"I’ve said before, and will say it again, get your academy development infrastructure wrong and your demise is certain. It’s not a question of if, but when,” warned TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene during his opening speech at the 2011 Oasis Youth League launch last Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium VIP Lounge.
His warning went further, “Additionally, in the absence of a well structured and coherent youth development pathway, Trinidad and Tobago’s football will never grace a Senior FIFA World Cup again.”
Skeene revealed that more than any other activity that the TT Pro League is responsible for; the Youth League is where he derives his inspiration and motivation.
“At times I feel a bit concerned as sometimes based on the feedback from some stakeholders a sense of a lack of understanding of the importance of the youth players to the future of the clubs themselves as professional football entities.
“The youths cannot ever be shortlisted. The future of every TT Pro League club resides in the quality of their academy and development programme. The youths are invaluable. They are an investment, not expenditure.
“It is at this age that the right attitude, technique and skills are nurtured and properly developed. And I stress that clubs should allowed talent to be nurtured at this level, rather than just the focus of winning.”
The 2011 Oasis Youth League kicked off on Sunday 3 April with Round One Match Day One of the U13, U15 and U17 divisions and continued on Sunday 10 April with Round One Match Day Two.
Skeene a former T&T international said he anticipates a very exciting menu of youth football this season.
He went on to add, “I urge, even implore the TT Pro League clubs to address in a serious and dedicated manner the proper development of their youth teams. It is at this level your best coaches and football minds should be focused.
“If you need examples and role models, look at Barcelona and Boca Juniors to name a couple. These are clubs that live and breathe youth development.”
He also used the opportunity to caution clubs and players that incidents and displays of indiscipline in any form or fashion will not be tolerated.