At a time when sponsorship and Government funding is scarce, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association has stepped in to stabilize its major and second tier leagues.
”We are giving US $100,000 to the Pro League and US$25,000 to the TT Super League in an effort to bolster their administrative efforts,: stated TTFA President David John Williams on Saturday.
“The TT Pro League has been the biggest provider of talent to the senior national teams over the last 15 years. The employment opportunities provided in the Pro League is football’s contribution to the economy of the country” Williams continued.
“And the Super League has provided opportunities for players who cannot be full time and still want to play at a decent level.”
The TTFA President who is a product of the local professional league revealed that the injection into the both Leagues comes out of a special projects FIFA grant accessed by the Association for such purposes.
The funding which had the total approval of the TTFA’s Board comes on the heels of an effort by its President to get the various arms of football under one roof.
”Now that our football has a home, we must now look at the economic and administrative stability of our stakeholders,” John-Williams said.
“World football generates huge incomes but in the past the stakeholders in local football never benefited as they ought to have. So the country has stadia but never a “home for football” before our administration came into office. We are indeed thankful to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for its support in this regard. Both the Ministry of Sport and The Sport Company have really stepped up to ensure that football progress in a meaningful way.”
“For us to progress, every arm of football must become professional in their operations and we at the TTFA are committed to driving this process,” John-Williams concluded.
The TTFA Headquarters moved to the Ato Boldon Stadium on June 1st with the TT Pro League, TT Super League, Secondary Schools Football League and the Women’s League Football all currently operating from the same venue.