We are Warriors, Soca Warriors!!!

"We are the children, We are the nation of the Soca Warriors, Soca Warriors....Come again, come again...GOAL, GOAL!!...." from the song for the Trinidad and Tobago team. Can be heard everywhere in Trinidad.....Starts with the very popular tassa drums....you can hear the nagara drums along with the African drums in the background.......this is an awesome mix of what Trinidad really is. yes, I am wearing my national colors today!!!!!!! Red, white and black.....

Imagine, we went in as the underdogs, odds of winning: 2001:1, played minus a star player for the second half, and still protected the goal. Kudos to the goal keeper who played as a substitute. Go Shaka Hislop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he made us proud. I was really worried until i saw how the team crowded around their goal. they made a fortress and they really cooperated with their goalkeeper, Shaka Hislop.
now Shaka is the oldest player in this world cup. I think his age is an advantage. he was surprisingly calm and collected and his confidence gave the rest of the team strength. I guess he knew what he was capable of and he did it well. He really did deserve getting the man of the match placement.
Dwight Yorke played marvellously. That was expected though. He has always played like that. he played mid field but in the second half, he shone. I guess our team realized that they were playing minus a player when Avery John got sent off and they really got into it. The coach made a decsion there that really did the team well. he sent in Glen, who plays offense, instead of sending another defense.
Even our coach didn't think we had a good chance. In the T'dad Express, he said that he told his team to play with a smile and just keep the spirit of the game.
We didn't score but we sure did defend!!!!!!!!!!! Our team protected their goal with everything they had. Sweden has been in the world cup 43 times...this is our first time and i guess Sweden thought that we didn't stand a chance. Even the American commentators did not think we stood a chance. I know we were not as experienced as Sweden but I know we had a good team. I've seen Trinidad play before and they can defend really, really well. Our team knows how to keep the ball from the goal. We did everything opposite of the German team who played a strong offense.
I guess no Trini expects that we will win but we believe in our team. We take the game like we take everything else.....whatever the results, we will have fun and enjoy ourselves. My aunt told me that people in Trinidad left their food in the mall to join the the celebrations. Our team played with no expectations and they did well. I am happy for them. During half time, my aunt called me and she was telling me that the open market down the street was packed with Trinis who were hurrying to get their vegetables and coconut water (they mix that in white rum) this morning before the game started. My cousins are having a party at their house...and this cousin was born in the US Virgin Islands...but he claims to be Trini. We don't mind. My other cousin from Guyana who lived with us in Trinidad for 1 year, has turned Trini for the world cup. =0)
I barely have a voice now. I was screaming at half time, I screamed at the tv when they booted off Avery John (I can only imagine how much Trinis were cussing at the same time), and I was on my feet for the last ten minutes of play screaming, boxing, and kicking at the TV. We gave Sweden a good match. For our debut in the World Cup, we did superbly. The Soca Warriors made my little Trinbago proud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whether we win or not, we will remember this game and that's the spirit. Our team was hugging the Swedes even before the match was over. They played with charisma and heart. Lots of it!
In this picture, Edwards went airborne. In addition to defending, we were flying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Edwards was clearly a few feet off the ground! Trinis can jump!!!!!!!!!! that's a skill we picked up from carnival, i guess....(pics from BBC sports news).

Right now, Argentina is playing against the Ivory Coast. They have 2:0. Argentina will win, i think. le Cote d'Ivore is not defending their goal...they are leaving it wide open and the goalkeeper is left alone. Argentina is playing strong offense and the ivory coast is not even defending....

Trinidad plays against England next. I really like Beckham but this time, all of Beckham's good looks will not make me want England to win. England is a strong team with excellent players but like the rest of the fans, I believe in my team.....My link is the Soca Warriors song from Carnival 2006. Can't get enough of it. Hearing this really will get any team moving!!!


The Ivory Coast just scored. It was a marvellous play. Good job! The game is now 2:1.

In the newspaper a while ago, the mother of the guy who made the qualifying goal for Trinidad against Bahrain had an interview. she said that she was watching the match with her family and when she saw that there was no goal, she got up and went to the bathroom which was the quietest room in her house and prayed. she said, "Lord, ah never ask yuh for any favors but today, i askin for a big favor.....Let Trinidad score ah goal." then she left the bathroom and she heard a lot of screaming in her house and she started screaming too, not knowing which team had scored. then someone told her that her son made the goal.
Another guy had tattooed the map of trinidad and tobago on his arm before the qualifying game and his friends were laughing at him saying, "boy yuh go look stupid if they lose." and he said he didn't care.....he believed also.....you gotta love the mindset of the Trini fans. They are out there to have fun and just looking for another opportunity to party...win or no win.=0)