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Matchworn Kareem Riley 28.10.2016 ATG 🇦🇬 : TRI 🇹🇹 5-4 (Under-20)
Manufacturer: Joma
Source: eBay
THE TEAM
Trinidad & Tobago’s national team is nicknamed “Soca warriors”. What looks like a dyslexic person attempting to spell “soccer”, is actually a reference to a Caribbean music genre of the same name.
Despite being a rather small island with a population of just 130,000, the “Trinis” were among the strongest teams of the CONCACAF and even managed to crack the top 25 in the FIFA ranking in 2001. Their biggest success was the qualification for the 2006 World Cup, where they finished last of their group, but achieved a respectable draw in their first game against Sweden.
In the following years, the team wasn’t able to build on this huge accomplishment. Yet, they’ve been a regular participant in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and remain record champion of the Caribbean Cup with eight titles to date.
THE SHIRT
It's red!
That's probably all the design features you can list about this jersey. Apparently, the Trinidadian (and Tobagonian) Football Association has been shopping in the low-cost range of Spanish manufacturer Joma to kit out its U-20 national team. Then they quickly ironed on an association crest and a number and the red shirt was ready for action!
Why did I add this jersey to my collection anyway?
Well, it's a matchworn Trinidad & Tobago shirt and, above all, it has the most spectacular sleeve patch I've ever seen!
The jersey comes from the final qualifying round for the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, which took place in Curaçao in 2016. It was worn by Kareem Riley in the match against Antigua & Barbuda, which was lost 5-4.
The patch on the sleeve is super detailed and shows a yellow and black bird (possibly a troupial – the national bird of Curaçao) and the crest of the Caribbean Football Union.
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