me in the eye and say that to me I will in return let him know where he can take his disappointment and what he can do with it, because some of us want to be sheep, but I was born a Sheppard; and I did what I believed was the correct thing to do. What's the worst part is when a man has a friendship with someone and decides to end it with another because that man chose what he believes was the right thing then that tells the whole story. PS: I lost no friends in that battle... I might have lost teammates !!!!!!!!!!!!
10. Yourself and Marvin Andrews were recently helping out as coaches at local outfit Caledonia AIA. Are you planning on coaching their soon?
Yes we assisted Caledonia with working on their defenders for the time we have been in Trinidad. Caledonia is my home team which I’m sure at some point in my career I will like to get involved with heavily. But as for now we’re not joining their staff I am just taking the time to educate myself in the coaching and managing department as it’s a totally different world as to playing. As for Marvin Andrews, he is still active as a player but I will still push him to do his coaching badges.
11. Finally, we failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Do you feel the impasse affected our chances or was it something else in your opinion?
A: Of course I felt it did, because we lost players, we lost focus, and that contributed to our level of performances and that's why we did not qualify.
Note: On behalf of the Soca Warriors Online I just what to say Thank You to Mr. Dennis Lawrence for taking the time to do this interview for us. We all wish you the best in the future.