Football field woes plaguing T&T.
By: Gregory Trujillo (Guardian).
One of the first questions posed by new interim senior football coach of Trinidad and Tobago, Francisco Maturana to Fifa Vice President Jack Warner concerned local facilities for the sport and youth programmes in the country.
Warner, who is technical adviser of the T&T Football Federation, sounded a bitter man when he touched on the topic of proper facilities in T&T while introducing the new Colombian coach to the press on Thursday at the Banquet Hall, Queen’s Park Oval.
Warner explained that at the moment, the only two playing fields that met Fifa’s standards for international matches were the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Wrightson Road Extension and the Marvin Lee Stadium at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya, Tunapuna.
What a shame, when considering that there are also playing fields at Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima and Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella that ought to meet the specifications acceptable to Fifa for international matches.
Football enthusiasts know that it was as a result of the input of Warner that the Marvin Lee Stadium field was converted to an artificial turf last year, making it a joy for players to play on.
Although the natural, lush-green surface at Hasely Crawford Stadium cannot be compared to the lone artificial field in the country, still the stadium manager there has made a concerted effort to keep the ground in good condition.
The same cannot be said for those responsible for the upkeep of the grounds at the Larry Gomes and Mannie Ramjohn stadiums.
The deterioration of both the Larry Gomes Stadium and Mannie Ramjohn Stadium grounds has been blamed on their over use, which has resulted in little or no time for maintenance.
A closer inspection reveals that both venues are used at least five to six times per week during the height of the football season.
Outside of the other leagues, the Professional Football League and the Secondary Schools Football League are the two regular users of the two grounds.
The reality is that these two stadiums are not getting time between events for the grass to grow after the day to day trampling.
One would think that with the closure of the football season, stadium officials would grasp the opportunity to close off the grounds to the public and work feverously to upgrade their standard.
I will like to know what Tobago is doing with the Dwight Yorke Stadium that is so different to the other stadiums in Trinidad.
Since the construction of the three stadiums in 2001 for the World Under-17 Championship finals to following year, only the Dwight Yorke playing field has remained in immaculate condition. It is comparable to any top international field in the world, as the other two were after completion.
I believe that the powers of be at the two Trinidad venues should take a pattern from their Tobago counterparts with regards to maintainance.
The general feeling is that players have no excuse playing badly under suitable conditions.
The state of the field also plays a vital role in helping spectators to witness attractive football. It is one way of helping the level of the game to reach what is required nowadays. It also gives the players encouragement because of the proper roll of the ball.
The existing poor conditions at two of the major playing venues points us in the direction of us getting a football academy for national football.
It is high time that football gets a home (complex) with all the necessary facilities for the development of the game.
We just don’t want a proper field or fields, but changing rooms, lecture halls, proper medical facilities, dormitories for visiting teams, or teams wishing to stay overnight or camp, cafeterias, weight rooms and gyms. It will be a place for all national teams to train.
With the TTFF always in the red, this is a project that should be undertaken by the Government.
Minister Gary Hunt please take note. A man of the stature of Maturana, who was visiting here for the first time, would not have asked that important question, if having proper facilities wasn’t an important issue.
Long gone are the days when football is played under adverse conditions such as what has been experienced at the Larry Gomes Stadium and the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
