Nobody likes losing at any time in life, and certainly not when it occurs two days in a row, in front of your sporting peers, unfortunately for a very young T&T hockey team with an average age of 21, this was to be their reality. These young women, did not plan to come to Glasgow, Scotland to be embarrassed, or to be humiliated, and thankfully for them, it was neither, but rather a learning experience, albeit one they will most likely never ever forget.South Africa and New Zealand are world powers in Hockey, and their collective experiences overshadow our entire team. So as a proud T&T national, it was particularly difficult to watch the amount of pressure our team was under and not be able to do anything about it. Add to that the silly comments flying about on the T&T team, it was enough to make a grown man, want to ask some of these Scottish about their lack of quality football.But I took extreme comfort in knowing, that the people of T&T are much more sensible than that, and will rightfully understand that, there were players on both South Africa and New Zealand squads with more 200 international matches, another set with more than 150 matches and then a further group with more than 100 matches.
No single player on the current T&T team has more than 80 international matches in fact, only two players have more than 50 matches. T&T's best player was the Goalkeeper Petal Derry, who at 32 is the oldest and has the most caps of 77.I admire, this team of women, because of their commitment, I looked at their faces during these painful matches, and if we the public was hurting, they were more so in despair, because unlike other youngsters in sports, they all looked as if they were playing for a long term goal. This is very similar to what I have witnessed in my travels to many venues during these Commonwealth Games, whether it was boxing, swimming, squash, judo, table tennis or hockey, Scotland had learnt the lessons from the past and were out to correct and improve them at these games.
If our ladies led ably by Patricia Wright-Alexis with Alanna Lewis for support, can continue to learn from their encounters, our hockey will be on a better footing. There is no doubt, that funding is a major issue to allow our teams the opportunity to gain exposure. As I watched the match unfold in front of me , what stood out, was the spirit, as New Zealand kept on coming and coming, our guys fought and fought and won over the crowd, with their guts.I imagine, that in Four years time in Australia, at the Next Commonwealth Games, things will be different, I can see Brianna Govia , who is from a family of very good sporting lineage , becoming a tower of strength in the future, as well as Avion Ashton..Tamia Roach...Zene Henry ...Elsie Olton....Stephanie Whiteman.
Brittney Hingh is a player with immense talent and if we can harness and exploit this more, Trinidad and Tobago will be all the better.Critically , we must ensure that the coaching team , led by Anthony Marcano with assistance from Stacey Sui Butt is permitted to continue their programme uninterrupted by matters outside of their scope . Instead the Hockey Executive must act decisively to ensure smooth sailing for the team on the hockey field.So , after such an eventful day , it is safe to say , that I could not find the time to look for a Kilt or a betting shop , but what I did find was equally disturbing and rather unsettling and no it was not the latest sporting disaster news from Trinidad and Tobago.
But rather the fact , that the incessant heat in Glasgow , while driving the Glaswegians outdoors , has it seemed forced the men from the Caribbean, Jamaicans and Barbadians in particular to run for shelter on large umbrellas , a most embarrassing scene to try to explain to some of the Scottish , even as a few of then fight for the best seat out of the sun. Trust me , people of Trinidad and Tobago , it is not a pretty sight.The Soca Song " Soft Man," does come to mind however.However, I promise everyone that by the time, one of our track and field athletes win a medal , I will have the Kilt, Food, Betting shop and soft Caribbean men questions all answered adequately.