IT was a revolution, in red, for the time that it lasted.

Even now, with the lingering sweet taste of the football success, the people continue to rebel against the wagonists.

And that is why the crowd at the Warrior’s Welcome Home party at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, last Saturday, gave the politicians a lesson when they demanded better treatment for young Silvio Spann who was left sitting alone while the rest of his teammates were lauded with the Chaconia Medal (Gold) and $1 million.

It was obvious by the contrite expression on the face of Acting President Dr. Linda Baboolal, that the government made an embarrassing omission and that was only possible because even after the team had such a brilliant showing at World Cup 2006, it was clear that the leader of the nation was not familiar with the 24 players, as if they were his sons.

Was that the man who claimed to be the Father of the Nation?

It was a loud signal (the relatively poor showing on Saturday -- ideally, based on our love for the Warriors, the Stadium should have been filled) that people did not want to tarnish the purity of the sport inspired high, with anything that was less than honourable.

Sadly, however, the politics around the Soca Warriors is really sickening when you note the kind of vomit, literally, that has been coming from the mouths of Prime Minister Patrick Manning and FIFA Vice-President, Jack Warner.

It is amazing how a man like Warner who’s accustomed to trotting to all corners of the globe and travelling across continents to negotiate at high-level meetings, has managed to bring himself almost as low as the level of the prime minister who has miskicked on several occasions in this glorious World Cup ride.

JACK WARNER ...
badly treated by
the government.

At first, even before we played the first game, Manning was conspicuously silent about the Warriors and it made you wonder whether he would not have minded if the boys foopsed, in Germany.

That would have been to his political benefit.

I managed to remain for only a few minutes in the Stadium when I got there last Saturday afternoon, primarily to take my eight-year-old daughter to enjoy the lingering taste of nationalism that all of us starved and thirsty citizens had been fed in the past few months.

But, having surveyed the set-up and the decorations and then looked at the way they treated the Warriors (and I am not talking about the million dollars payout to each player) I was too upset to stay.

I did not want to remind myself of the reality of life after the World Cup.

For the brief time that I was there, the Warriors were treated like boys.

A stage was erected on the field and remained empty for most of the time while the players sat in the first row of seats at the covered stands, when they should have been on the stage.

Not even the performers made it to the stage.

It was reserved for the big shots and the PM to make his address.

For that’s what they were, albeit, and sadly for us, temporarily.

But it would seem that Warner’s bottom was pulsing all the way over in Germany, while Patrick was trying to steal his thunder!

Yeah, it was really stupid for him to talk about the future of TT football with Leo Beenhakker -- who, really, has no time for the politics which he has sidestepped graciously and professionally as coach -- and Dwight Yorke, without mention of Warner who’s been involved in local football since the ’60s and who’s a high ranking FIFA executive member?

How much lower can you go, Mr. PM?

But then, here comes Jack straight off a flight from a First World Country and drops right in the middle of banana republic, courtesy GOPIO and a bunch of jilted PNMites led by the Gladiator, taking basket from people who promised to make him the next King of the East-West Corridor.

Obviously, his quick two-day trip home was meant to fight back; to prevent Manning from trying to seize the moment from him.

But it belies what you should expect from a man operating at the international level who should be secure in himself enough to know that the level of pettiness being displayed in all areas of his political life, will obviously harm Manning in the final analysis.

So, once again we had Jack all over the TV and the newspapers explaining how badly he was treated by the government which all of us know already.

But then the FIFA vice-president sinks to an all time low by reminding us of the great things that he had to do to make the Warriors’ campaign successful.

Thank you, Jack, but we know that the success of the Warriors will redound to your benefit internationally in more ways than one.

For all the clout that you have because of the football, how come you, like Mr. Manning, cannot capitalise on the goodwill of the people?

Is it because we are too smart; because we know that sincerity is badly lacking in your presentation?

From what I have read all over the place, it would seem that Jack’s strategy is to make you his friend, and then he gets you into a position where he makes you feel that you need him and from there on anything is possible, ent?

This country’s history in football has been riddled with too many scandals and sour moments for us as a people, not to want the sweet taste of having done something right, to live with us for sometime longer.

There have been many, many instances of Trinidadians excelling themselves, even though this recent football success had the sweetest taste thus far.

Truly, this should serve as a lesson to our leaders who are undeserving of us, as a people.

Manning and Jack are bruising one another as badly as Portugal and Holland did to each other last weekend.

That was not sporting or classy!

We better than that and that is why the majority of people in this country will continue to look on while they parade and pretend.

They do not understand the treasures that lie within us and therefore cannot treat us as such.

Dear people, if you are true Warriors, you must continue to love, which is the hallmark of the Trini vibe!