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Offline Thomo

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #30 on: May 28, 2018, 05:22:28 AM »
So DJW waited until days before the AGM to release these videos on his own personal YouTube channel rather than the TTFA's to apparently drum up support for himself and his regime? And this man expects respect and no criticism? Smfh

Offline Flex

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #31 on: May 31, 2018, 12:39:33 AM »
Final call for info on Home of Football.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).


THE members of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) plan to make a final call for information pertaining to contractual deals and payments from the Home for Football project at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

The TTFA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was scheduled to take place at 9am yesterday at the Ato Boldon Stadium, was postponed to June 13 due to the lack of a quorum. At least 24 delegates were required to be in attendance by 9.30 am for a quorum to be constituted. Only 21 members turned up and, in keeping with the TTFA constitution, it was confirmed that the meeting will be reconvened.

Yesterday’s meeting was expected to provide answers to numerous questions posed during an 11-hour-long AGM at the neighbouring National Cycling Centre on March 31. Among the issues raised were the Home of Football project, legal matters facing the local governing body by former coaches and administrators, and a media rights deal with local radio station I95.5 FM.

There were still some discussions over major issues yesterday which were chaired by TTFA first vice-president Ewing Davis, in the absence of president David John-Williams who is still on the mend after sustaining damaged ribs from a fall a few weeks ago.

According to Selby Browne, president of the Veterans Football Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago (VFFOTT),

“Several contracts were entered into for which there were no evidence, there is no approval and therefore several payments and monies were made without the permission of the Board,” said Browne.

The VFFOTT head said if no information is forthcoming by the next meeting of the TTFA, members will explore all options including seeking help from the police.

Another matter was brought to the attention of the members in attendance yesterday.

According to Browne, “The president (John-Williams), general secretary (Justin Latapy-George) and vice-president (Davis) are all scheduled to travel to Moscow for (meetings) before the opening game of the 2018 FIFA World Cup — that is the norm.

“And it was to be determined if the medical certificate (for the TTFA president) was for a stipulated period, which we don’t have. If the president is unable to travel, that means (today’s) meeting should have been to direct the secretariat to name the person who will represent the TTFA and to direct the secretariat to write to both CONCACAF and the CFU.”

Browne added, “Since the meeting could not proceed without a quorum, the decision wasn’t taken but it was noted. The chairman agreed to have the secretary established the length of the certificate.”

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #32 on: May 31, 2018, 05:00:33 AM »

The TTFA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was scheduled to take place at 9am yesterday at the Ato Boldon Stadium, was postponed to June 13 due to the lack of a quorum. At least 24 delegates were required to be in attendance by 9.30 am for a quorum to be constituted. Only 21 members turned up and, in keeping with the TTFA constitution, it was confirmed that the meeting will be reconvened.


Who were the 3 missing delegates I wonder??  :thinking:
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline maxg

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #33 on: May 31, 2018, 05:51:10 AM »

The TTFA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was scheduled to take place at 9am yesterday at the Ato Boldon Stadium, was postponed to June 13 due to the lack of a quorum. At least 24 delegates were required to be in attendance by 9.30 am for a quorum to be constituted. Only 21 members turned up and, in keeping with the TTFA constitution, it was confirmed that the meeting will be reconvened.


Who were the 3 missing delegates I wonder??  :thinking:
This was to get quorum.i.e 24 is the minimum number, so way more than 3 missing. Could someone remind us on the total number of delegates, please.

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #34 on: May 31, 2018, 09:19:59 AM »
Perfect the farce. May the delays continue. The beatings should continue because morale won't improve.

Offline Deeks

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #35 on: May 31, 2018, 10:25:18 AM »
God forgive me for saying this. Them 3. They should shoot the muddier sc**thorpe.

Offline soccerman

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #36 on: May 31, 2018, 01:14:04 PM »
Not surprised, he called the meeting on a national holiday. Was that by design :thinking:

Offline FF

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #37 on: May 31, 2018, 01:21:55 PM »
Don't frighten allyuh!!

https://wired868.com/2018/05/31/contemptuous-djw-skips-ttfa-egm-on-medical-advice-but-ticket-booked-for-russia/

Because the next meeting is a reconvened one, a quorum will be declared no matter who shows up. And, with John-Williams and his trusted deputy, Davis, both likely to be abroad, there is the possibility that rivals would use the opportunity to move motions damaging to his hold on the football body.

“Today signals the end of the John-Williams administration because that next meeting will see a whole series of things [moved against him],” said Look Loy. “[…] Because they could put the next meeting at midnight on the moon, we are coming!
THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES

Offline Flex

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #38 on: July 13, 2018, 12:49:19 AM »
John-Williams: FIFA pleased with Home of Football project.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).


DAVID JOHN-Williams, president of the TTFA (TT Football Association), said yesterday that the global governing body for football, FIFA, is pleased with the work being at the Home of Football project at Balmain, Couva.

TTFA board member and TT Super League president Keith Look Loy has threatened to take John-Williams to court if he avoids a July 24 deadline to explain how much money was spent on the project.

Look Loy has also requested full disclosure on the names of all the companies/parties which submitted bids in connection with the project, the TTFA committee or official responsible for the selection for the contractor and any subcontractor either involved or will be involved; the name of the project manager; the names of the contractors and any subcontractors who have/will be involved; the value, duration and terms of all contracts, sub-contracts and/or any other instruments under which services are engaged and/or managed; and the current financial and construction status of the project.

