Trinidad and Tobago Qualifies for the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany
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Tears of Joy
from Our WARRIOR Stars,
Dwight Yorke
& Russell Latapy
Patriotic Fans
Celebrate!!
The Trinidad Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news1.html
Thursday
17th November, 2005
By Carol
Matroo
The honking of horns and the chant, ÒOle, ole, ole, ole, ole!Ó alerted the country to the victory of the T&T Warriors over Bahrain in the decisive World Cup qualifying match in Manama yesterday.
After 90 heart-stopping minutes of holding their breaths,
pounding tables, beating bottles, booing the opposing team and cheering on
their team, people took to the streets of Port-of-Spain to celebrate the
victory.
In just one and a half hours, T&T was transformed.
Crime took a back seat.
The phrase, ÒWe winÓ was all-encompassing as every creed
and race celebrated the first time T&T has ever made it to the World Cup.
Everyone feted as one. The true spirit of T&T emerged yesterday, showing
that they could live together as one.
ÒIt was like we was in Bahrain. All of we is one. You could
see your enemy now and you could hug him up,Ó Jude Cuffie said as he
celebrated. Workers, students and limers alike crowded the streets giving it a
Carnival-like atmosphere, only this time without the masqueraders.
All the popular bars in downtown Port-of-Spain, which were
crowded before, were filled to overflowing.
PanchoÕs at the corner of Queen and Abercromby streets saw
patrons hailing all drivers, encouraging them to blow their horns. ÒWe win.
Blow your horn. What? Your horn bust?Ó a jubilant fan asked.
Along Frederick, Henry and Charlotte streets, fans trudged
behind music boxes and rhythm sections as they headed for Independence Square
where the celebration culminated.
A sea of red floated across Independence Square as ecstatic
fans jumped and waved, jumping on
every conceivable mode of transport they found—car bonnets, hoods,
trunks.
Big trucks abounded. Machel Montano would have been proud. One
section of revellers proudly carried a chequered red, white and black banner
with followers shouting: ÒWe are the conquerors!Ó
Hundreds of football fans, young and old alike, danced
around the square, most of them holding up T&T flags in every conceivable
size. Even a policeman directing traffic was holding a miniature flag.
ÒI want a flag! I want a flag!Ó an elderly woman cried
frantically.
Children were let out of school early, but gave not a
thought to returning home. When asked if she was finished working for the day,
one woman replied: ÒLady, what you talking about going home? We not going home.
We going Germany!Ó
One man said: ÒWe so overjoyed it ent funny. We created
history.Ó
One woman claimed that Ò(Leo) Beenhakker is the best coach
in the world.Ó
Staff at Puff ÔnÕ Stuff also took some patriotic time out
to wave their flags in their doorway.
The feting went on for hours and police tried in vain to
move the revellers to the side of the streets to prevent a pile-up of traffic. They
paid no attention. ©2004-2005
Trinidad Publishing Company Limited
BBC
SPORT
Thursday, 10 November 2005,
10:51 GMT
Yorke dreaming
of World Cup glory
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By Jonathan Stevenson |
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- Dwight Yorke |
The
World Cup is the 
Trinidad & Tobago striker
Dwight Yorke says helping his country to qualify for the World Cup would be the
crowning glory in his successful career.
Trinidad meet Bahrain on Saturday
in the first of a two-legged play-off and Yorke, 33, says the country is
buzzing.
"I've been very fortunate to
win great things with Manchester United, but the ultimate would be to qualify
for the World Cup finals," he told BBC Sport.
"We all just cannot wait for
the game and no one is more excited than I am."
He added: "It is an
absolutely massive game for us, they both are. It's an amazing time for any
country, let alone our tiny little country in the Caribbean.
"It's an amazing achievement
just to be where we are but for us the job is not done yet.
"We have put ourselves in a
very, very strong position and we want to capitalise on it.
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"These opportunities don't
come along very often in one life, let alone Trinidad & Tobago's.
"It's the biggest stage of
anyone's career. The World Cup is the biggest spectacle in the world, more than
the Olympics, there is so much to play for."
Yorke ended an unhappy spell with
Birmingham City in April and signed for Sydney FC in the new A-League, which
kicked off in Australia in August.
With the Socceroos themselves
facing a World Cup play-off against old foes Uruguay, Yorke admits it is a
crucial time for the sport in Australia.
