The TT Pro League, in partnership with sponsors Digicel and First Citizens, has embarked on a new project geared at building relationships between clubs and communities with the acronym “HOPE” which was launched on Wednesday afternoon.
HOPE (Helping Others is a Priority Everyday) will take form of a competition which highlights several areas that Pro League clubs Bmobile Joe Public, San Juan Jabloteh, Caledonia AIA or Morvant/Laventille, W Connection, Ma Pau SC, Defence Force, United Petrotrin, FC South End, St Ann’s Rangers and Police FC are required to become involved.
The activities will be divided into two components—welfare and youth development. (Some of which are listed below)
The first edition of the HOPE project will run between December 2009 and March 2010, and clubs must be involved in at least two (2) activities to become eligible for prize monies with the winner taking away $20,000.00 (donated by Digicel) and second place $10,000.00 (donated by First Citizens).
A committee comprising various stakeholders will also be selected to judge the competition.
Speaking at the launch held at First Citizens Corporate Centre, Queens Park East in Port of Spain, a delighted TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene explained, “The Pro League views football as the tool which can be utilized to transform and positively affect communities. In addition, we know that it is critical to involve the various communities in order to make the Pro League viable, sustainable and profitable.
“The intention is to deliver not only game day revenue and a fan base which will provide other offshoots to earn revenue, but also a crowd which brings the right type of atmosphere at the matches to inspire players to play at a higher level while striving to attain new heights.
“Most importantly, football plays such an important part in the psyche of the average Trinbagonian that we intend to use it as a medium to assist with the improvement of social and moral problems facing the society at present, in addition to engaging and stimulating the interest in football and the TT Pro League,” he said.
“We are of the view that the involvement of the communities is critical to the success of the game and the athletes,” said Wendy Alleyne, Sponsorship and Promotions Manager of Digicel(Trinidad and Tobago Limited) as she spoke on behalf of her company at the launch.
“It is with this vision that has led Digicel to be the proud sponsor of the TT Pro League’s community development programme, HOPE, which would allow our footballers to assist with the social and moral problems being faced by their various communities and at the same time build a sense of belonging with the members of their communities,” Alleyne continued.
Digicel and fellow sponsor, First Citizens will also use HOPE, the community development programme to educate communities with financial seminars among other community building initiatives.
Dale Mohammed, Community Relations Officer of First Citizens said that his company applauds the initiative put on by the League. He also added, “Apart from our $10,000.00 in prize money, this will give further hope to communities.”
The TT Pro League also used the opportunity to donate $13,000 to the “Football for a Cause” which was presented to Avanelle Hector-Joseph of Is there not a Cause.
Welfare Activities
•Visits to local health facilities to interact with patients
•Visits to homes for the aged to uplift the morale of the residents
•Clean-up day in relevant areas to bring a sense of pride to the communities
•Create awareness for e.g. AIDS, drug free life, crime prevention, literacy
•Visits to persons with disabilities to show caring side of football clubs
Youth Development Activities
•Hosting of football camps by clubs utilizing professional players and coaches
•Visits to schools in respective areas by players and coaches
•Youth competition organized by clubs for U-11 teams
•Literacy Programme to promote reading for youths