Indra Ramsingh Geoffroy is in the UAE for the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup. Here’s another look through her eyes from Abu Dhabi.
So, we Trinbagonians think it is hard to live with COVID-19. The norms in other countries are somewhat similar to ours.
Firstly, visitors and residents in UAE must register through the ICA. The ICA as stated on the website, is, “one of the services provided by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. A user can submit a register arrivals request to the United Arab Emirates. This service allows the user to register the passenger info, vaccination info for vaccinated and non-vaccinated travellers, in addition to that entering the info of PCR test and result, which is facilitating their procedures upon arrival in the United Arab Emirates.”
Then we had to download an app called Alhosn which is supposed to contain information on the vaccinations and PCR tests.
At the airport I had given my T&T number, this caused some confusion as I had to redo the entire exercise by uploading my documents several times. But the app is on my phone with a local number and the results of the Covid-19 tests done.
So, the road to Abu Dhabi began with taking another Covid-19 PCR test, because, without a negative result, one cannot enter the entertainment centers and public places in that Emirate.
West Indies vs Sri Lanka
The drive took about one and a quarter-hour in Abi’s comfortable Cadillac SUV. Armed with our luggage for two nights, as we didn’t want to make the journey twice and hoping that we would have things to celebrate.
The Sheikh Zayed Stadium is magnificent. After some delay, the usual suspects, Trinis, Abi, Ria, Harry, myself, Jamaican Lennox and joined by two other Trinis, Donna and Sharon as well as Jamaican Malcolm walked the quarter-mile to hospitality and waited to support our team in a strategic position just behind the Windies dugout.
Not as many supporters as the game against Bangladesh, but as usual, more supporters for the other team, Sri Lanka. The atmosphere, though, was Trini type, with the Sri Lankans armed with their flags and percussion instruments. Of course, we thought that the runs scored by Sri Lanka were too much as we discussed the pros and cons of the inning just gone with the Sri Lankan supporters, who, if they were not playing against us, would have been supporting the Windies. We rallied though, as we thought we had enough power on our side to make the runs.
Some of us were still having the delicious lunch and some fine drinks when we lost the first wicket. The roar upstairs was not very welcome as the Sri Lankan fans celebrated their first wicket. As we went back upstairs, we observed that there was another group of fans: Guyanese/Windies fans, welcome support which was so needed. We continued rallying and supporting among the positive vibes of our fellow cricket fans, the Sri Lankan supporters. More drinks, more laughter, more photos, more picong, more jabs at each other. The atmosphere was electric as the game progressed.
Meeting the President of the WICB, Mr. Ricky Skerritt, and his beautiful and pleasant daughter Andrea also added to the day’s highlights. Well, everyone knows how the game ended. We felt deflated, yet we had a great evening.
As we underscore the effects of Covid-19 on sports, we must note that the Sri Lankan fans were very appreciative of the Windies players who were so gracious in affording them selfies from afar.
We exchanged flags with the Sri Lankans, who kept on repeating that they just loved the West Indies team and the commonness between us.
Ria, our unofficial Trini ambassador in Dubai: “Sad to have lost, but it was a fabulous evening, pure niceness, with the friendly rivalry.”
There is still hope for a victory against Australia, which would be a welcome reward to the faithful and loyal fans both here and home, as we continue to rally.
The evening was far from over as we were, of course, the last to leave the stadium and headed to the home of a Trini couple, Anthony and Regan; to some more people, South Africans, Oli, Ian, and Sive; to delicious barbeque lamb, chicken and geera pork, a variety of drinks, music, and conversations about cricket and football. We arrived at our place of abode at the ungodly hour of 5.10 a.m.
Thank you, Anthony and Regan. On your next trip to Abu Dhabi, you must check out their delicious catering menu at pepperpotpals.