"It's no secret that for the
league and the sport in this country to progress we need the Socceroos to do
well," said the Trinidad skipper.
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Dwight Yorke |
Hopefully
Australia can beat Uruguay and we'll all be celebrating at the end
"I would definitely like to
see them in Germany next year but it's not an easy task.
"Uruguay are an opponent they
are familiar with having lost the last time around in a play-off, but you look
at the Australia side and there is a lot of talent there.
"I definitely think they have
got a good chance but they have to make sure they all turn up on the day and
they don't need me to tell them that.
"Look at Mark Viduka, one of
the best strikers around when he's in form, Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill, Brett
Emerton - they're a strong enough team to get the right result.
"It's a two-legged game and
it can swing both ways and hopefully they can do a fantastic job and we will
all be celebrating at the end."
Yorke believes representing his
country at the World Cup finals would be the perfect way to cap off his career.
"I'm
33, I never thought I would represent my country on the highest stage at a
World Cup.
"Growing up as a kid this was what you wanted most. It would be the most amazing thing in football for me."
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MADRID Edici—n del miŽrcoles,
16 de noviembre de 2005 Clasificaci—n
Mundial 2006 Beenhakker
lleva a Trinidad al Mundial
Tras el 1-1 de la ida en
Puerto Espa–a, los caribe–os ganaron como visitantes a Bahrein
La selecci—n de Trinidad y Tobago, procedente de la zona de CentroamŽrica
y el Caribe, se ha clasificado para su primera fase final de un Mundial, el
de Alemania en 2006, al derrotar por 0-1 a Bahrein en Manama. Tras el 1-1 de
la ida en Puerto Espa–a, los caribe–os ganaron como visitantes y estar‡n en
el Mundial, Žxito de otro tŽcnico holandŽs, el ex del Real Madrid Leo
Beenhakker. El tanto del caribe–o Lawrence a los 49 minutos enmudeci— al
pœblico local, cuya selecci—n compet’a en la repesca procedente de la zona
asi‡tica. Las tanganas
de los minutos finales complicaron, en el fondo, a los ‡rabes, que encajaron
con mal perder la eliminaci—n cuando part’an como favoritos. |
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Trinidad................................
1 MANAMA, Bahrain - There might have been finer performances from Trinidad and Tobago on the field of play, but none certainly more significant than the one here last night. Before a capacity crowd inside the Bahraini National Stadium, the Soca Warriors were in football heaven as they defeated Bahraini 1-0 to secure a place in Germany 2006 World Cup Finals in their second leg home-and-way qualifying play-off. They go through on a 2-1 aggregate after the first game ended 1-1 in Port of Spain on Saturday.
The victory enabled Trinidad and Tobago to become the second English-speaking Caribbean nation to have qualified for football's prime tournament after Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, who made it to France 1998. The goal, the most important to be scored by any Trinidadian in the history of the nation's football, was by defender Dennis Lawrence in the 49th minute. A moment that will be remembered for time immemorial for this tiny twin-isle Caribbean nation of 1.3 million people. It could have easily been more, but substitute Russell Latapy missed two easy chances in the box in quick succession, with one of the strikes hitting the woodwork from 16 yards. And the man who has worked hardest to get Trinidad here, FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president Austin "Jack" Warner could not find words yesterday to describe the feeling.