The pre-action protocol letter was sent to John-Williams on Tuesday by Look Loy’s team of lawyers – Dr Emir Crowne, Matthew Gayle and Sheriza Khan.

The TT Government, in August 2017, approved the TTFA’s request to grant 7.64 hectors of land to establish a home of football.

According to John-Williams, “FIFA (came) here and (said) they were happy with the Home of Football, the progress and all the accountability.

“The TTFA reported that they got their second tranche of money from FIFA,” he added. “If your bank is giving you the money to continue, you must be doing something right and proper.”

A few TTFA board members have been calling on John-Williams to be transparent with regards to the FIFA funding being spent on the Couva project, including Selby Browne and Anthony Harford.

Asked for a response, John-Williams said, “I have absolutely no comment. Mr Look Loy has taken his action and I’ll respond at the appropriate time. All I’ll say is a couple months ago Mr Look Loy reported to the nation to brace for FIFA intervention. Was there any? That’s as much as I would comment.”

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #39 on: August 21, 2018, 03:36:19 AM »
Sports Minister and FIFA Director of Development applauds progress of TTFA Home of Football.
TTFA Media.


The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Shamfa Cudjoe made an official tour of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s Home of Football site on Monday and declared that she was thoroughly impressed with the progress made thus far.

Cudjoe was joined by FIFA Director of Member Associations and Development for Africa and the Caribbean, Veron Mosengo-Omba and TTFA President David John-Williams. Other TTFA officials as well as Chairman of the Sportt Company Douglas Camacho was also part of the touring contingent.

See Clips below for the comments made by Minister Cudjoe, Mosengo-Omba and John-Williams at the Press Briefing following the site visit.

Sports Minister Cudjoe commends TTFA on Progress of Home of Football construction

Veron Mosengo-Omba talks about TTFA Home of Football progress

David John-Williams speak following Sports Minister's tour of Home of Football site

Sports Minister Cudjoe and FIFA Director of Development get updated tour of Home of Football

RELATED NEWS

Sports Minister, FIFA official tour Home of Football.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).


MINISTER of Sport and Youth Affairs Shamfa Cudjoe, and Veron Mosengo-Oba, FIFA’s director of Member Associations and Development for the Caribbean and Africa, yesterday embarked on a tour of the TT Football Association (TTFA) Home of Football site, in Balmain, Couva.

Also involved in the tour were TTFA president David John-Williams, chairman of the Sports Company of TT (SporTT) Douglas Camacho, men’s football team coach Dennis Lawrence and officials from both TTFA and Ministry of Sport.

The dignitaries got a close-up view of the Entertainment Centre, Bar and Restaurant location currently under construction, as well as the Player Accommodation Hotel site and training pitches.

A year ago, Government approved a long-awaited request when it granted 7.64 hectors of land to the TTFA. The land is separated into three main parcels, one located in close proximity to the National Cycling Centre and two west of the Ato Boldon Stadium. Work on the project got going in February.

In a telephone interview last evening, Cudjoe said, “It’s about 85 percent completed. It is an income-generation project. It’s something that I think the Government, the TTFA and FIFA should be proud of, to see public-private partnership working this way.

“This project is on course as it relates to budget and as it relates to time,” she added. “The possibilities are endless for this facility. I’m really happy to see this get off the ground.”

Mosengo-Oba said, “It’s a fantastic project. It’s important for the entire region. Congratulations, David and your executive. FIFA is behind you to complete this project.”

He also extended his gratitude for the TT Government for granting the lands to the TTFA for the Home of Football project.

Camacho was high in praise for the work done thus far at the venue.

“The pace at which they’ve been directing the facility as a great example of how, as a country, we can really operate if we put our minds to things,” said Camacho.

“The short while that they’ve been at it, and how they’ve progressed to this (stage) is quite extraordinary. It’s long overdue that somebody would have had the foresight and the courage.”

Referring to the neighbouring venues, National Aquatic Centre and National Cricket Centre, Camacho said, “It’s ideally situated to (push) sport tourism. I think there (are) very great positives.”

The SporTT chairman noted, “It’s the kind of facility that can be self-sustaining, if well-managed, and it will redound to the benefit of all the sports.

“I think it’s a very positive and progressive step, and I really welcome it as chairman of SporTT and as a sportsman in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Asked if the Sports Company will be involved in the project, Camacho replied, “It is not the Sports Company’s project. FIFA is financing it.

“The people with the responsibility for the lease and the ownership of it are interested. And, so far, they’ve reached out to the Sports Company, and reached out to me personally, to get involved and help develop it. I’m certainly prepared to play any part, in which I could play.”

« Last Edit: August 21, 2018, 03:44:51 AM by Flex »
The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Deeks

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #40 on: August 21, 2018, 06:33:51 AM »
Everybody only talking sports tourism. Where is the impetus to make our athletes competitive on the world stage.

Offline soccerman

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #41 on: August 21, 2018, 06:47:35 PM »
Is the Center of Excellence used for anything? I don't seem to recall any games being played there.

Offline Deeks

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #42 on: August 21, 2018, 08:58:17 PM »
Is the Center of Excellence used for anything? I don't seem to recall any games being played there.

I think, they still playing football there. I don't think any of the pro-teams playing there, though. But there are conference rooms that are used for other activities.

Offline amielisadore

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #43 on: August 21, 2018, 11:20:27 PM »
Is the Center of Excellence used for anything? I don't seem to recall any games being played there.

