Local football is suffering from a lack of dedicated fans says TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene.
He told the T&T Guardian its was dilemma faced by his division of the sport and in order for football to survive, it had to develop supporters with more than just a “love” for the game, but followers with an absolute passion.
“Football in this country needed a support base that was unswerving in their belief of the athletes who work to develop their skills which were reproduced on the field of play with positive results to their teams.
“There must be a mass following that was equivalent to what was experienced on the European circuit,” he said. “Where fans were not afraid to invest in the sport at the gates, thereby ensuring team success and ultimately the game.”
As it stands, the local football public did not allow their so-called attraction to the sport to be converted into a fan base that filled the stands at every match win, lose or draw. To achieve this, said Skeene, there needed to be an overhaul in development phase of the game to facilitate a new culture that would benefit the sport nationally.
“We love events! We love when there is entertainment. We love when there are giveaways. We are not in the same vein as supporters in Europe and Central America and South America and even in the United States. That’s why when we came into the league we changed the whole set up in terms of the calendar.
We incorporated a lot more knock-out tournaments which were short and (held) over a three-week period and then we brought in entertainment and giveaways for the crowd. Those are the events where people (were) coming. That’s why over the long period ,in terms of the league competition, it is a challenge to get people to come although we are growing incrementally every year,” he said.
“Now the catch to this is, for me, once we get facilities within the communities which is the model represented throughout the world, then you will have a multiplier effect taking place because people will then have proper home grounds, proper facilities within their communities and people would see it as a real home venue and they can have that emotive link with their players and proper youth development systems taking place right within their communities which is easily accessible. It’s not rocket science.
Once I know you, once I support you, you have grown up with me, then you will want to support me. You will want to come to see me play. But if I’m not aware of you, of what you have done, how you've grown up: your history and where you want to go, there is no attachment for me to want to see you play’
In addition to athlete development, Skeene said, there must be a concerted effort on product development, too. In his view, the shift had to take place and stakeholders needed to understand that it would take some time.
Skeene said, “But we understand what is necessary and we are trying to put it in place. We have had discussions with the Sports Ministry and the Sport Company (of T&T) and they have agreed to put these facilities and upgrade the facilities in the communities to make it more attractive and have a better atmosphere for the fans and that will start to generate the type of support and the environment that players will feel comfortable in playing day in and day out.
“They will be more accountable as well. When players are accountable they will want to perform each day. That is, for me, a critical aspect which will see the future development of the league which I think will bring the league to a position where we can then look at the league as being viable and sustainable over the long term.”