Grevic Zinedine's love for football, Trinidad and Tobago

Grevic Zinedine Alvarado Olivero is a nine-year-old Venezuelan migrant who is in love with TT and football.

Since he arrived in TT in March 2019, he has tried to get to know every corner of the country, its customs and traditions. He loves doubles as much as soccer, his biggest passion.

“I love non-spicy doubles, as well as pholourie,” he told Newsday Kids with a hearty laugh.

He is know as Zizou among his friends, because of his name Zinedine, for the former French player Zinedine Zidane. He is the soul among his neighbours on Basant Street, in Charlieville, Chaguanas.

Son of our Venezuelan journalist Grevic Alvarado and Amelia Olivero, Zizou speaks English well, with his Trinidadian friends as his main teachers.

“My friend and neighbour Nathan is the one who teaches me English. He also learns a little Spanish, he even sings some Latin songs with me.”

His learning is complemented by education from his parents and UNHCR's Equal Place programme, as he looks forward to the opening of TT schools for migrant children.

“I want to study here. I like TT and I don't want to go to another country,” he said.

Zizou is an expert in Social Studies, knowing most of the world's flags, while he is working on perfecting his English and maths.

His main passion is football and he carries it not only in his name, but also in his blood. His parents say Zizou talks about football from the moment he wakes up until he falls asleep at night.

His great idol is Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid team, although he is left-handed, which betrays his feelings and makes him attached to Lionel Messi, a great rival of his idol.

“I want to be a recognised footballer in TT and the world. Maybe I can think about representing TT or Venezuela when I grow up,” he said.

Zizou started playing football at the Sulmona of Chaguanas academy, but recently, because of his father's work commitments in Port of Spain, he had to change his uniform.

He is now a member of the Guerreros FC academy and trains every afternoon at Mandela Park, Port of Spain.

His parents say he is a well-educated and mature child for his age.

“Since he was little he has always been a respectful child. Where he arrives he greets everyone politely. He has many dreams and he is working step by step to achieve them, always with God's blessing,” Olivero said.

Zizou is also a cartoonist and is working hard to perfect his techniques. In addition, he is a good drummer and in previous years he participated in the music classes of La Casita of Arima. He even went on stage in some presentations of the parranda group Herencia Venezolana.

He, he is another migrant child who, together with his family, is overcoming the challenges of living in a country that is not his own.