THE TRINIDAD and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), for the first time under the presidency of David John-Williams held an open discussion forum with it stakeholders after the Extraordinary General Meeting at Naparima College on Saturday.
Among those were the TT football calendar and the National Super League.
John-Williams later expressed satisfaction with the discussions.
“I think it was a very good session we had this morning, very open and frank views coming from the membership, the zones and the Super League and I think it is something very positive. We had some intense discussions on how we should structure football in Trinidad and Tobago, what is the best time for it and I am encouraged by it,” John-Williams said.
“It will take a lot of effort though, coming out of this meeting to reconvene another meeting as quickly as possible and get all the things that have been suggested at the meeting, to take place,” he added.
During the session, members were told about some of the undertakings by the TTFA under John-Williams’ presidency and there were calls for more of this type of information to be relayed on a consistent basis.
John-Williams commented: “I am not a person to trumpet the achievement under my administration and I take full responsibility for that. But I think now we may have to change that approach and let people know and let the stakeholders know what has been happening.
A lot of things have been happening behind the scenes at the TTFA and good things at that and I think now we have to improve our communication and let the stakeholders know all the positive things that are happening at the TTFA.” Morvant Caledonia AIA owner Jamaal Shabazz also relayed similar feelings on the way the discussions went on Saturday.
“I think it was important this discussion took place. The question of where football is going particularly in terms of development and competition was discussed. I think the views expressed by clubs from the Super League, people like Keith Look Loy and Kester Lendor and teams like WASA was important and it’s a good sign because we have got to move into that collective participation in terms of where football goes,” Shabazz noted.
“We have come out of an era where (Jack) Warner had the resources to buy the intellectual capacity.
Now we have come into a new era and I think that the new TTFA does not have the resources to buy the intellect so it must come from forums where people who have that intellectual capacity can bring forward their ideas and there have also be forums created where people can air their grouse, air their difference of opinion so they don;t have to run outside of the football fraternity and air their grievances.” Shabazz emphasized some more on the promising points arising from the meeting.
“Among the promising points raised was the need for the TTFA to address club development in the zones. That was an excellent point brought forward by Keith Look Loy. The question of not weakening strong structures to facilitate weak people but forcing weak structures to become strong and helping them to do that.
“The stabilising of the Super League and the calendar of the season, not just the Super League but also the Pro League and the Zonal competitions. How do we structure a calendar where everything falls in place and we become one organised unit was a critical point addressed and will certainly help going forward.”