"For once I have no words to tell you how I am feeling and after 35 years working in the football vineyard, so to speak, I have achieved my objective, my dream," he said. Trinidad, ranked 53rd by FIFA, will now join the USA, Mexico and Costa Rica in Germany next year as CONCACAF representatives. "... This is also great for CONCACAF because now we have four teams in the World Cup and ... we (Trinidad) must now go there (Germany) and play well and give the world something to be proud of," Warner added. In the 90th minute Ahmed Husain, clearly the most dangerous player for Bahrain, got the ball into the back of the net, but the referee disallowed it as he spotted an infringement. And as the reality of defeat began to seep into the Bahraini players, they became very hostile and were involved in a physical face-off with the Trinidadians. And as tempers soared, Hasan Husain was shown the red card for violent conduct. And if there is a Bahraini player that should be hailed for effort yesterday, it had to be Ahmed Husain, as he tried his best to the very last. In time added, his powerful left-footed shot brought out the best in goalkeeper Kelvin Jack, who had to soar to his left to tip the dipping shot over and away from the frame. After that, it was just the winding down of the clock by the Trinis. They knew it was all over. Trinidad and Tobago started the contest on a positive note in the first five minutes with smooth passing, as they searched for opening goal, and during that spell, Bahrain found no response. But the hosts' defence stood up and fended off what the Soca Warriors threw their way. Although a scoreless draw would be sufficient for Bahrain to advance, they appeared determined to go for a win and this was highlighted by their numerous march on goal. In the eighth minute, Trinis survived a scare in the box when a Bahraini leg poked the ball goal-ward after a melee in the box, but the effort was blocked by the lanky Trinidadian Lawrence. But the Warriors responded in the 22nd minute courtesy of Kenwyne Jones, who glided across the 18-yard box, but his ambitious left-footed shot was deflected for a corner. Stern John, too, came close to breaking the deadlock in 32nd when he burrowed his way inside the danger area, but goalkeeper Ali Hassan was well-positioned to guide the threatening ball behind for a corner. But the best chance for Bahrain came in minute 41 when Trinidad goalie Kelvin Jack totally mishandled a high ball into the area, but an alert Marvin Andrews headed the ball over the horizontal as it floated towards the frame, ensuring that a rapidly arriving Ahmed Hussain did not get on to the end of the ball. In the 49th minute the 35,000 capacity Bahrain National Stadium was stunned into silence when the lanky Lawrence rose majestically to head home skipper Dwight Yorke's left-sided corner.And the pocket of Trinidadian fans here erupted into a carnival of singing and dancing to steel band that was flown here to provide music. The Bahrainis, too, had their bands, but their music was nothing as sweet as that coming from the Trini ensemble. And the goal not only spurred the fans, but also the players on the field who were not prepared to relax on the one-goal lead. They hatched a number of attacking plays through their inspirational leader Yorke, Jones and John, who tore into the heart of a Bahraini defence that appeared to have lost its confidence after the 'golden goal'. The Jamaican OBSERVER http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20051116T220000-0500_92664_OBS_SOCA_IN_GERMANY_.asp |
Thousands celebrate T&T Triumph
17 November 2005
by AFP
Thousands danced in the streets, jumped atop moving cars and brought traffic to a halt in the capital Port of Spain after Trinidad and Tobago clinched their FIFA World Cupª debut with a 1-0 win over Bahrain in Manama.
Defender Dennis Lawrence scored after 49 minutes to hand Trinidad and Tobago their ticket for Germany with a 2-1 play-off aggregate win.
Schoolchildren joined workers and businessmen in spontaneous celebrations, some too young to remember the country's defeat in 1989 to the United States which cost them a place at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning congratulated the team and said the Cabinet was considering declaring Friday a national holiday. The team are expected back in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday evening.
It all proved to much for one avid fan who was rushed to the Port of Spain general hospital after experiencing a heart attack in the middle of a celebrating crowd. Taxi driver Anthony John was assisted by police officers after they noticed him with tears in his eyes, gasping for breath behind the wheel of his vehicle.
One businessman, Gregory Aboud, the co-owner of a textile store, ran through the streets with workers carrying a red, white and black banner while many restaurants began giving away food free of charge to customers.
"I didn't cry in 1989 but I'm crying now," said one fan Darren Mora who fell to his knees in thankful prayer.
FIFA vice-president Jack A Warner said via a phone-in interview with local press that a new organising body called the Germany 2006 committee will be formed to oversee the team's progress in preparation for finals.
Celebrations were expected to go on well into Wednesday night as the sounds of tassa drums and the rhythm sections that were banned from the stadium in Bahrain pervaded the streets of Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago Write
Footballing History
16 November 2005
by FIFAworldcup.com
Trinidad and Tobago are through to the FIFA World Cupª finals for the first time in their history after a Dennis Lawrence header earned Leo Beenhakker's men a famous 1-0 victory in Bahrain.
"We have to keep believing in our chances. There's no reason why we shouldn't put ourselves in a position to reach our goal," T&T skipper Dwight Yorke prophetically declared ahead of the decisive clash at the Manama stadium in Bahrain.
The 1-1 draw in the first leg afforded Bahrain the luxury of playing a waiting game in front of their home crowd. Luka Peruzovic's team began cautiously, relying on their outstanding defensive line to maintain a clean sheet in the knowledge a goalless draw would be enough to seal a first-ever place at the FIFA World Cup finals.
