A disappointing aspect of this Digicel Caribbean Cup (DCC) tournament is that all of the games are double headers and the teams are expected to perform miracles every other day. With the awful weather and the very heavy pitches, it really has been tough on the players.
After a shocking 0-0 bore draw between Cuba and Grenada, there seemed to be no real point in the second game of the double header as both Martinique and T&T were eliminated from the Tournament. A recommendation for the organizers…. Please consider having games played at the same time and at different venues so at least the public get value for their money and the TV watching public get a more competitive game.
T&T made changes again to its line up. In came Densill Theobald, Anthony Wolfe and Kern Cupid who was preferred at full-back, leaving Joevin Jones out. Marvin Phillip retained the goalkeeper spot and the 4-5-1 formation seemed to have taken preference over the stereotypical 4-4-2. Well done!
The Game
T&T were miles in front of Martinique. Once they had settled into the game it was only a matter of time before they would score. Better players, better shape, better organization, and better chances came from early. It was only poor execution and lack of composure that restricted this game from becoming a whipping from T&T. Devon Jorsling and Keon Daniel were my only real disappointments on the night and I rate them very highly, but tonight was not their night.
Movement, passing, athleticism, technique all singing and dancing... What a difference! If only we’d got it right from the start of the competition. A stunning goal from Hughtun Hector capped another good performance from the diminutive player. There were also missed scoring opportunities from Jorsling, Molino and Daniel which indicated that the confidence was flowing back into the team.
Positives
Kevin Molino, Daneil Cyrus, Hughtun Hector and Anthony Wolfe were all very committed and showed great passion for their country. Densill Theobald and Clyde Leon also played their part in this “wooden spoon” final of T&T’s miserable Digicel Caribbean Cup. I had a rye smile on my face when Densill threw his hands in the air on the final whistle. He’d made his point!
The Coach
Believe it or not, coaches also have their moments. There are times when as hard as you look, you can’t see or find any positives. It can sometimes look so grim. Searching for that glimmer of hope is where the better coaches excel, because if the coach can’t find a positive who and where does that inspiration come from to lift the players yet again?
Hope
The glimmer of hope is clearly in the quality players T&T are still producing. Cyrus has been a regular on the youth circuit, representing most National sides at different age groups. Molino on the other hand has been plucked from the Pro League having not really figured in the National set up until recently. The positives deriving from this disastrous DCC tournament are right in front of our faces. Youngsters like these two players have come from nowhere and have performed admirably when all the chips were down. Talented kids like Cyrus and Molino are out there, it’s just that the people responsible for identifying them can’t seem to see the wood for the trees.
Criticism
I have regularly criticized the National set up on several issues, one is competence. Why can’t they see what I see? Why do they need people like me throwing names and ideas at them, is it because they don’t know? Is it because they haven’t got a clue? And where is Lincoln Phillips in all this? The Technical Director should be liaising with all of us Pro-League coaches to address these issues?
Muddy Waters
Please don’t let this one result and a little emotion muddy the water. National football is in a mess and is in need of radical change. As a nation, we have not yet recovered from the disgraceful “blacklisting of players’ after the euphoria of our 2006 WC appearance. The spring board that should have been was abruptly severed without thought of the repercussions, all because of greed! Unfortunately, T&T football has paid the price!
The Future
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