Marvin Lee Stadium is now ML Ballpark and is the premier "sweating" arena in the country at the moment. From their 7 a side competitions (the field accommodates 4 fields with separator nets), to 11 a side fete match leagues and numerous other similar competitions. There is also a pitch side deck, bar, cafeteria, tvs, table tennis boards and other games.

https://www.facebook.com/MLballparktt/
« Last Edit: August 21, 2018, 11:23:44 PM by amielisadore »

Offline soccerman

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #44 on: August 22, 2018, 07:21:34 PM »
Is the Center of Excellence used for anything? I don't seem to recall any games being played there.

Marvin Lee Stadium is now ML Ballpark and is the premier "sweating" arena in the country at the moment. From their 7 a side competitions (the field accommodates 4 fields with separator nets), to 11 a side fete match leagues and numerous other similar competitions. There is also a pitch side deck, bar, cafeteria, tvs, table tennis boards and other games.

https://www.facebook.com/MLballparktt/
:beermug:

Offline Flex

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Re: Ato Boldon Stadium Thread
« Reply #45 on: August 23, 2018, 12:45:52 AM »
Shamfa stays out of Home of Football controversy.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).


Amidst calls for transparency and accountability…

AMIDST calls for transparency and accountability in the TT Football Association’s (TTFA) Home of Football project, Sports Minister Shamfa Cudjoe yesterday stressed that Government’s only role in the enterprise was “simply to provide the land”.

On Monday, Cudjoe and Veron Mosengo-Oba, FIFA’s director of member associations and development for the Caribbean and Africa, joined officials from the TTFA and the Sports Company of TT (SporTT) on a site visit in Balmain, Couva. The Home of Football will include a 72-room hotel, training pitches and an entertainment centre. The sod for the project was turned in September 2017 and will be completed this year. FIFA has funded the Home of Football project to the tune of US$2.5 million.

TTFA member and president of the Veterans Footballers Foundation, Selby Browne, commenting on Newsday’s story about the site visit, wrote, “This is typical FIFA. Nothing new. Send in the troops to fully support their (supporters).”

Browne and fellow TTFA board members Keith Look Loy, Anthony Harford and Osmond Downer have repeatedly called on John-Williams and his executive to be open and transparent about the details of the project.

Look Loy has called on TTFA president David John-Williams to see information on contracts etc related to the venture and even sent the TTFA boss a pre-action protocol letter to get him to open the books to scrutiny.

Cudjoe yesterday refused to get drawn into the wrangling among TTFA members. “This is a public-private partnership where the Government’s role was to solely to provide the land (and) the TTFA and FIFA would provide the funding.”

She added, “All of those (funding) matters are taken care off by the TTFA and FIFA. Our business as Government was simply to provide the land, and we’ve done that on a 30-year lease. So, I can’t tell you as to the details of the funding arrangements because the Government is not a part of that. Our part in this whole arrangement is to provide the land, which we did.”

Browne, in a telephone interview yesterday, lauded the concept but said there still needs to be checks and balances. He said, “That’s a very good initiative for (TT) football, but you must be transparent and you must operate with proper fiscal management.”

Referring to a TTFA general meeting in March, Browne said, “A motion was moved by the membership to stop the project with immediate effect, remove the president from the project and have the TTFA board of management take charge of that project, for several reasons which included accountability, the manner in which contracts were awarded, the tendering procedure and the failure to do what is required in keeping with the TTFA constitution, a constitution which was approved by FIFA.

“That has not happened,” Browne continued. “To date, the board has no knowledge of the several requests made for documentation and the likes. Now we see what is typical of FIFA, sending their official in to legitimise what has been the failure to produce the evidence required for proper accounting and legitimacy.”

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Offline Tallman

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Look Loy: Home of Football site visit a PR exercise
« Reply #46 on: August 23, 2018, 10:11:01 AM »
Look Loy: Home of Football site visit a PR exercise
By Andrew Gioannetti (T&T Newsday)


FIFA representative Véron Mosengo-Omba and Minister of Sport Shamfa Cudjoe’s visit to the site of the controversial TTFA Home of Football project on Monday has been described as a “public relations exercise” by TTFA board member Keith Look Loy.

TTFA president David John-Williams welcomed Mosengo-Omba, FIFA director of member associations and development for Africa and Caribbean, Cudjoe and a number of other stakeholders to the Couva construction site.

However, TTFA board members, a number of whom have been calling for transparency and accountability regarding to the project, were not invited.

TTFA general secretary Justin Latapy-George sent an email to board members to notify them of Mosengo-Omba’s site visit on Monday at 9.37 am­.

The email read: “Further to the subject, and on the President’s advice, please note that Mr. Veron Mosengo-Omba (FIFA Director of Member Associations and Development for Africa & the Caribbean) has a layover in Trinidad today (Mon Aug 20, 2018) based on his related travel itinerary.

“As such, the President (copied) has requested that the Board be informed that Mr. Mosengo-Omba will be using some time of his layover to visit the ‘Home of Football’ project in Balmain, Couva.” Look Loy said the notice was not an invitation.

“In fact, no board members could respond to it (on time). They couldn’t even storm,” Look Loy said.

He said if Cudjoe could receive an invitation and plan her visit in advance, there would have been sufficient time to notify the board.

“And I interpret that as yet another evidence that he (John-Williams) does not want what he would consider prying eyes and critics to be around the FIFA delegate.”

