FIVE young patriotic Trinis, hailing from Central Trinidad, are now walking around begging sponsors to assist them in their quest to reach Germany to support the Soca Warriors.

Eugene Todd, Peter Cumberbatch, Sieuchan Beepan, Mohinder Boodram and Jessiann Cumberbatch have been die-hard supporters of the Soca Warriors ever since the days they were known as the Strike Squad.

They supported them through triumph and heartbreak on the Road to Italy back in 1989.

They were young men and women then, but the patriotic drive saw them at every game they could afford to attend.

The five die-hard Soca Warriors fans at the Hasely
Crawford Stadium recently.

Now a few years later, this same football-loving posse have grown to be working, independent people whose faith in the Trinidad and Tobago football team has never wavered, but has grown, as these five friends have supported them through the years and even now as they are known as the Soca Warriors.

Their support has been shown as they presented themselves to support the team in their World Cup qualifying tournaments.

Eugene and his friends also have decided to show their support for the Warriors even more by painting their faces in our national colours in every game they attended since 1997.

These five die-hard supporters feel justified in their support for the Soca Warriors, especially now they have qualified for their first-ever World Cup.

Their faces are prominently featured on Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) posters which are being sold nationwide, on FIFA’s official website for the World Cup fifaworldcup.com, and also on the MasterCard advertisement on different newspapers.

Although their faces were featured in these advertisements, no financial incentives was given.

“I find it unfair that they use our faces without us knowing and no money was paid to us for this, but they can make money using our faces to sell their products,” Eugene said.

They would dearly love to continue painting their faces, not only at home, but also at the international scene in Germany with the help of sponsors if they are lucky to get any.

Eugene and his friends have sent DVDs with their pictures to many organisations,but these proved futile as they were turned down by many.

They sent their portfolio to Jack Warner, the FIFA’s vice-president, but was told that their funds have already been utilised.

A few days after they received their disappointing letter, the Soca Warriors were looking for flag bearers.

These five followers of the Soca Warriors are thanking anyone in advance for their support if they help make this dream a reality for these die-hard supporters who will continue to be a part of the Soca Warriors team even if they don’t make it to Germany on the international scene.