Skeene: The League has not only survived, it has thrived

That's the credence of TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene, speaking last month during the launch of the recently completed Digicel Pro Bowl—the final competition on the league calendar—which was won by DIRECTV W Connection, 4-2 on penalties following a 0-0 draw on May 29.

"We have the capabilities and talent to make this one of the best professional leagues in the CONCACAF region," added the former Trinidad and Tobago striker and University of Columbia graduate.

"The League has not only survived, it has thrived. Key performance indicators show that our clubs are the best in the Caribbean region by winning the CFU Club Championships and as a result, they have qualified for the CONCACAF (Champions League).

"Another factor is the competitiveness of the Digicel TT Pro League. On the penultimate day of matches, two clubs Defence Force and Caledonia AIA were still in line to win the League competition and on the last day, third place was still up for grabs with (W Connection) and North East Stars in the running. Let me officially congratulate the Defence Force on winning the League and Central FC for a very good performance in their first year."

Defence Force (46 points) were crowned 2012-13 Digicel Pro League champions, and followed by Caledonia AIA (42 points) in second and DIRECTV W Connection (38 points) in third. North East Stars (38 points) under debuting head coach Angus Eve finished behind Connection only by lesser goal difference, in fourth, and ahead of debuting club Central FC (30 points) which finished fifth.

The season also saw Connection and Caledonia qualify for their second consecutive CONCACAF Champions League which begins in August and boasts the top clubs of Mexico, the United States, Central America, Canada and the Caribbean.

Domestically, both clubs have also done well, apart from finishing in the League top three. Connection shelved, in its already packed trophy cabinet, the inaugural Digicel Charity Shield, the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield and the Pro Bowl, while Caledonia, a consistently rising name in T&T football, successfully defended the First Citizens Cup and FA Trophy titles.

The only other trophy, the Toyota Classic, was snatched up by Sangre Grande club North East Stars which proudly reached three finals—the Classic, Goal Shield and Pro Bowl—this season.

"I think people do a lot of disservice when they criticize the League," pointed out longstanding and dedicated Caledonia Technical Director Jamaal Shabazz, at the very same Digicel Pro Bowl launch forum.

He used examples of Round Three Match Day Six matches on March 6 which Central FC defeated his club 2-1 and Connection defeated Defence Force 4-0, to solidify his argument.

Shabazz added, "When we look at the work of the coaches … and when you look at the competitiveness, you see Central in fifth position, but they compete and they dominate, and they won against the team that finished second.

"We see Police and Rangers, for instance, losing just in the end in a lot of situations. They were in the game right through to the end. And when you look at the quality of the coaches we have, we see (W Connection coach) Stuart Charles (Fevrier) ... we have Terry Fenwick returned to the League [with Central FC]. We know that he (Fenwick) and I are not great friends, but we respect him as a great competitor and bringing a lot to the table."

Shabazz, also the current joint-Head Coach of the Trinidad and Tobago Men's Senior Team, then turned his focus to the public at large and the media on their roles.

"I hear people talk about Barca' and Real (Madrid). All this is good, but this is colonialism. We must talk about Defence Force ... and W Connection ... and Central and our teams, and build our League and our industry. And until we start to do that, you (the media) got a role to play in the media," said the charismatic Shabazz.

"... because I see in the media, 'Barca' plays Real Madrid'. This news is already online a few minutes after the game, but the next day (our media) run a whole big page. People not going to read this in Trinidad and Tobago, they would watch the picture. (And) you still do that for them, but what do you do for us ... your own people, your own league, your own industry? You make a small little thing.

"This is ridiculous! You have a responsibility because the media is a stakeholder in the League. How much of you would be employed if not for football; if not for the Pro League and if not for the enthusiasm showed in football? So you as media must recognise this and place importance in this."

Not only have players—the most valuable asset—been able to earn an honest living through doing what they love the most, thanks to a local professional league.

Players such as Lester Peltier (Slovan Bratislava - Slovakia), Khaleem Hyland (Genk - Belgium), Sheldon Bateau (KV Mechelen - Belgium), Robert Primus (FC Aktobe - Kazakhstan), Kenwyne Jones (Stoke City - England), Carlos Edwards (Ipswich Town - England), Kevin Molino(Orlando City - United States), Seon Power and Kendall Jagdeosing (Chainat FC - Thailand), Willis Plaza and Hughton Hector (Song Lam Nghe An - Vietnam), Ataullah Guerra and Trayon Bobb (RoPS - Finland), Shahdon Winchester (FF Jaro - Finland), Radanfah Abu Bakr and Walter Moore (FC Vostok - Kazakhstan), and Keon Daniel (Philadelphia Union - United States) are just some former players of local clubs that presently ply their trade internationally, not to mention the many others before them, such as former Caledonia and Defence Force defender Dennis Lawrence, scorer of that decisive goal away to Bahrain in a 1-0 win on November 16, 2005 that book T&T’s spot in the Germany 2006 World Cup.

