Warrior Inspiration

Amidst the current debate regarding the financial rewards bestowed upon the Soca Warriors, there has not been any impetus shown by the government to use the vehicle of current football euphoria as a means to implement initiatives that can bring true benefits to the ailing nation.

The players now have confirmation of a substantial monetary reward for their efforts, so the debate is now a moot point. The government has also pledged; on the back of the evidence of the unification, joy and exposure that World Cup participation creates; to ensure that every effort is made to ensure our qualification for 2010 in South Africa.

That is all good news for the Soca Warriors but what about using one of our greatest sporting achievements to lay down something meaningful for a nation ailing from the effects of crime and social depravation?

Some of the Warriors have mentioned that they will now be ploughing their rewards back into their community, in a classic case of “giving something back from whence they came” but our Ministries should be leading the way in this endeavour.

One suggestion would be to set up a nationwide youth football league in honour of those Warriors that made that initial step onto the world stage, as a means of fostering the community spirit that has been eroded from T&T society. This erosion is major factor in the development of a generation of criminals as well as the divisiveness that currently tears apart many segments of the population.

While we have leagues such as the school based Intercol for our youths, it is hardly all-encompassing and does not provide a team with which an entire community can identify and unite in common support. We are all aware of the benefit that sport provides in providing direction and discipline for youths that are so easily led down the criminal path, in a nation where the few social programmes that exist continually fail them. Imagine instead a team for which an underprivileged youth can aspire to play or the burgeoning excitement amongst fervent and united supporters of a clash between teams named after Shaka Hislop and Kelvin Jack?

But naming league teams after sporting heroes is not enough. It would be no different to the naming of DC-9 aircraft after our heroes of yesteryear. For this suggestion to be effective it will need the proper structure behind it where NGOs were involved and administration staff, technical directors, coaching and backroom staff and even officials were all drawn from the relevant community. Certainly the current Warriors will be involved in the capacity of ensuring a successful launch and consistent participation in the progress of this scheme. The spark generated from a community league can then be used to ignite other proposals as the needs and wants of the various communities will come to light and the community is then involved in the decision process as how best to solve them.

This type of initiative can be successful if managed properly and the country certainly has the funds to enable it to become a reality. There is also the major plus that from of this structured league, the next generation of Soca Warriors will emerge. This is the level that we have to be thinking upon if we are to address the factors that help create the criminal element or the social inequalities in T&T, so why not take the innovative step of using our beloved football as a means to helping eradicate the scourge that is inflicting this country?

Magnificent stadiums in Toruba do not produce athletes and foster the much needed community strength to overcome the ills of society, grass roots initiatives will do so. We can build the foundation and make our wonderful inclusion in the World Cup really mean something for our nation.

Oh, and a few suggestions for some of the teams: The Latapy Lads, The Yorke Youths, The Birchall Boys, The Sancho Sons…..you get the idea. Over to you Mr. Boynes, we have heard the plans for 2010, let us hear the plans for now, our communities await.

Sheldon Waithe