Dear Sir
A year ago, you kindly published my letter following your publication’s article headlined “Fans, Cheer Leaders Told: ‘COME OUT IN BLUE TO SUPPORT ANGUILLA’S MATCH VS NICARAGUA’”. The article stated that the call was for all fans and cheer leaders … to turn out in large numbers, wearing anything blue, and with colourful buntings, to lavish their support on the team.
Most of the spectators wore blue, as requested. Some found it all a bit odd though. Why? Because a few minutes’ search online indicates that the first team playing strip colours of the Anguilla national side are orange (with blue as the second colour). Furthermore, the first team colours of Nicaragua are blue! So naturally, Anguilla played in orange and Nicaragua played in blue – all very natural and to be expected. The match was embarrassing. Our players did a great job but the number of people turning up in blue, as directed, doubtless gave the Nicaraguan team the feeling they were playing in front of their own home fans, and maybe this helped influence the result. Some Anguilla supporters were confused enough, at one point, to be cheering for the opposing team.
For some time now, Anguilla has been rooted to the (joint-) foot of the FIFA world rankings with zero points. However, we could be somewhat higher. We played and defeated another team in those rankings and this should have lifted Anguilla a few places up the rankings table. Apparently those who knew did not bother to let anyone in charge of the ranking table know about this win, so it is as if it never happened. All that hard work by the players – the effect is that it was all to waste.
The point of this letter is to point out that on Saturday, 25 March, at 5 pm there is another match featuring our wonderful national men’s football team (please be reminded – they must play in orange). They host Puerto Rico in a CFU Regional Qualifier, so it is vital that all Anguilla football supporters turn up early at the football stadium and cheer loudly and enjoy watching Anguilla win.
Sincerely
A football enthusiast.
