Mike Berry, T&T Football Federation (T&TFF) Consultant for International Affairs, has joined members of the sporting community against the proposed extension of the Prime Minister’s residence to include President’s ground.
Berry, a close associate of the Superstar Rangers Football Club which trains on the ground, expressed shock at the news that the ground will soon no longer be public property.
“My official view is no different to my personal view,” the registered Fifa player representative said. “The proposal to deprive the St Ann’s community and Superstar Rangers FC of their grounds and replace it with a cosmetic extension of the PM's residence is scandalous and so wrong.
“For the past six years or so I have had the pleasure on numerous occasions to watch games on the President’s Ground and to enjoy the special atmosphere generated by the mums, dads, brothers and sisters watching their family members proudly “strutting their stuff” in team colours.”
Berry’s loyalty to the sport locally is unquestionable and through his association with Rangers he has been able to pinpoint the talents of players like Shem McFarlane, Stephon Morris, Corneal Thomas, Keston Jones, Keith Williams and Josimar Belgrave, all products of its youth system, as the next generation of national footballers.
This future he fears could be in jeopardy if a precedent is set.
“The decision to terminate this much loved set up is short-sighted and is a kick in the teeth for everyone who has worked so hard to build up this wonderful club, Superstar Rangers, particularly chairman Richard Fakoory, Errol McFarlane, Senior, and “Gamba” who provide so much enjoyment to the youths of St. Ann’s and further afield,” the Englishman said.
“If any government is really serious about caring for communities and the youth of the nation, then this is an obvious case where they should be acknowledging that a mistake has been made, “ Berry said.
“And Superstar Rangers and indeed everybody else who use this facility should be allowed to continue with their sport in the community where it belongs,” he ended.