BY GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor
Trinidad and Tobago's Russell Latapy. - REUTERS
KAISERSLAUTERN, GERMANY
WAGGING HIS INDEX finger and shaking his dreadlocked head, Russell Latapy made it clear he was not ready to share his thoughts with those who lined the route to Trinidad and Tobago's team bus following the Soca Warriors' exit from World Cup 2006 on Tuesday night.
But while the "Little Magician", the oldest member of the squad and among the most legendary T&T footballers of all time, appeared to have little to say to reporters after what should be his final appearance in a T&T jersey, the diminutive 38-year-old had weaved a lasting spell on all those who witnessed his cameo performance against Paraguay.
Yet few Jamaican football observers would be surprised by Latapy's performance. He once charmed Port Morant United (PMU) supporters with his exceptional skills, and to this day embraces Jamaica and its people.
"Latapy always seemed to like Jamaica and they loved him," said Carlos Lee, who attended the World Cup to root especially for him, Dwight Yorke and goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, all of whom he played with on T&T's national youth teams. "He would always embrace Rastafari and would hang around them a lot."
His performance on Tuesday night would make Lee, Land Top supporters, along with every Trini who watched, proud. Latapy was a key part of T&T's late attacking surge against Paraguay which, although it failed to produce a goal and break the Soca Warriors' scoreless drought in Germany, warmed the hearts of the 46,000 present and rallied his country's supporters among them into a cheering frenzy.
His performance also sparked debate, even among those who had seen him play for the first time, over why he had not graced the World Cup stage before, against Sweden and England. And as clever as T&T coach Leo Beenhakker has been in presenting the Soca Warriors to the world, even his explanation fell short of fully satisfying those seeking answers.
"If there is one guy who has more respect for the career and person of Russell Latapy it's me, that's first," Beenhakker began after the game in answering the question of why he took so long to play Latapy.
The coach then explained that in the first two Group B games T&T struggled to gain ball possession so Latapy, despite his ball artistry, would not have been an ideal physical option with his ageing legs.
"Against England and Sweden we were busy 70 minutes to get the ball back," Beenhakker added.
"I don't think that's typical Russell Latapy to get the ball back ... Beside that, the guy, and I say this with all my respect, is 38 years old, and if you had seen also, these were very fast games. So in that way, I think, it's the same as in the qualification. I am just very sorry that in that way it wasn't his game, the games we had to play."
CAMPAIGN DISAPPOINTMENTS
Latapy, along with captain Yorke, had returned from retirement to spark T&T's World Cup qualification after enduring several previous campaign disappointments, even scoring a goal last September against Guatemala as the Soca Warriors made a determined push for Germany. But the former Academica Coimbra, FC Porto, Hibernian, Boavista and Dundee United player sat through T&T's opening games. With Paraguay realistically T&T's only game left in the tournament, it appeared the Little Magician's dream of gracing the big stage would go "poof!" and disappear.
Yet based on Latapy's show in just over 20 minutes on the pitch, Beenhakker, even the precise calculator that he is, may have been wrong. At least that is what some observers thought after the game. And they had evidence to argue.
As soon as Latapy took the Fritz Walter Stadion pitch, it was obvious the Little Magician belonged. And, better yet, that he was ready to shine.
Latapy started out with slick touches, like a master pianist caressing the keys, getting it in tune. He bellowed instructions to his team and helped organise attacks.
Then he laid off a pass for long-time teammate Dwight Yorke who drilled a shot just wide, and the hunt was on. He would swivel and swerve, all the time on the move and looking to exploit openings in Paraguay's defence, which had rarely been seriously threatened in the first half, despite T&T's plan to attack more. The Trini crowd, which had given Latapy a warm welcome, responded with roars of approval. He almost rewarded them just over five minutes after he entered the game when he sent a powerful left-footer skimming over the bar.
Yet the former PMU star could not summon a spell potent enough to put the Soca Warriors on the board or add to his own 28 international goals. And, after almost 70 caps for his country in a career for T&T which began in 1988, the Little Magician would take his final bow and wave for the fans on a losing note.
And while his near-silent exit from the stadium at the two earlier matches was construed by some as a brooding player denied a chance to show what he could do, without a sound on Tuesday night the wagging index finger had somehow become a magic wand signalling to football observers worldwide that a master had left the international stage for good.
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
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