Wayne Cunningham, former Eastern Football Association president and current TTFA media officer, on Monday morning, invited select members of the media to attend the site visit, instead of issuing a typical electronic invitation via email.

Look Loy was also asked to address a subsequent newspaper article, which indicated Cudjoe’s desire to exclude herself from the Home of Football controversy. Cudjoe was quoted as saying in the article, “Our business as Government was simply to provide the land...” Look Loy said Cudjoe’s response was appropriate.

“I have no problem with the minister being there and I have no problem with the minister saying she cannot be embroiled in any internal TTFA controversy, I endorse that.

“These projects usually, as in the case of this one, have a grant of land from the state and, therefore, the government has an interest in seeing that their contribution to the project is well used, so the minister being there, I have absolutely no problem with it. That is highly acceptable to me... I understand that as a former FIFA official.”

He said calling on Government to intervene in internal matters of football can have serious consequences for the sport in any country.

“The minister, the ministry and the Government should not do that, because of course FIFA will wave the big stick as they are doing right now in Africa... in Nigeria, in Ghana, in Uruguay.”

Conversely Look Loy said he supports the Government’s demand for accountability for state funds provided to the TTFA.

“But outside of that,” he added, “if we’re demanding transparency and accountability from David John-Williams and his crew in the financial affairs of the TTFA, then the onus and the responsibility is on the members to ensure that, not the Government, not the Government at all.”

Look Loy said at present, after months of asking for financial details at board meetings, via emails, through threats of police and legal intervention, John-Williams is yet to satisfy the demands of the board.

Look Loy, who has requested details of the finances of the project since December 26, last year, said: “Nobody knows what money is being spent, what it’s being spent on. We’ve called for documents but we can’t get any. I have received absolutely nothing.”

He made another call for John-Williams “yet again, to resign due to his continuing lack of transparency and accountability, and his international embarrassment of TTFA and Trinidad and Tobago.”
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Offline Flex

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Re: Home of Football Thread
« Reply #47 on: August 25, 2018, 12:46:21 AM »
Sports Company Chairman praises TTFA for foresight with Home of Football Porject.
TTFA Media.


“It’s long overdue that somebody would have had the foresight and the courage.”

Sportt Company chairman Douglas Camacho was high in praise for the work done thus far at the TTFA Home of Football venue.

“The pace at which they’ve been directing the facility as a great example of how, as a country, we can really operate if we put our minds to things,” said Camacho following a site visit along with Sports Minister Shamfa Cudjoe on Monday.

“The short while that they’ve been at it, and how they’ve progressed to this (stage) is quite extraordinary. It’s long overdue that somebody would have had the foresight and the courage.”

Referring to the neighbouring venues, National Aquatic Centre and National Cricket Centre, Camacho said, “It’s ideally situated to (push) sport tourism. I think there (are) very great positives.”

The SporTT chairman noted, “It’s the kind of facility that can be self-sustaining, if well-managed, and it will redound to the benefit of all the sports.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Deeks

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Re: Home of Football Thread
« Reply #48 on: August 25, 2018, 07:37:02 AM »
Douglas, you are part of the problem. I see the ends justify the mean. As long as it is being built, to hell with transparency. All this good governance bullshit we does be hearing at all these 1% conference is all bullshit.

Offline Tallman

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Re: Home of Football Thread
« Reply #49 on: October 30, 2018, 05:42:34 PM »
TTFA’s Home of Football Frequently Asked Questions
TTFA Media


The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) in conjunction with FIFA and CONCACAF embarked on a historic infrastructural project dubbed “The Home of Football”.

Construction on the building works of this project began in February 2018, and major construction works is expected to be completed by November 2018 with the official opening carded for February 2019. The TTFA is committed to the future of football in Trinidad and Tobago and believes that the nature and scale of this project will have a tremendous impact on the administration, financing and development of the sport.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions and answers regarding the TTFA’s Home of Football project:

1. What does The Home of Football project comprise of?

The project comprises of two (2) major parts which are:

Part A: the construction of a players’ accommodation hotel, and three (3) full-size training pitches already completed.

The three-story hotel comprises of 72 rooms divided into double rooms and suites, each fully equipped with WI-FI, TV’s, as well as a conference room, a cafeteria, medical room and team dining rooms. There is also a secondary building that consists of additional facilities such as dormitories for youth boys and girls’ teams, a main kitchen, a dining room for the youths, changing rooms, a laundry room and additional coaches’ sleeping quarters.

And Part B: a sports entertainment facility (Income Generation Project).

2. What is the Income Generation (IG) project, and what does it entail?

The Income Generation project is the second part of entire project. Located outside the west perimeter of the Ato Boldon Stadium, the IG will be an entertainment hub for sports in Trinidad and Tobago. The project consists of a beach soccer arena, three full size-training fields (to be completed in 2019), and an open space that can be transformed into 3 five-a-side pitches for the small-sided game. This open space can also be used as an entertainment facility, to host carnival events, fetes and other parties.

The facility has a built-in stage that can be used for various activities, an in-house kitchen and a recreational area built to host smaller corporate events and festive parties. This area will also be outfitted with a bar, making it the perfect pre-match and after game spot to chill and hang out with friends.