On the world stage, Lawrence became the first Wrexham player to play at a World Cup, and the Morvant born footballer recently etched his name in the history books again.

On May 11, 2013, Lawrence, an assistant coach at England’s Wigan Athletic, became the first T&T coach to win the English FA Cup when his side defeated Final-favourites Manchester City 1-0.

Switching the attention back to Skeene's message, the League CEO added, "The (TT Pro) League provides the platform for the next generation of national footballers and coaches.

"Our young coaches are making a name for themselves in the person of people like Ross Russell, Marvin Gordon, Angus Eve, Earl Jean, Richard Hood and Dean Pacheco. The TT Pro League has afforded these young men the opportunity to work in a professional environment day in, day out, honing their skills like the Fergusons and Mourinhos of the world.

"In addition, our local players continue to play a major part having been selected for the Trinidad and Tobago national teams forming a major part of the nucleus.

"Another factor is the marketability of players and performance at the national level. We have seen an unprecedented movement of players to foreign clubs during the past year which signifies that the management of our clubs has improved in the business of professional football and are equipping themselves with the necessary skills and personnel to run a successful professional football business."

In early April, the League, through the assistance of the Ministry of Sport and the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago, hosted a two-day Business of Professional Football seminar entitled TT Pro League Road Map to Sustainability 2013 and Beyond, which was attended by club owners, managers and representatives of the National Super League, was geared at improving the business side of in becoming sustainable.

Texas based sport management company, Playbook Management International (PMI), headed by Founding Partner Michael Hitchcock was brought in for the seminar.

Hitchcock a Major League Soccer (MLS) success story, starting as an entry-level sales representative and finishing his 12+ year career in the league as a club president and general manager after working with clubs such as DC United, Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy and FC Dallas, said he believes there is an incredible opportunity for professional football in Trinidad and Tobago.

During the seminar Hitchcock revealed that there were times when the MLS clubs were in meetings similar to the TT Pro League seminar saying, “This isn’t working guys.”

“[But] we said …what can we do to make this sport sustainable? What can we do to make this League sustainable?

Today the MLS, which had its first season 1996, is already ranked in the top 20 Leagues in the world, and that success is based on strategic business models.

In Trinidad, clubs such as DIRECTV W Connection, Caledonia and North East Stars have understood the importance of strategic business models, but the fastest learner has been Central Football Club.

With Managing Director Brent Sancho and Operations Manager Kevin Harrison at the helm, Central has not only partnered with very committed and generous sponsors, but also connected with their community and various social and volunteer groups while pulling off a fifth position finish in the Pro League—all on debut.

“The TT Pro League and its clubs are entrepreneurial role models,” said Skeene. “We are going where no one has dared gone before.

“I call on the footballers in particular, to continue to improve and strive for excellence and always be mindful of your responsibilities. This is the indisputable fact and message: through football and the DIGICEL TT Pro League you can earn an honest living. You can save and invest. You can own a car and a home. You can strive for excellence.”

Such excellence was rewarding for 2010-11 Player of the Year Devorn Jorsling and 2011-12 Player of the Year Richard Roy, both of the Defence Force, when they belatedly received a new Toyota Yaris each last April.

Jorsling has been one of the most consistent strikers in the league and his 20 goals in the Digicel Pro League in 2012-13 were vital to his club lifting the championship. His closest challenger on the goal-scorers’ list was T&T teammate Cornell Glen of North East Stars.

Also making the top five League championship scorers are speedy Defence Force winger Kevon Carter, W Connection star Joevin Jones and dedicated St. Ann’s Rangers forward Devon Modeste.

The 2013-2014 season will commence in August and Skeene divulged: “In terms of interest from groups wanting to join the Digicel TT Pro League, we have new ownership groups and clubs both foreign and local expressing genuine interest to align with the league.”

Looking ahead, the CEO added that the League is also committed to bring football to the communities with the development of fields in the various communities represented clubs, together with the Ministry of Sports and Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago.