The new initiative of the Digicel Pro League to have games on Fridays and Saturdays only, and mainly as double headers has turned out to be a hit with the fans.
Fans came out in their numbers to the Hasely Crawford Stadium last Friday and Saturday to support their favourite teams and to witness the opening of the League.
With two mouth-watering clashes featuring bitter rivals San Juan Jabloteh and W Connection and defending champions Joe Public and Ma Pau, whose roster includes many players from Public’s 2009 record breaking team are looking to be the curtain raisers for this season.
It was expected than some football fans would show up. But most persons were not prepared for the almost packed covered section and crowds of fans in the uncovered section of the HCS on Friday numbering in the thousands.
www.ttproleague.com got a few reactions from some of the fans on Friday.
Former Trinidad and Tobago National U20 female footballer Kelly-May Christopher who came with a group of young ladies said, “I really like the idea of the Friday and Saturday games because I do not have to study about work tomorrow, so the girls and myself can come to the games and make it part of our Friday lime.”
“Being into football and stuff I would usually try to go to a game on Saturday but having double headers on both Friday and Saturday now I will be able to not only go to more games but see more teams play,” added the Real Dimension defender. “The move is a step in the right direction and the league should be applauded for this new idea.”
One youngster in the crowd who gave his name as Keyyon Jemmott from Trinicity commented, “Friday football is the real thing, my friends and I could go home from school and come back and watch two games.” He jokingly added, “And didn’t I tell you it cheaper than going to the movies nowadays.”
An elderly gentleman who would only identify himself as the grandfather of one of the Defense Force players heaped praises on the League, “When last you see crowd like this for a league opener?”
He continued, “I does be here every year and it is good to see young, old, man and woman come out. So big up to the league and hope they build on it and carry the football to the next level.”
Judging from the initial fan reaction, and with the league winners being too hard to call this year it seems that Super Fridays is sure to be a hit with the fans all season long.