3. Who is funding the construction of this project, and how much will it cost the TTFA?

The TTFA will not bear any of the construction cost for the building works on this project. FIFA and CONCACAF have committed 100% of $17M TTD needed to complete the construction of the hotel and IG project. This is part of FIFA’s commitment to develop its Member Associations through the FIFA Forward Development Program. This project sits on part of the 17.51 acres of land around the vicinity of the Ato Boldon Stadium, that the TTFA has managed to acquire from the state on lease.

4. For what reason(s) was Couva chosen as the main location to construct the hotel?

The hotel was strategically placed in Balmain, Couva as we believe that in the upcoming years, Couva will become a sporting hub of the Caribbean. Walking distance from the hotel is the state-of-the-art National Cycling Velodrome equipped with a UCI certified cycling track. Apart from hosting regional and international cycling events, the inner part of the Velodrome can be used to host other sporting disciplines such as futsal, volleyball, netball, basketball, and table tennis. Next to the Velodrome lies the National Aquatic Centre boasting of an Olympic sized swimming pool and diving platforms. In close vicinity, there is the Ato Boldon Stadium, which has hosted many regional and international football and track and field tournaments, and a few minutes away are the National Cricket Center as well as the newly built Brian Lara Cricket Academy. National Sporting Bodies can now include the hotel as part of their bidding package to potentially host major international tournaments of their respective discipline ensuring an additional revenue stream for the TTFA.

5. In what way(s) will football benefit from this project?

Trinidad and Tobago’s football will benefit from this project in numerous ways.

A TTFA owned permanent and outfitted facility for the development and training of our footballers- Such facilities are instrumental in development of the national sport and there is evidence that countries who have invested in such facilities have increased their likelihood of world cup qualifications and produced international star quality players. Example, France in 1988, opened the Clairefontaine national training centre and has since produced stars such as Thierry Henry, and England in 2012, opened the St. George’s Park, a state-of-the-art training ground and has seem increased success across in all its football age groups including its youth teams for the first time.

Income generation and sustainability – this facility apart from avoiding significant expenditure on hotel cost for national team live in camps, will be a revenue generation source by hosting other sporting teams (both local and international) throughout the year including public bookings. With an inherited a debt of over 25 million, the hotel will be a vehicle to bring financial ease and set the TTFA on a path of sustainability.

6. Would only the football fraternity be the ones who will benefit from this project?

No. As stated before the close proximity of the hotel, and the Income Generation project to the National Aquatic Centre, National Cycling Velodrome, the Ato Boldon Stadium, the National Cricket Center and the Brian Lara Cricket Academy will ensure that other National Sporting Bodies, international sporting teams as well as our local athletes will have access to the facilities and allow them opportunities to host major international events as well as live-in team camps for winter training for international teams.
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Offline Tallman

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TTFA hotel is good for the local game
« Reply #50 on: November 16, 2018, 02:25:50 PM »
TTFA hotel is good for the local game
By Alvin Corneal (T&T Guardian)


Af­ter read­ing and see­ing pic­tures of the Ho­tel which is be­ing built by the man­age­ment of the T&T Foot­ball As­so­ci­a­tion, my first im­pres­sion was that the project could be ac­com­mo­dat­ed by teams, main­ly na­tion­al Foot­ball teams and/or for­eign teams vis­it­ing to play match­es. If I am right, then, the com­fort with re­gards to play­ers camps, rest pe­ri­od be­fore match­es and ad­e­quate pro­fes­sion­al ser­vice vis a vis treat­ment for all foot­ball ac­tiv­i­ty is a wel­com­ing ven­ture.

It has been sug­gest­ed the cost of the project, the sup­ply of fi­nances, the con­trac­tu­al arrange­ments re­gard­ing the own­er­ship of the prop­er­ty and oth­er as­pects have been un­clear to the sports ad­min­is­tra­tive di­rec­tor­ship. There are ques­tions as to whether the gov­ern­ment grant­ed a lease arrange­ment to the TTFA or is the land in sue has been pur­chased with funds from the TTFA.

The re­cent pic­ture on the dai­ly News­pa­per which in­clud­ed many of the coun­try's na­tion­al as­so­ci­a­tion hi­er­ar­chy, ap­peared to the read­ers as though they are part of the process and if so, what role do they have to play in terms of man­age­ment, or been ten­ants from time to time, and who are the re­cip­i­ents and con­trollers of the pay­ment col­lec­tion.

For­give me for look­ing that far. It is sim­ply be­cause some of our pre­de­ces­sors have not been as clear in their op­er­a­tions when it comes to the fi­nanc­ing of any kind whether it be play­ers fees, coach­es' salaries, even of­fice work­ers.

The con­cept of hav­ing this type of ed­i­fice for the pur­pose which is list­ed above could be ben­e­fi­cial, pro­vid­ing the or­gan­i­sa­tion­al path is clear in the eyes of the stake­hold­ers, many of whom are foot­ballers at all lev­els of play.

What is of more in­ter­est for the lover of the sport is to find the pos­i­tive link which will as­sist in the im­prove­ment of the game on the field and any ef­fort to abol­ish the de­te­ri­o­ra­tion of the per­for­mances which have been very vis­i­ble es­pe­cial­ly among the ju­nior pro­grammes and most im­por­tant­ly, the con­fus­ing state of our Pro­League, Su­per League and the zones which are the foun­da­tion of the lo­cal sport.

How will this project con­nect our ills in the sport? Is there a planned which will lead to the im­prove­ment of the game it­self? The ab­sence of a ho­tel was ac­tu­al­ly not the rea­son for the de­vel­op­ment of our game, de­spite the fact that the cry com­ing from the ho­tel de­ci­sion mak­ers is that this project will lead to the road of foot­ball progress.

