RICHARD FAKOORY does not have the backing of a financial conglomerate or even a rich FIFA official, but he is determined to make a successful effort at building a professional football team in Trinidad and Tobago.
Just two days ago, Fakoory was informed that his Superstar Rangers team was accepted into the T&T Pro League for the first time. It was news that he was eagerly awaiting. Fakoory's team has strong community links and he feels confident of attracting a following to his matches.
What he still needs to make his brave venture successful is outside investment . So far, his Pro League effort is based on personal financing.
"At the moment I don't have a sponsor. I need sponsorship to the tune of $500,000 to $600,000. Assistance like that could make a big difference and give me a big
push in the Professional League. I expect to have a local part sponsor in the next few days. I also expect to land an international part sponsor in the next few weeks. If I am able to get that, it will make Rangers very competitive. I think I can do good, Rangers has always been a good team."
Fakoory already believes that he has the infrastructure and the personnel to make a successful transition to professional football.
The news of Rangers' impending move to the professional ranks has sparked the kind of enthusiasm within the team which Fakoory had not seen in years. For instance, although they finished fourth in the National Super League last year, Fakoory admitted to difficulty getting players out to training sessions.
Last year, Rangers produced a talented team that played football, but hardly ever trained together. However, already this year, 200 footballers of all age levels have turned out for the four teams which Rangers will field at senior and youth level.
"We had a quality team last year, but it was always difficult getting players out to train," Fakoory admits. "Because they were non-contracted, sometime you would get four or five and another day a different four or five."
Fakoory has already seen a change this year. Not only have his players been urging him to take the plunge into professional football, but he has also had inquiries from as far as Scotland from players trying to join his squad.
He is already considering bringing over James Blair, a 21-year-old Scottish goalkeeper who wants to play professional football in the Caribbean. Also expected to line up with Superstar Rangers is Ricky Charles, a Grenadian national team midfielder. It will be Charles' second stint with Rangers, having played here as a youngster during the days of the Trinidad and Tobago Semi-Pro Football League. Charles, now a 12-year veteran of the Grenadian team, scored in a 3-2 World Cup qualifying loss to the United States two years ago and has also played professionally in the US for the Columbus Crew.
Also returning to Rangers is winger Mark Borde and striker Errol McFarlane (Jr), who scored the goals during the early rounds of Trinidad and Tobago's successful World Cup qualifying campaign. McFarlane has played professional football in Lebanon and Iceland as well.
Fakoory also believes that he has an ace up his sleeve, in that he may have the most talented youth footballers in the country within his junior team. Eight of the players who led Fatima College to the 2005 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) InterCol title are from Rangers.
Among them are national youth striker Chad De Freitas and 2005 SSFL MVP Machel James.
It is that talent which makes him boast: "I will give some trouble in the Pro League this year...at all levels."
Over the years, Rangers have developed and lost many good players, including World Cup bound midfielder Otis Whitley, who was one of six Rangers players who Fakoory took to CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh several years ago.
Back in 1999 when professional football began in this country, Rangers opted out because they did not have the finances to fund a professional football team. So Fakoory sent some of his best players -including Whitley - to Jabloteh, where he became a director and was in charge of running their team. But even though many players have moved on to more lucrative financial arrangements, Fakoory has somehow always been able to discover new talent.
"I think I have one of the best branded names in local football. That name Superstar Rangers is known for good football. And, it's all free. You don't know how many people call me every day asking me how much it will cost to bring their 10-year-old to play for us. Is true we have an application form stating that we charge $120, but that is just a FIFA regulation. We don't charge anybody...everything is for free. I have been lucky to have some really dedicated coaches working with me over the years such as Errol McFarlane Snr and "Gamba" Morris. They have always volunteered their time, but now that we have gone to professional football, we will have to see how we can reward these people."
Fakoory also wants to reward the people who have backed his team over the years by bringing out a strong professional team.
He remember the days when they brought out large crowds to the President's ground, St Ann's. But although they will now be based a stone's throw away at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Fakoory is still anticipating good St Ann's and Port of Spain support.
Because of the strong links Rangers have built with the people of St Ann's, Fakoory was tentatively toying with the thought of changing the name of his team to St Ann's Rangers.
But the San Juan businessman is reluctant to remove his Superstar brand name which has made Rangers a big name in local football. He may just have to compromise with a name such as St Ann's Superstar Rangers.