She has been knocking on the doors offering her expertise to help
from footballer to fan, but with no success. Longchallon said she
would have been so proud to walk in the country she called home
for over three decades in an official capacity alongside her Trini
posse.
“But my services have been refused.”
The mother of one who told Sunday PUNCH she loves the German
language tremendously is even more pained by what is passing for
German language in TnT because of the current World Cup madness.
“German language is taking a beating from amateurs,”
she explained.
“I’m seeing wrong phrasing, words not being used in
their proper context on T-shirts and other local World Cup memorabilia
…”.
She said what has been happening is that person/persons have been
going on to the Internet and pulling out German words.
“Not knowing the language, they don’t know how too use
it.”
She went on: “Like using ‘weltshcale’ for World
Cup.
“That’s not the translation for World Cup football.
“The correct word is ‘Fussball weltmeister schaft’.”
Longchallon, who returned home two years ago, owns her own business,
Intertrans Communications Ltd. in Woodbrook, couldn’t hide
her disappointment.
“I was really looking forward to making a contribution to
the Germany effort.”
“I’m not boasting but my talents at this time have gone
to waste.”
Longchallon explained that from the moment Trinidad and Tobago “scored
that winning goal in Bahrain” she began sending out her resumes
to travel agencies, the football association, FIFA government just
anybody who she thought might be involved in the Germany trip.
“It was one big run-around.
“I just got the blank and I’ve finally given up,”
further added the marketing director of the German Chamber of Commerce.
It has shown me that TnT doesn’t appreciate me.”
In a private capacity, she has been getting work for anxious individual
who need to know just enough to get them through the few days they
will be in Germany to witness the historic TnT footballers Soca
Warriors make their debut on the world’s biggest football
stage.
Longchallon disclosed to Sunday PUNCH that she would be
heading for her adopted home shortly.
“I’m deliberately going after the World Cup,”
she declared.
“I’ll be there in July to visit my only daughter and
my three grandchildren.”
Out of concern she said she wanted to warn her Trini brothers and
sisters to exercise caution even in the midst of the football euphoria.
“It’s not only the language barrier there are many things
I could have taught them to make the trip a smooth one.”
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