The mem­o­ries of our in­volve­ment in the re­cent­ly con­clud­ed FI­FA youth com­pe­ti­tions do not re­flect any sem­blance of pos­i­tive progress in our foot­ball, and that in­cludes the qual­i­ty of Sec­ondary School Foot­ball League (SS­FL) match­es. It is un­fair to lay the blame at the feet of the ac­tiv­i­ty on the field when the cadre of top-class coach­es is in the mi­nor­i­ty. I can iden­ti­fy with the num­ber of cours­es con­duct­ed at all lev­els, but the suc­cess of coach­ing is sim­ply a long-term project where all the per­sons who as­pire to wear the track Suits on the bench­es, must de­vote much more time ded­i­cat­ing them­selves to lis­ten­ing and prac­tis­ing the­o­ret­i­cal and prac­ti­cal meth­ods which will help them to un­der­stand the trade much bet­ter.

Then there is the re­or­gan­i­sa­tion of prin­ci­ples which of­fer the ad­min­is­tra­tive and man­age­ment guide­lines to bring some sta­bil­i­ty and recog­ni­tion how we do and ap­proach things that would be of ben­e­fit to the coun­try.

In this re­gard, I some­times won­der what was be­hind the in­tro­duc­tion of the Sports Com­pa­ny of TT in con­nec­tion with the role of Min­istry of Sports. I would have thought that the re­spon­si­bil­i­ty for en­sur­ing that the day to day process of all sport in the coun­try can be mon­i­tored care­ful­ly and even com­mu­ni­cate with the As­so­ci­a­tions for the pur­pose of work­ing ac­cu­rate­ly with­in their con­sti­tu­tions, rules and reg­u­la­tions.

My feel­ing is sim­ply based up­on the op­er­a­tion of the min­istry as the lead­ers of our coun­try and not just be providers of fi­nan­cial hand­outs with­out hav­ing a de­tailed un­der­stand­ing about how they func­tion be­fore ex­tend­ing fund­ing from the trea­sury. Un­for­tu­nate­ly, the prob­lems are many and a fifty or five hun­dred room ho­tel will cer­tain­ly not make a dif­fer­ence to the qual­i­ty of our Foot­ball or any of the NSOs if the ground­work is not done for all the stake­hold­ers to ben­e­fit.

How­ev­er, we shall be pa­tient but very ob­ser­vant as to the fu­ture of sport con­tin­ue to un­fold.
The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

Offline lefty

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Re: Home of Football Thread
« Reply #51 on: November 16, 2018, 03:50:49 PM »
how much of d home for football dedicated to facilities to take us to another level, how much sport science research have gone into deciding what would serve this facility and the players best......my guess is we will be playing slow lumbering football with severely unfit player long after dat ting finish......don't give ah flying f**k about no hotel if it doh have ah modern fitness and training facility coming with it
I pity the fool....

Offline Deeks

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Re: Home of Football Thread
« Reply #52 on: November 16, 2018, 04:55:50 PM »
These facilities could withstand FLOOD?

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TTFA's Hotel - Still more questions than answers
« Reply #53 on: November 22, 2018, 12:46:35 PM »
TTFA's Hotel - Still more questions than answers
By Colin Murray (T&T Guardian)


Those who know me are very much aware that I love cul­ture just as much as I love my sport. One of my favourite hob­bies is to sit and lis­ten to all types of mu­sic. From lo­cal melodies to the for­eign stuff, are all right up my al­ley. I took a week off and left the coun­try to at­tend El­ton John's farewell tour en­ti­tled Good­bye Yel­low Brick Road. The fa­mous Madi­son Square Gar­den was the venue and a packed are­na wit­nessed a scin­til­lat­ing per­for­mance from a leg­end in the mu­sic world. Even though I saw him be­fore, I felt I couldn't miss this op­por­tu­ni­ty as he was one I grew up with lis­ten­ing to his songs.

Nat­u­ral­ly, with be­ing away I had some catch­ing up to do with all the hap­pen­ings in sweet T&T. Un­for­tu­nate­ly, some sad news greet­ed me when I was abroad as I heard of the demise of Chef Joe Brown. Some mo­torists be­lieve that cy­clists have lit­tle to no rights on the road and treat them as nui­sance val­ue, and at times they have to be ul­tra-cau­tious when ei­ther train­ing or rac­ing. I re­mem­ber many years ago when my for­mer com­pa­ny was part of spon­sor­ing a road race in To­ba­go, we had to send a car ahead of the cy­clists with a loud­speak­er shout­ing, “the cy­clists are com­ing, the cy­clists are com­ing!” It seemed to have lit­tle im­pact on dri­vers as some still felt the rac­ers were dis­turb­ing their move­ments on a Sun­day morn­ing.

The most in­ter­est­ing sto­ry for me, how­ev­er, was the Pres­i­dent of the TTFA show­ing the 'home of foot­ball' project to rep­re­sen­ta­tives from oth­er sport­ing bod­ies and the me­dia. Based on the sto­ry, the Pres­i­dent seems ex­treme­ly well-versed on the en­gi­neer­ing mech­a­nisms of the build­ing and the tech­nol­o­gy that is be­ing used in the con­struc­tion phase. He al­so boast­ed about the en­er­gy us­age and the type of air con­di­tion­ing sys­tem that is to be in­stalled.

