Warriors bank on East Dry River
Sunday, January 14th 2007
Dwayne Jack, the big Trinidad and Tobago defender, left, chases Barbados captain Norman Forde who has already left skipper Densill Theobald, centre, for dead. The teams battled 1-1 in a Digicel Caribbean Cup match on Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Port-of-Spain's gritty inner city is in dire need of a public relations makeover.
Trinidad and Tobago have spent the past decade obsessing about an increase in crime and, inevitably, fingers are pointed at the lower income dwellers from areas like the East Dry River .
Dutchman Wim Rijsbergen might disagree with condemning the entire block, though, on account of a few rotten tenants.
If some locals do not feel safe to park their vehicles in Port of Spain's inner city, Rijsbergen is willing to trust something entirely more valuable on the maligned vicinity.
On Friday, the ex-Holland World Cup player and present "Soca Warriors" football coach entrusted the fate of Trinidad and Tobago's Digicel Caribbean Cup challenge-and perhaps his own job security-on the endeavour of two Nelson Street natives.
Densill Theobald wore the captain's armband against Barbados while Kerwin "Hardest" Jemmott inherited the coveted number 10 shirt.
Almost certainly, if the Warriors are to pinch a record ninth Caribbean trophy from just 13 editions of the regional competition, the two former Malick Senior Comprehensive pupils will have much to do with it.
There were glimpses of the pair's potential on Friday. Jemmott, in particular, was keen to rekindle a love affair with the Trinidad and Tobago public which, judging by his frequent leaves of absence, was mostly one-way. Two years have passed since Jemmott's last international appearance in a 1-0 Caribbean Cup qualifying loss away to St Vincent on January 16 while his last home match was a weak earlier in a 3-1 win over the same opponent.
At times on Friday, it looked as if he never left. Eager to make up for last time, Jemmott offered his teammates a buffet of no-look passes, through balls and measured flicks. Striker Gary Glasgow was the main beneficiary and he should have tucked away more than the lone goal on the night. Theobald was subdued for long parts of the game. He was asked to patrol the space behind Jemmott and it seemed to inhibit his own expression although he did a creditable job of supporting his fellow midfielders.
The past year has been an incredible ride for the 24-year-old Theobald. Last February, he was omitted from coach Leo Beenhakker's team for a friendly against Iceland, could not buy a game at Scotland Premier League team, Falkirk and was scared his World Cup aspirations were slipping away.
Since then, he started all three World Cup matches in Germany, regained his form at Caledonia AIA and became the country's youngest captain in at least a decade.
Theobald's achievements increased the burden of expectation on his shoulders and he did not sizzle on Barbados . But he too offers his nation a valuable talent.
If Jemmott's 30-metre attacking balls illuminate the stage, Theobald's clever short passes and movements prepare the scene as he zips around the midfield, ushering his teammates into position and locating a weakness in the opposing line-up for others to exploit.
If they get going, the East Dry River  double-act alone would be worth the entrance fee although it must be said that an average Barbados outfit was able to exploit flaws in their partnership.
Forget the ghetto clichés, you can do better than Theobald and Jemmott if you were in a skirmish and, on Friday's evidence, it seems that they would benefit from a midfield bodyguard. These inner-city boys do not do dirty work and Barbados captain Norman Forde sometimes strolled past them with contemptuous ease. They are unlikely to have an easier time against the portly but skilful Martinique playmaker Charles Coridon either.
United States-based debutante Osei Telesford gave a promising display at central defence although his appreciation for the sure, early pass could make him equally handy as a midfield ball winner if Rijsbergen has enough resources to consider a minor reshuffle.
Rijsbergen credited the work ethic of his young team and his squad rarely looked like being overrun by the Barbadians.
Right back Seon Power, another debutant, was careless in possession but surely deserves another chance on the back of a fine season for the Pro League champs, Joe Public.
Up front, the bustling Kansas City Wizards striker Scott Sealy toiled in vain before he was replaced for the final half hour but remains, at least on paper, the player best suited to provide the goals needed for a Caribbean Cup triumph.Â
The international strike rate of Rijsbergen's front men, to date, is far from impressive. Sealy has two goals from 20 appearances (12 off the bench) while Glasgow  got only his seventh goal on Friday from 46 outings (20 as a substitute). The Warriors need Jemmott and Theobald to coax both strikers into form.
There is the matter of a $756,000 (US$120,000) bounty from Digicel to the Caribbean champions and a place in this year's CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. The Nelson Street exchange must ensure that the cash prize stays where it should-with the Caribbean 's foremost football nation.
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Warriors bank on East Dry River 
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