Tony BeccaJAMAICA VERSUS Trinidad and Tobago, in whatever sport, has always produced some of the most exciting, gripping and keenly fought contests in the region and today's confrontation at the National Stadium should be no exception.
Over the years, the rivalry has been second to none, national pride has been at stake and, with so much emotion on both sides, winning has always been important. Today, however, winning is even more important.
It is so not only because of pride, but also because this is the final round of the World Cup qualifying tournament and of the six teams involved, only three will go to Japan and South Korea next year for the finals.
Jamaica, finalists in 1998 when they became the first country from the English-speaking Caribbean to do so, want to be one of them so they can go back again and, after failing to make it in 1994 when they stumbled at the final hurdle, Trinidad and Tobago are determined to make it this time.
What would be nice, however, is if both teams make it and with three moving on it is possible. As far as the English-speaking Caribbean is concerned, that would be great. After a near miss in 1994, after one getting there in 1998, two teams in the World Cup finals in 2002 would be really something to cheer.
With the teams playing each other twice for a total of 10 matches each, however, it is a long way down the road before there will be any indication as to that possibility and, until then, the rivalry continues.
Today, it will be Jamaica versus Trinidad and Tobago in Kingston, later on it will be Jamaica versus Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain, one match will be before a sea of yellow, one before a sea of red, and both before partisan hometown crowds.
Hopefully, in the determination to win the standard of play by the best teams in the English-speaking Caribbean the skill on display, today and later on, will be of the highest quality.