The Caribbean visitors were unwilling to risk everything in an all-out attacking effort at first and the sides cancelled each other out during a cagey opening phase. The first opening fell to Mohamed Hubail, but his eighth-minute effort following a corner failed to penetrate a forest of legs in the box.
T&T's first shot at goal arrived on 13 minutes but Christopher Birchall, his country's first white player in 60 years, saw his drive blocked. Unfortunately, Birchall contrived to injure himself in the process and was replaced a short time later by Silvio Spann.
Leo Beenhakker's side upped the tempo midway through the half with Yorke, in particular, a constant menace in and around the penalty area, although clear-cut chances were few and far between.
The crowd held its collective breath on the half-hour when Stern John was left with only keeper Hussein Ali Hassan to beat following Kenwyne Jones' flicked header, but the shot-stopper raced from his line to narrow the angle and deflect the striker's shot round the post.
Despite the home side's increasingly defensive tactics, they almost took the lead when visiting keeper Kelvin Jack totally misjudged an up-and-under into the box. Fortunately for Jack, Marvin Andrews was covering on the line and headed clear of the danger zone in one of the scant memorable incidents of the first period.
The hosts made the better start to the second half, but Hubail narrowly failed to connect from close range on 48 minutes after a diagonal ball into the box. T&T raced up the other end and won a corner, curled straight onto Lawrence's forehead by Yorke. The defender's header evaded a sea of bodies and landed in the net, sparking an outbreak of delirious celebration from coach Beenhakker and his team. John might have wrapped things up just a minute later, but Hassan proved equal to the striker's angled drive.
The game now assumed a totally different character to the first 45 minutes as Bahrain poured forward in search of salvation, while the visitors pursued a second goal to make the game safe.
A string of chances followed at both ends of the park. Ahmed Hassan hit the side-netting with a 62nd minute free-kick and Lawrence almost turned villain with a 77th-minute clearance dangerously close to his own goal. The men from the Caribbean came close to doubling the advantage on several occasions. Jones' first-time drive on 73 minutes proved an easy take for the keeper, before substitute Russell Latapy spurned a glorious opportunity six minutes later with a shot against the crossbar.
Peruzovic threw the dice one last time with a four-man front line for the frantic closing stages, but the Trinidadians held out with a mixture of skill and good fortune to emerge triumphant from a breathless finale, in which Hussain Ali Baba was given his marching orders.
Updated: Nov. 17, 2005
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=349349&cc=3888
ESPN SOCCERNET
National
holiday marks Trinidad's
World Cup
triumph
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LONDON, Nov 17 (Reuters) – Trinidad and Tobago declared a public holiday on Thursday after the tiny Caribbean islands qualified for the World Cup for the first time. Dennis Lawrence's goal in Wednesday's playoff second leg in Bahrain put the Soca Warriors through to next year's finals in Germany. With a population of around 1.1 million, they will be one of the smallest nations to take part in the sport's showpiece event. The Trinidad and Tobago Express newspaper said thousands of Trinbagonians had flooded on to the streets of the capital Port of Spain after the final whistle and a statement was later released by the country's prime minister. 'Prime Minister Patrick Manning announced that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has declared Thursday, 17th November, 2005, as a public holiday in celebration of Trinidad and Tobago's victory in the World Cup qualifying match against Bahrain,' it read. The team were scheduled to arrive back in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday morning. 'The government encourages citizens to use the holiday to participate fully in the welcome celebrations which will start at the Piarco International Airport and continue with a drive to Port of Spain,' the statement added. Jamaica, who became the first English-speaking Caribbean country to play in the World Cup in France in 1998, sent congratulations to its neighbour. 'It is with a deep sense of pride and joy that I send this congratulatory message to our neighbours for their historic sporting achievement,' Jamaica's sport minister Portia Simpson-Miller said. People thronged the streets of Port-of-Spain waving and screaming in a carnival-like atmosphere. The popular downtown bars filled up and a sea of red floated across Independence Street as fans jumped on cars and other modes of transport. 'We are so overjoyed it ain't funny, we created history,' one man said. 'I am proud of my fellas and I have been watching them for a long time.' Trinidad and Tobago are the fourth Caribbean country to qualify for the World Cup after Cuba in 1938, Haiti in 1974 and Jamaica. The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) has already begun its preparations, according to FIFA vice president and T&TFF special adviser Jack Warner. 'We are further ahead in our planning than people would ever imagine,' Warner said from Bahrain, adding that the team would play three matches in early 2006 as part of their build-up to the tournament. 'We shall make FIFA proud, we shall make CONCACAF proud, but most importantly this nation,' Warner said. 'Trinidad and Tobago will light up Germany like no other country ever has or ever will.' |
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After Dennis Lawrence's 49th minute goal Bahrain rarely threatened, with Trinidad ultimately deserving of qualification. Saturday's hero Chris Birchall was hauled off injured in the first half, but that didn't deter the Soca Warriors who dominated the match. Trinidad's fans have been celebrating the tiny islands' first qualification in the Caribbean and across the world: At home in Trinidad and Tobago Keitha Charles is "from Trinidad, the atmosphere is exhilarating cars are honking... we are excited." Roxanne Gray is also in
Trinidad and is "so proud of my Warriors! We goin' to Germany!