Im­pres­sive, very im­pres­sive in­deed! But, I un­der­stand the good­ly gen­tle­man is very much in­to con­struc­tion so if he couldn't con­vince the var­i­ous sport­ing rep­re­sen­ta­tives, I would have been dis­ap­point­ed. I was al­so in­ter­est­ed in see­ing who else from the lo­cal gov­ern­ing foot­ball body went on the tour but I on­ly saw the names of the Vice Pres­i­dent, the Gen­er­al Sec­re­tary and two board mem­bers. I thought this to be a lit­tle strange as I would have hoped more board mem­bers would have been there with his hand in hand to show­case the fa­cil­i­ty.

I have not seen the fa­cil­i­ty but based on some of the rep­re­sen­ta­tives' com­ments, it ap­pears to be an im­pres­sive and ex­cel­lent fa­cil­i­ty. I have no doubt that if man­aged well (that may be an­oth­er sto­ry) this will be a boost for foot­ball off the field. The oth­er sport­ing bod­ies could very well now be look­ing at how they can do some­thing per­haps on a small­er scale. On the oth­er hand, net­ball and cy­cling are on such a high based on per­for­mances that I am sure the last thing on their minds is a ho­tel.

At long last, we see some fig­ures were be­ing bandied about by the TTFA head to his op­po­site num­bers and he stat­ed that the project is fund­ed by FI­FA at a cost of TT $18 Mil­lion (is there any de­vel­op­ment mon­ey re­main­ing?). He then talked about the as­set base of foot­ball which sounds re­al­ly sweet.

How­ev­er, I ask the ques­tion: how many mem­bers from the foot­ball body were at the pre­sen­ta­tion? It did not seem to have many and the wide­ly re­port­ed de­cline of in­vi­ta­tions ex­tend­ed by the TTFA to mem­bers of the CFA, NFA, SS­FL, WoLF, cit­ing a lack of trans­paren­cy spoke vol­umes. I mean re­al­ly, how dif­fi­cult is it to say where the TT $18 Mil­lion FI­FA dol­lars went? These are very sim­ple ques­tions; (1) Who was the con­trac­tor that won the bid? (2) How many com­pa­nies ten­dered for the project? (3) How was the con­trac­tor cho­sen over oth­er con­trac­tors? (4) What is the fi­nal bud­get­ed cost of the project? (5) Was FI­FA mon­ey sole­ly giv­en for this 'home of foot­ball'? (6) How much will it cost the TTFA to run the 'home of foot­ball' on a year­ly ba­sis?

It is ter­ri­bly mind-bog­gling that this project is near­ly one year old and the an­swers to some of those sim­ple ques­tions are un­known, and ap­par­ent­ly be­ing evad­ed. Yet one reads in the press the very man at the helm of the TTFA was quot­ed as say­ing, “I have ab­solute­ly no prob­lem with trans­paren­cy in this project. But we took a dif­fer­ent ap­proach that a lot of peo­ple are not too hap­py with.” Wow! Can some­one ex­plain that to me?

How dif­fi­cult is it to just give some an­swers to the ques­tions posed by board mem­bers? If there is no prob­lem with trans­paren­cy, then stop pussy-foot­ing. Foot­ball is owned and sup­port­ed by the peo­ple of Trinidad and To­ba­go. We have long gone away from foot­ball be­ing owned by one man in this coun­try; at least he got us to a World Cup. But if the hi­er­ar­chy gen­uine­ly be­lieves that a 72 room ho­tel will make us qual­i­fy for the 2022 World Cup, I will hold my laugh un­til I meet Tom­my and George.

On a brighter note, good luck to the Windies women in the World T20 semi­fi­nal to­day against Aus­tralia; and to the Past crick­eters' so­ci­ety fundrais­er sched­ule for Sat­ur­day night where the great­est all-rounder ever, Sir Garfield Sobers, as well as a host of for­mer lo­cal crick­eters, will be ho­n­oured.
The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

Offline Tallman

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Worcester Aquatic team impressed with TTFA Athletes Hotel facilities
« Reply #54 on: January 04, 2019, 08:17:22 PM »
Worcester Aquatic team impressed with TTFA Athletes Hotel facilities
TTFA Media


An 85-member Swimming and Dive team contingent from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, United States toured the TTFA Home of Football Athletes Accommodation Hotel and Sport and Entertainment Centre on Friday.

The group, comprising of 80 athletes and five staff, met with TTFA President David John-Williams and a TTFA contingent for just over an hour as they had a first-hand look of the facilities which is expected to be opened in April of this year.

The athletes are currently in Trinidad for a training camp at the National Aquatic Centre in Couva.

Paul Bennett, head coach of Worcester’s Swimming/Diving team described the TTFA facilities as “world class” and vowed to return either later this year or in 2020 for a residential training camp.

“This morning we got to see the hotel, the entertainment centre and the velodrome as we’ve been training in the pool for the past six days. The aquatic centre is beautiful and definitely a world class facility. The athletes housing village (hotel accommodation) is amazing,” Bennett told TTFA Media on Friday.

“They have quite an assortment of rooms with a lot of flexibility with dining, laundry and space to sleep and house athletes and teams. I think it’s going to be great,” Bennett said of the hotel facilities.

“We will be very interested in coming back here. It makes a lot easier that everything is well within one area and we don’t have to go all over the island to find food, housing and a facility to train in. The weather is beautiful and the people have been nothing but hospitable. It’s been a perfect combination,” Bennett added.

