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Big stones for big hearts
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| By
Sheldon Osborne |
| FOR
Trinidad and Tobago nationals who made the trip to Bahrain to see
the Soca Warriors kick their way to Germany, safety became a major
concern when Bahraini fans went on the warpath after the match.
The irate Bahrain fans, sore after losing to Warriors, rained stones,
bottles and everything in the stadium that wasn’t nailed down.
For those Trinbagonians who feel nothing but anger now for the Bahrainis,
they could take comfort in the fact that the people of the small,
Middle Eastern nation have done themselves no favours.
One can be almost certain that FIFA would take a dim view of the
string of incidents that took place after the game.
Whether FIFA decides to take action against their local football
administration or not, it does not auger well for future international
matches in the tiny, oil rich country.
It might also short circuit the tourist industry in a country grappling
with dwindling oil reserves, a limited scope for agriculture due
to desert encroachment on arable land, and a persistently high unemployment
rate.
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Spontaneous
rhythms in the streets.
Horn
for them.
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They have also made a significant diplomatic blunder: A
head of State (the President of the Republic of Trinidad
and Tobago) was a guest on their soil.
They should have considered it their duty to keep danger
far away from him, as expected in any civilised society,
but that certainly wasn’t the case when violence erupted
while he was still in the stadium.
Some Trinis have expressed regret that so much courtesy
and hospitality had been extended to the Bahrainis when
they played here just days before.
At no time was Bahrain under any threat of violence.
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Fans
have been in warm embrace since Wednesday.
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But the national community here should remember that there is
absolutely nothing wrong with doing the right thing.
In fact, nationals should be proud that Trinidad and Tobago has
a reputation for hospitality and kindness towards strangers.
On hearing that the Laventille Rhythm Section and Woodbrook Playboys
were initially not allowed to take their instruments into the
stadium, one football commentator said that the Bahrainis should
never have been allowed to bring their “annoying bagpipes”
into the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
But for some, it’s comforting to know that that sort of
punitive spirit is not a part of our national psyche.
Furthermore, this is no time to start.
Patrons at the Hasely Crawford Stadium were right to forget the
annoying “bagpipes” and con-centrate on the more serious
business of cheering on the team and enjoying themselves to the
max while at it.
Looking at the faces of the few Bahrainis in footage taken during
last Wednesday’s match, one could get the impression that
“joie de vivre” is not a feature of life in the little
kingdom.
This seems to be true even for their King, Amir Hamad bin Isa
Al Khalifa, who looked as if he really needed to be somewhere
else.
Contrast that with the image of Trinidad and Tobago’s President
Max Richards, a man whose exuberance is his hallmark.
Consider too, the Trinidad and Tobago fans at matches here and
abroad.
As the advertisement said: “No one could beat the passion
of a Trini.”
Furthermore, when Trinidad and Tobago were where the Bahrainis
are today (remember November 1989? Okay, the less said the better),
neither team nor fans behaved that way.
Therefore, the citizens of the happy, generally friendly, fun-loving,
party-going, mas-playing, doubles-eating, rum-drinking, twin island
republic have nothing to be ashamed of, and that goes to you too
Mr. “Carnival Mentality” Singapore leader, Lee Kwan
Yew.
Trinidad and Tobago might not be perfect, but as the people of
this nation proved in 1989, two Saturdays ago, and again late
last week, they’re damn good at the things that really matter,
ent?
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