Wake up, Soca Warriors

THE EDITOR, Madam:

We paid Jamaica too much respect, this is a Caribbean classico, it’s a derby, there was no fight and no passion! If they are pressing high relentlessly, two banks of four, sit deep and go long, let them run out of gas. Feed Levi Garcia, he was fresh in the first half, there was so much space in behind that he could attack with the ball. That opening spell was too easy for them to break us down, we gave Gray and Bailey too much time and space, close them down!

Whenever Auvray had the ball and drove at the defence then, you could see Jamaica falling back. Second half, one chance in their box, goal! We are taking too long in transition; Jamaica was having a long weekend to get back in their defensive structure. Show some courage on the ball, make them work for it, exploit the spaces and use the width of the field. Our body language alone emitted hesitation and caution. Take a shot, test the goalkeeper, put your laces through it, Soca Warriors! We don’t have to always walk it in the goal, show some killer instinct, because we beat them in their backyard already.

We beat the USA already too, what are we scared of them for! It’s not 51 states versus one and a half islands, it’s eleven versus eleven. Break out of that colonial mindset, and let the football do the running and the talking. Show some swagger and arrogance and leave everything on that pitch, guys, we can get a result against the US, the football gods will do the rest.

KENDELL KARAN

Chaguanas

Trinidad and Tobago