Fellas, Good Job! Celebration from night till morning....cuz u know how we
does do de ting! Congrats! You guys showed them how it's done!" (Port of Spain) Mitchell from the Trinidad
Express said "I'm here in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Would like to
express congratulations from all of Trinidad. The entire CCN Group is in
celebration of the victory. Well done T&T" David Lee Young: "T and T going Germany? Who would have thought? Bahrain tried some dirty antics but in the end it was all good." Rehana Ali is in Port of Spain too, looks like everyone's having a good time: "It's like Carnival early here in Trinidad especially the capital Port of Spain! Businesses shut down and everybody celebrating!!! GO TEAM!" Nowella at Clico in Port of
Spain says: "As a Warrior fan I would like to congratulate our team
in a job well done, I'm very proud of them, the game was an overwhelming
experience from beginning to end. Right now we at Clico Head
Office are all exhilarated and enjoying what has happened. We are blessed to
have them on our side and with support from us they will do well next year!
Go Team Go!" Andy Barnwell says he "I believe God is a Trini. Just lost my voice screaming. I am really proud of the Trinidad & Tobago team for carrying us to Germany. The suspense, drama and everything else was worth it. We may not do too well in Germany but at least we can say that we went there." Tony de Nobriga is also delighted: "We goin', congrats to TNT from all here. What a wonderful feeling, history in the making... Germany here we come!" Canada Kerron from Toronto "would like to congratulate Trinidad & Tobago on their win and I would also like to tell Bahrain don't give up keep on trying. Trinidad and Tobago deserves to go to Germany!" Hayden Guevara wants to give "Big respect to the boys in red, black and white! From all of the crew from the GZONE International soundcrew in Toronto. We're going to Germany! Just came back from a bar watching the game... and I loved every minute of it." Great Britain Natalia Mackay says "aye soca warriors!... I'm cryin my eyes out... I'm so proud of you and of my country! I'm stuck in a dingy flat in the uk at the moment, but god I wish I was celebrating back home! I love you T and T!" Sean Eligon from London - "Myself and all my Trini friends were watching the game tick away on the EuroSports website in our respective offices. Lots of biting of nails. C.mon T&T, 3rd time lucky!" Iraq Allen Hunter is in Iraq with the US armed forces, and he has a message from all Caribbeans in the Gulf - "Go Trinidad! Great job, I'm here in Iraq and everyone from the Caribbean is happy to know that Trinidad has made it to the World Cup!" |
"One
of the highlights of my career"
– Leo Beenhakker
http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/v4/l0/s22/e10046/sport_lng0_spo22_evt10046_sto790673.shtml EUROSPORT.COM 17, November,
2005
Dutchman Leo Beenhakker and his Trinidad & Tobago captain Dwight Yorke said their victory over Bahrain on Wednesday and qualification for the 2006 World Cup finals was among the highlights of their careers. |
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After a stirring display in the National Stadium, the Caribbean country's coach and former Manchester United forward departed in different directions but celebrated in unison. "I'm so proud of the players and for the people of the whole country," said Beenhakker, the ex-Ajax Amsterdam, Feyenoord, Real Madrid and Netherlands coach who has transformed Trinidad from outsiders to World Cup qualifiers for the first time. "We knew it would be a hard game and they worked so hard to achieve this success. I think we deserved to win. It was a hard game but we were on top in the first 30 minutes and though we then fell away a little, we still went on to do the job and win. "When you've been in football like I have for 40 years, you have many highlights in your career, and this is definitely one of them." Yorke, whose corner was headed in by Wrexham central defender Dennis Lawrence after 49 minutes to secure a 1-0 win on the night and a 2-1 aggregate victory in the Asia-CONCACAF playoff, beamed with pride afterwards. "It is history, it is unbelievable," he said. "We were very unlucky not to qualify in 1974, though I was only three-years-old then I've heard all about it, and again 16 years later we were