Many in the football-mad Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago bristled at the selection of newcomer Scott Sealy back in early 2004.
But with a slate of impressive performances since then – especially during the final push of Germany 2006 qualifying – the United States-based striker has earned many admirers, including new head coach Leo Beenhakker, as T&T look to lay claim to a vital fourth-place finish in the North, Central American and Caribbean Zone.
Despite marking his Trinidad debut with a goal against the Dominican Republic in a qualifier back in February last year, the Kansas City Wizards player found himself out of favour with then-coach Bertille St Clair in the early matches of the final Germany 2006 qualifying campaign. But since the arrival of Beenhakker and an impressive run of form for his club, Sealy is once again a regular starter for the Soca Warriors.
"The arrival of Beenhakker has not only changed things for me personally," the striker, who has been in the US since his university days at Wake Forest, told FIFAworldcup.com. "The shift in confidence and organisation has been huge. We have a plan now, we listen to our boss, stay steady and build from the back and are far more efficient than before."
With old boys Dwight Yorke and 37-year-old Russell Latapy leading by example, Trinidad and Tobago are currently in fifth place in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying with seven points, just one behind Guatemala. And though they can still mathematically sneak into third place and an automatic qualifying berth, Sealy sees fourth place and the accompanying play-off spot against Bahrain or Uzbekistan as a much more reasonable target.
"We most definitely still have a chance to grab that fourth place away from Guatemala. We're not giving up, this is a new T&T and we won't be intimidated. We'll have to do our best to get the right results in our last two games," added the athletic 24-year-old, who, incidentally, holds 50 and 100 metres breaststroke swimming records in his home nation.
Up first for the hopeful islanders, who have never reached a FIFA World Cup finals, is a tricky trip to Panama City. Though the Canaleros are out of contention for a spot in Germany, their massive improvement has not gone unnoticed in the region and a new sense of pride will make them a tough opponent. Then, in T&T's final match, they will face a potential decider with Guatemala – their closest rival for the play-off spot.
"Playing Panama on the road will be no easy task, but we will approach it with the right mindset. Guatemala too are always tough and they are also looking to get to their first World Cup. We'll have to see what happens, but we are aiming at that fourth-place spot and getting into the play-off with Asia."
Sealy’s form for Kansas City Wizards in Major League Soccer surely had something to do with Beenhakker's decision to reintroduce him to the squad. With a powerful presence, usually playing with his back to the goal, Sealy is his team's top scorer with nine goals - the best of any first-year player in the league - and earned MLS Player of the Month honours for August 2005 with five goals and one assist.
Though only a young boy back in 1989 – when T&T came within a whisker of reaching their first finals – Sealy remembers the pain it caused his country and is keen to do his part and avoid a repeat. "I was not in the stadium back in '89, but like everyone else in the country I was watching on TV," he said. "All we needed was a point against the USA and the excitement was huge in the days before the game. Everyone thought we were going to go to Italy and for weeks after the game you could sense the sadness in the streets."
And though it was the US that put T&T out back in '89, Sealy takes comfort in the recent transformation of the soccer scene in the States. "We are still way behind Mexico and the United States if you look at results," he admitted. "The way those two teams have a stranglehold on things makes is harder for the smaller teams in the region.
"But to look at the USA and the progress they've made in the last 20 years from a nobody to a power, gives us a great deal of hope. If they can do it, so can we. That said, there is still a long way to go, but we are ready to build. If we were to reach the finals in Germany it would be a tremendous starting point for us to move forward."
When asked what a first berth at the finals would mean to the Caribbean country, Sealy struggled to find the right words. "I could not describe in words what it would mean for T&T to go to the World Cup," he said. "It would change everything and bring so much joy to the people. Right now there are many problems in our country like crime and poverty – but the Cup would make everyone smile together and for a good reason."