“What the arse you crying for? Shut up! What the arse you crying for?”

Those are the words of the coach of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Under-20 Football team, Kendale Mercury, minutes after the team succumbed to the powerful Jamaican team at Victoria Park last Tuesday, January 13.{{more}}

The loss means that this country narrowly missed out on a direct place in the Finals of the CONCACAF zone qualification for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup to be held in Egypt from September 25 to October 16.

The loss was understandably painful for the thousands gathered, and more so the team that obviously felt the pain of disappointing a home crowd.

But even among the team, defender Shemmol Trimmingham felt the worst.

He badly missed the penalty in the 56th minute that could have tied the game at 1-1, and later the Jamaicans doubled their lead to win 2-0.

From the time the final whistle blew, Trimmingham wept uncontrollably, his face bearing a mixture of hurt and embarrassment.

Another member of the coaching team, Earl Paynter, did his best to console the young man, at one point fatherly cupping his face, as he (Trimmingham) continued to wail.

Mercury, who despite calls by many to “leave the boy alone,” would have none of it, as he lashed out at Trimmingham’s show of emotions.(KJ)