“This trip has been focused on preparing for the university season while we are here and everything is world class. The new facilities look amazing and I’m very excited to see how they finish up and what will be offered to us next time as we look to train for our season,” he said.

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The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

Offline maxg

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Re: Home of Football Thread
« Reply #55 on: January 05, 2019, 12:45:07 AM »
I guessing best case scenario Aquatic Centre, pulls +300000 USD max, based on 60 + ath. Avg, 12 team max use, and between 400-500 charge/ person for pool, room and food for aprox. 10 residential camp days. One can play with numbers to get an idea of staffing and food cost.
Dec 26 th to Jan 15. So Aquatic Centre might be able to keep the pools clean all year based on camps,Florida at present is the cheapest usd destination, our main competition.
Is football gonna make up the next 11 months ? Think TTFA taking on more stuff not in their area of expertise and setting themselves up for more financial ruin and leakage. I have been wrong before.

Add: my questions, why not give the Aquatic Centre to asatt to market and manage, velodrome to ttca , and home of football see about football. While a joint committee from each body overseer the hotel. And all associations share the expenses, cause left to football alone, we’ll we know how that goes.. it all gonna be bills anyway
« Last Edit: January 05, 2019, 02:20:41 AM by maxg »

Offline Deeks

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Re: Home of Football Thread
« Reply #56 on: January 05, 2019, 05:52:27 PM »
each body overseer the hotel. And all associations share the expenses, cause left to football alone, we’ll we know how that goes.. el

maxg, while you making sense, I see this hotel as DJW plaything. Another center of "excellence" scenario.

Offline maxg

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Re: Home of Football Thread
« Reply #57 on: January 05, 2019, 06:52:58 PM »
each body overseer the hotel. And all associations share the expenses, cause left to football alone, we’ll we know how that goes.. el

maxg, while you making sense, I see this hotel as DJW plaything. Another center of "excellence" scenario.
Many people like expensive playthings, very few can manage them to a profit or well. Can he keep the hotel operationally successful, can he put ppl in the rooms at their expense and not ours ? As i said swimming is going to cover 1 month. Having a nice hotel to hold our National football camps is great, but how is it going to make money to cover those National camps. This is not a Ma & PA bb we talking about, it's a thing that will require year round staffing and operations. 80% of Operations and occupancy may have nothing to do with football . Staff can't be hired by month or event...the only way this will be viable for our National programs, is if the Hotel can operate at a profit, regardless of how nice it look or wonderful location to stadia.

ps: MzTing graduating in Tourism and Hotel Management, but given how ppl does get pay, i not recommending her at all. ;)                           

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UEFA Contingent advises TTFA on Home of Football operations
« Reply #59 on: January 23, 2019, 03:53:43 PM »
UEFA Contingent advises TTFA on Home of Football operations
TTFA Media


A contingent of UEFA officials arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Monday to hold a series of consultations with Trinidad and Tobago Football Association officials during which they intend to guide the local body on its football operations as well as the running of the Home of Football facilities.

UEFA marketing consultant Kenny MacLeod was led on a tour of the Athletes Accommodation Hotel and the Restaurant and Entertainment Centre on Tuesday by TTFA President David John-Williams as the week of activities commenced in Couva. Accompanying them was Chris Milnes, UEFA’s international relations project specialist.

MacLeod who is a former commercial and marketing director for the Scottish FA and past commercial manager for Celtic FC,  later gave a glowing review of the facilities which are nearing completion prior to an official opening later this year.

“It has been continuous progress on this project since we started supporting TTFA on this fantastic infrastructure project,” MacLeod told TTFA Media.

“We were most recently here last October and there’s been significant progress on the building in both facilities, here and the most social element. We continue to be impressed with the speed and the development of this project,” he added.

MacLeod has experienced the operations and feel of several Training Centres in Europe and other parts of the globe and pointed out one of the differences with the Home of Football which can give it an edge.

“I think that the difference with this project is the opportunity for it to be multifaceted not only to support the TTFA but also to be a project for all sports in the region and locally. And then there is the social aspect will really change the ability for the people of Trinidad and Tobago to socialise, be it through weddings and functions all the way to sporting activities.

“It is really being considered not just as a focus on the first team of the national team or the youth teams but the opportunity for all sports within the region to really take advantaged of such qualities facilities that will be in place here,” he said.

The Scotsman elaborated on the other areas of focus during the sessions which will take place at the National Cycling Velodrome until Friday.

“We have three main focuses for this week during which I will be joined by a number of other colleagues coming from UEFA to support this project. Firstly we will focus on the commercialisation of this project and really the understanding of how to put the planning and structure in place for the opening and long- term sustainability of this project. We can obviously see the quality of the construction but we want to make sure it is benchmarked with what we do as the professionalisation of the sales process, the look and feel of what will be sold as part of this project.

“The second area will be the TTFA themselves. They are coming to an area and time where it’s really time to push on with a lot of the projects that they have. There will be a start of an operational review which will allow them to put together a new five-year plan to really see them through the next five years in opportunities they have to develop the sport in the country.

“Finally we will have a couple days back with the League (TT Pro League). The league has been our main focus here over the past couple of projects and times we have been here in T&T. We will look to see what progress has been made over the past four or five months to the point where we can also look towards putting a five-year plan in place for them to develop as well,” MacLeod added.

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The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

 

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