| The country with the smallest population ever to be | | | | He is Trinidad and Tobago's greatest ever footballer. |
| represented in the FIFA World Cup is Trinidad and | | | | He came out of international retirement in 2005 to |
| Tobago.Support for this team,however,will not only | | | | inspire his team from a central-midfield role. He has |
| come from those born in the twin island state but from | | | | genuine top-level experience both in the UK and |
| all its sister states in the Caribbean.Caribbean people all | | | | Australia.He and Stern John are the sort of players |
| over the world will be singing,chanting,dancing and | | | | who can seize an opportunity and find the back of the |
| waving for the Soca Warriors.An impossible dream | | | | net when needed. |
| beats in the hearts of this Carnival fun loving nation. | | | | The Soca Warriors are currently ranked 47 in the |
| Only four Caribbean teams have ever made it to the | | | | world. What are the odds of their winning? They are |
| finals of this prestigious tournament since its inception in | | | | extremely long shots at 1000/1.Even their most ardent |
| 1930.They are Cuba in the third World Cup in | | | | fans probably only hope for them to beat Paraguay in |
| France,Haiti in the World Cup in Germany 1974 and | | | | their final group B match on the 20th June. If they do |
| Jamaica's lively Reggae Boyz in France 1998. | | | | that they would equal the feat of the Reggae Boyz |
| Trinidad and Tobago's Soca Warriors play their first | | | | who beat Japan in their final 1998 match in France. |
| round matches starting June 10 against Sweden | | | | Look for Trinidad and Tobago to go ballistic if that |
| ,followed by England on June 15 and Paraguay on | | | | happens.There will be celebrations the like of which |
| June 20. | | | | has never been seen on the islands. |
| The Soca Warriors won a place in Germany by first | | | | And what if they win or draw in their first two |
| emerging from their elimination matches to get into a | | | | matches? Well the nation will probably go into orbit |
| group of six with the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, | | | | around the earth with joy. |
| Guatemala and Panama.They came fourth. Then they | | | | For those who love the World Cup and who follow |
| beat Bahrain 2-1 over a heart stopping two-legged | | | | the game I would like to recommend a timely new |
| play-off.They join USA,Mexico and Costa Rica as | | | | book:World Class: An Illustrated History of Caribbean |
| CONCACAF's representatives in World Cup 2006 in | | | | Football by James Ferguson. It has 116 photographs |
| Germany. | | | | including one of legendary reggae artist Bob Marley in |
| Wrexham defender Dennis Lawrence entered the | | | | a knockabout match in Kingston,Jamaica. |
| realms of legend when his powerful header hit the | | | | Other books that deal with Caribbean or Black |
| back of the Bahrain net in Manama. He had scored the | | | | footballers are: Colouring Over The White Line:The |
| goal which booked Trinidad a finals place. | | | | History of Black footballers in Britain by Phil Vasili, Black |
| The team's manager is Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker | | | | Magic:England's Black Footballers by Brian Woolnough |
| who took over after an initial poor start in the six group | | | | written in 1983. |
| CONCACAF playoff. His experienced skills organised | | | | Don't forget to pick up a copy of : One Love:The |
| and moulded the indifferent and inexperienced squad | | | | Reggae Boyz-An Incredible Soccer Journey by |
| into World Cup finalists.Beenhakker is regarded as one | | | | Robbie Earl and Daniel Davis,it's a chronicle of |
| of the strengths of the team because he is tactically | | | | Jamaica's World Cup adventures. |
| astute and inspires his squad to perform at their best. | | | | I dream the impossible dream for the Soca Warriors. |
| The Warrior's captain is 33-year-old **Dwight Yorke**. | | | | Light and love to them. |