Eastern Football Association newcomer, 1st FC Santa Rosa became the second club to officially apply for admission to the Digicel Pro League 2011 season on February 10.
This was confirmed by Pro League chief executive officer, Dexter Skeene last week. Santa Rosa, established in 1982, now joins bmobile National Super League 2009 runner-up, T&TEC, which deferred its application to next season, as two clubs hopeful of securing places among the elite clubs in local football.
In a release sent to the media by the club’s president and a member of the Fifa Football Committee, Keith Look Loy it was pointed out the Pro League does not currently have a member club in Arima and its environs. Look Loy, also chairman of the T&T Football Federation Technical Committee added. “This is ironic given Arima’s historic contribution of both teams and players to the top level of football in T&T.
“The presence of an Arima club in the Pro League would open an important market for the league and FC Santa Rosa proposes to continue the town’s proud football tradition of Dodgers FC, Fulham SC, Memphis and Arima United,” he added.
“Arima has never been represented in the T&T Pro League and, indeed, the borough has been absent from top flight domestic football since the 1990s. “Nature abhors a vacuum and Santa Rosa intends to fill it. All evidence to date indicates that the club’s application has the general support of the T&T Pro League members and, more importantly Arima’s business community and football lovers.”
The club’s teams will be called the “Canons” after the gun that was traditionally discharged to mark the beginning of the annual Santa Rosa Festival. “We now anticipate and await an early decision by the Pro League’s board of directors,” Look Loy ended.
Commenting on Santa Rosa’s application, Skeene said, “It’s a very good one by the club while a number of other clubs have also expressed interest in coming on board.” “I’m absolutely happy with the interest being shown in the league both locally and internationally. The interest in the league has grown significantly which shows the league is heading in the right direction.
“Santa Rose appears to be very serious and determine to meet all the Pro League requirements and necessary standards to gain admittance and we at the Pro League are looking forward to the day when the club does come on board.”