Dennis Lawrence, the man who will be remembered most for his heroic headed goal against Bahrain on November 16 2005 which sent Trinidad and Tobago through to its first ever World Cup Finals, says he has no regrets when he looks back at his career as a national player.

Speaking to TTFF Media this week, mere weeks after announcing his retirement from the international game following  T&T’s 2-2 draw with Mexico at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Lawrence spoke of his feelings on not being able to follow up on the success of the 2006 campaign as well as ambitions to remain involved in the sport.

“I think the high moments in playing for T&T speak for themselves but what I would say is that throughout my time I have met and made some very good friends and had some really good experiences,” Lawrence told TTFF Media. “As for the enemies I hope I haven’t made too much,” he added with a laugh.

“My ambition for now  is  to at some point educate myself in a better way in the game and then take things from there when the time is right.”

Looking back at the 2010 campaign, Lawrence, one of the senior players in the squad, added “I would describe the experience as yes disappointing but very valuable in terms of having qualified from the previous campaign to not making it through this one where there are  some details  in the difference between failure and success.”

“ As a nation it is important we understand that yes we can have expectations but we also need to be realistic and as players especially the ones who are going to be involved as players in the future, they must understand the level of performance necessary to produce on a consistent basis.

The ex-Defence Force and Wrexham player added : “Working with past fellow teammates  like Russell and Dwight as coach and assistant was very interesting for me in terms of seeing their ideas not on the football pitch  only but also off the pitch.”

If perhaps the opportunity is there for Lawrence to take then he would definitely attempt to take up another role in the game.

“I always take the path that God chooses for me and if it’s coaching in the future then so be it.  I have enjoyed every single time I spent not just in football but in life,” he concluded.

The 35-year-old Lawrence, also given the honour of captaining the National Team,  was named the Copa Caribe (Caribbean Nations Cup) Most Valuable Player in 2001. He  appeared in 89 matches for the Country at the senior level, scoring five goals, one of them which is already down in the record books as one of the most significant ever.

In a little less than two weeks will mark the four-year anniversary of T&T’s qualification for Germany 2006 by way of the 1-0 win over Bahrain in Manama.

(Nov 3,2009)

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