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At the final whistle in Willemstad tonight, Trinidad and Tobago were above the Concacaf Nations League A relegation zone by only goal difference—after their third straight defeat in the 2026 competition.
Their 1-0 loss to Curaçao comes on the heels of a 2-1 loss to the Dominican Republic in Port of Spain on 27 September, and a 3-2 loss to Haiti in Kingston, Jamaica on 24 September.
Trinidad and Tobago face Curaçao again at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on 4 October, with only a place in the top tier of the Nations League to fight for. It’s not quite an illustrious target, but meaningful all the same—for coach and country.
Falling into the second tier of Concacaf would surely represent a step back for the Soca Warriors and be another red flag regarding the direction of the local game. For coach Derek King, he was given a target of survival in the Nations League—just months after his predecessor Dwight Yorke was fired for failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
It would be difficult for Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards to defend his position if he fails to accomplish such a modest task on paper.
Photo: TTFA Media.
Football is not played on paper, of course. And King’s bad luck has been eyebrow-raising.
In his last three games, King suffered three red cards (Wayne Frederick II, Daniel Phillips and Dantaye Gilbert), conceded two stoppage time goals (both against Haiti), and made five injury-enforced substitutions (Denzil Smith, Josiah Trimmingham, Tyrese Spicer, Justin Garcia and Levi Garcia).
And that’s not counting pre-international match window injuries to attackers Dante Sealy, Roald Mitchell and Nathaniel James, as well as the football body’s apparent miscalculations over the feasibility of getting Rotherham United defender Kieran Ngwenya a Trinidad and Tobago passport.
There was also the not-so-insignificant matter of a near player mutiny over unpaid match fees.
Somehow, King navigated all of the above without falling out with players or administrators, and minus the non-stop playing of violins at press conferences.
Perhaps not so surprisingly, since King is an Arima alderman, the Soca Warriors coach is sure-footed on the matter of football politics.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
But can he cut it as a coach at this level?
Today, King squared up against iconic Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, who had eight players from his starting line-up against Germany at the 2026 World Cup.
In contrast, once Garcia (L) limped off the field in the 14th minute, King had just three players on the field at best (Smith, Kobi Henry and Rio Cardines) who would consider themselves to be automatic starters.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
Trinidad and Tobago, again, were not embarrassed. That should not be the yardstick for national teams, but it is not insignificant either.
It is, admittedly, thin porridge to serve football fans, with memories of national teams that have a bit of personality and spark—who are trying to make do with one that just hang on, hoping for a mistake from their opponents.
Trinidad and Tobago had one hero today: Agent Smith.
Somehow, the former Shiva Boys’ Hindu College schoolboy kept out a point-blank range effort from Curaçao forward Jurgen Locadia in the 16th minute.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.
And by the time Smith dived to his right to deny captain Leandro Bacuna’s penalty kick in the 88th minute, he must have become a haunting sight for the Dutch-speaking islanders.
Like the villain in scary movies who always seems to corner victims without sprinting, Smith, despite his unremarkable size, has a knack of keeping out blinding shots with the nonchalance of a grown-up playing with a giant balloon on the beach.
Can you picture Sunil Narine with goalkeeper gloves? You get the idea.
(via TTFA Media.)
Trinidad and Tobago had no such quality at the other end of the field, though. And the Warriors showed little chance of hurting Curaçao, even before Gilbert got himself sent off with two silly fouls in the space of three minutes.
The final 1-0 scoreline flattered the visitors—but it did count for something.
Trinidad and Tobago are second from bottom in Group One based on goal differential, with Costa Rica and Nicaragua also having zero points. The latter two nations play each other later tonight, though.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
If Costa Rica win, then it might give King hope of keeping Trinidad and Tobago in League A—even with no points!
With the Arimian’s luck, though, Costa Rica and Nicaragua might both play to a draw.
Whatever the table says by midnight, or next Monday morning, is only part of the equation.
Trinidad and Tobago have now lost seven times in 2026. And it would be worse if you counted the 1-0 defeat against US second tier club, Louisville City FC, or the penalty shootout loss to Gabon.
(via TTFA Media.)
Only former coach Dennis Lawrence has done worse with eight losses in 2019.
It is now 11 straight games without a win for the Soca Warriors, which includes three games at the tail-end of Yorke’s tenure. Trinidad and Tobago’s record winless streak of 14 matches, under Lawrence between 2018 and 2019, is closing in fast.
One way or the other, something has to change soon.
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-1-4-1): 22.Denzil Smith (GK); 19.Rio Cardines (9.Daniel David 76), 3.Kobi Henry, 4.Jaheim Joseph, 6.Andrew De Gannes (8.Luke Phillip 57); 16.Michel Poon-Angeron; 7.Ryan Telfer, 10.Molik Khan (18.Andre Rampersad 76), 15.Dantaye Gilbert [Red card 71], 20.Real Gill (23.Noah Powder 57); 11.Levi Garcia (captain) (13.Reon Moore 14).
Unused substitutes: 1.Jabari Brice (GK), 21.Jahiem Wickham (GK), 5.Neveal Hackshaw, 12.Shervohnez Hamilton, 17.Justin Garcia.
Coach: Derek King.
Curaçao (4-3-3): 1.Eloy Room (GK); 2.Shurandy Sambo, 3.Jurien Gaari, 18.Armando Obispo, 5.Sherel Floranus; 8.Livano Comenencia (6.Nicky Souren 90+1), 10.Leandro Bacuna (captain), 7.Juninho Bacuna; 21.Tahith Chong, 9.Jurgen Locadia (11.Jeremy Antonisse 73), 14.Kenji Gorre.
Unused substitutes: 22.Tyrick Bodak (GK), 23.Kiyani Zeggen (GK), 4.Jurich Carolina, 12.Kyano Penso, 15.Ar’jany Martha, 16.Jearl Margaritha, 17.Tyrese Noslin, 20.Joshua Brenet.
Coach: Dick Advocaat.
Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica).
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