unlucky in 1989 for the 1990 finals. "Now another 16 years on and we have done it at last - the third time lucky," added Yorke. "It's a real bit of history and it's a fantastic achievement for our small nation with such a small population. And it is great for me personally to have come back from retirement to play again and to be going to the World Cup now I am 34. GOING CRAZY "To be honest, I don't know how to describe my feelings and I don't know what to say. I must phone my mother first because she is back in Tobago and she will be going crazy about this. After that, I will have to enjoy a party." Yorke was not sure if he would celebrate in the Caribbean with his family or fly back to his club Sydney FC in Australia. He acknowledged there was the enticing prospect of a double reason to party in Australia since the country also qualified for the World Cup finals with a playoff triumph on Wednesday. But while Trinidad's squad revelled in their achievement, Bahrain and disgruntled Croatian coach Luka Peruzovic bemoaned their bad fortune and the decisions of Colombian referee Oscar Julian Rujiz Acosta. However, he also paid tribute to Trinidad's collective team effort. "They were too strong for us and we just could not play against them tonight ," he said. |
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A Dream Complete
- "Deutschland hier kommen
wir"-Germany here we come! Mark Bassant markbassant@trinidadexpress.com
TRINIDAD EXPRESS Thursday, November 17th 2005 |
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EUPHORIA. HYSTERIA. JOY. Call it what you want-our dream was finally complete. Trinidadians here and all over the world celebrated into the wee hours of this morning, savouring a taste of something they had never tasted before-a place in the World Cup Finals. "I am proud of my fellas and I have been watching them for a long time at the National Stadium- win, lose or draw I was there every time they played and today they delivered," said Morvant taxi driver Amid Ghany, his voice barely discernible over the tooting of car horns around Port of Spain. It was evident from the first whistle that the Warriors playing against Bahrain had a man-sized job on their hands. Dennis Lawrence's sweetly placed header from a Yorke corner into the Bahrain goal just four minutes into the second half triggered an eruption of screams in offices, bars and homes around the country. A diehard fan from the preliminary stages of the campaign, I held my breath for most of the second half after the goal-holding on to hope that we could grab a second goal for insurance. For once I wished that every blink of an eye translated into a minute, as time crawled, rather than fly. "How much time left? asked Managing Editor, Omatie Lyder, with anxiety etched upon her face." Twenty five minutes," I replied, and her face contorted in further impatience. Reporter Hayden Mills sat nearby confident that his prediction of one goal would be enough. Perhaps had he chosen to be a fortune teller on this day, he would have become a millionaire. He was dead on. Lawrence's lone goal would be enough to land him the accolade of a hero and prove Mill's prediction right. But what then do we bestow upon Kelvin Jack? A martyr? His stunning save in the closing seconds prevented our nation the further agony of extra time and penalty kicks and assured us a spot among football's elite 32. "They were remarkable and I have been supporting them for years," said Morvant taxi driver Aisha. "I really hope this unites the country," she said, her broad smile stretching across her face, as an orgy of celebrations wined in and around the capital. "Lawrence from Morvant," a male boasted, trailing off in the distance as school children and adults alike crammed the streets of Port of Spain-jumping, waving, screaming, chipping-more than a Carnival like atmosphere-it was more like a grand finale celebration-long overdue. My cell phone rang, jolting me from the merry world that was Port-of-Spain yesterday. I didn't wish to be awakened. I answered it anyways. "What a day," said my friend from Toronto. "You couldn't ask for nothing better than a coming home present like this huh?" My laconic reply was, "Hell yes." As I told Keith Smith, it was the best homecoming gift anyone could ask for after a long stint abroad. "Ich sehe Sie in Deutschland" or "See you in Germany". |
