‘Winning the World Cup is the most beautiful thing to have happened to France since the revolution.’
-- Emmanuel Petit (French World Cup footballer)

PLAYING in the FIFA World Cup is a special event and Trinidad and Tobago for the first time will be gracing the world football stage in Germany from June 9 to July 9, 2006.

One thing is for sure -- I will be going to Germany as well because I would not miss it for the anything!

On November 16, 2005, Trinidad and Tobago qualified for next year’s World Cup by defeating Bahrain 1-0 in Manana for a 2-1 agregate following the 1-1 draw at the Hasely Crawford Stadium four days earlier.

TTFF Special Advisor AUSTIN “Jack”
WARNER (left) is greeted with a big
hug from PM PATRICK MANNING
when the Soca Warriors returned
from their 1-0 win against Bahrain.

That team from the Middle East deserved that defeat; they played nasty, displayed poor sportsmanship and the conduct of the squad and its supporters during and after the game left much to be desired.

I must admit that while watching the match last Wednesday afternoon at Gate Boys bar on UWI’s southern border that I was nervous.

I, like every 1.3 million Trinbagonians and the millions other Caribbean nationals, wanted so badly for Trinidad and Tobago to qualify for the World Cup.

You must imagine the relief I experienced when the deed was done.

In fact, I was the first person at the bar to relieve myself of my beer throwing it up into the air a few seconds before the end of the match.

Man, it was a great feeling.

Congratulations to the Soca Warriors on a job well done.

According to Prime Minister Patrick Manning, this team has managed to do what no politician has been able to accomplish and that is unite the entire nation. Perhaps the most sensible thing he has acknowledged for the longest while.

It was indeed a historic moment for the people of Trinidad and Tobago and I urge everyone to continue celebrating, but not at the expense of lowering productivity.

After all it has been a long time since we had something this grand to celebrate.

We must not forget though that we still have a World Cup to attend in seven months time and the team has a lot of work to do to prepare for a good showing.

Whilst we bask in the glory of our most recent victory, we must not lose sight of the fact that we must go to the world stage committed to performing at our very best and showcase the talent that we possess in this blessed twin island republic.

Government, corporate sponsors, and ordinary citizens must now rededicate themselves to ensuring that the Soca Warriors are ready to do battle come June 9, 2006.

As Chris “Tambu” Herbert sang “the journey now start!”

In light of our qualification for next year’s World Cup, I wish to pay tribute not only to the team members, but also to coach “Don Leo” as his Spanish fans would call him.

Dutchman Leo Benhakker took over coaching the national squad when they were down in the dumps, with only one point after three qualifying matches.

What he accomplished with this side was nothing short of a miracle.

Strategic planning, appropriate deployment of resources, practise, and foresight allowed Don Leo to guide Trinidad and Tobago towards the next World Cup.

Thank you, and as you know by now, you still have a job with us.

PM Manning guaranteed this assurance.

Benhakker’s determination has been etched on all the teams he has coached over the years.

From Ajax and Real Madrid to Holland and Saudi Arabia, Don Leo has made a name for himself.

He is quoted as saying: “A hobby is only fun if you do not have time to do it.”

The 63-year-old Benhakker was an invaluable addition to our national effort.

Other than our footballers, although several individuals played significant roles in ensuring that we reach Germany in 2006, no one did so with the dexterity, determination and commitment that match the efforts of Austin “Jack” Warner, Vice-President of FIFA and Special Advisor to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF).

No one can doubt that Warner was going to stop at nothing to ensure that we made it to the World Cup, and for his efforts, it is my belief that at the very least, he should be conferred with the Trinity Cross along with the entire national football team.

Born January 26, 1944, Jack Warner came from a humble background cutting cane, looking after pigs and walking six miles to and from school every day.

He has risen through the ranks of the football fraternity while teaching at the Polytechnic Institute from which he retired in 1993. After growing up in Rio Claro in deep South and Longdenville in Central, Warner was always committed to Trinidad and Tobago football. Through the good days and bad, he sought to look after the affairs of players, and the community. From these humble beginnings, he can now boast of a net worth in excess of $50 million, with real estate and businesses throughout Trinidad, Costa Rica and the United States.

Soca Warriors’ coach LEO BEENHAKKER.